Replies

1. 
   Napie | Dec 02, 2007 11:50pm | #1

   I had a Robland jointer/planner/mortiser combo machine years ago and it was GREAT.  Laguna was the rep and back then they were pretty good.  That was the one machine I regret selling to this day and as soon as Grizzly puts a mortising attachment on their new 12” combo machine I am going to buy one.  

2. 
   dbcabs | Dec 03, 2007 02:32am | #2

   If I were needing a slot mortiser for a school or a business I would look at the Invicta or Felder, or try and find a used one

   Another option, is the JDS Multirouter which is well made, has a tilting table, and does tendons as well as slot mortises. It does use a router, so it is loud

   I had one of the Grizzly's horizontal boring machines that everyone is calling a slot mortiser and was very disappointed with it, due to the slop in the machining of the table slides. If you grab the table, and rock from side to side, there is a lot of movement. When I returned machine to Grizzly (which they are very good on accepting returns) I looked at their floor model it had the same problems. The other problems I found were the side to side stops under the table were very hard to adjust, and the table raising wheel does-not have any locking knob on it.If you read the archives over at FWW Knots, there are a lot people that are happy with their machine. I would look at one up close before buying one.

    

1. 
   DonC | Dec 03, 2007 07:29am | #4

   I agree with the Multi-router advice. It is solid and will hold up. Cutting mortises is just one of many many tasks it can perform. Why buy a single purpose machine when this does it perfect as well as many joints.

3. 
   ted | Dec 03, 2007 02:54am | #3

   I like the western European slot mortisers myself but they are way out of my league pricewise. I saw the Laguna Slot Mortiser (if it is the one I think you're talking about) at AWFS and I was not impressed. I found the machining to be of typical import quality and it was generally rough around the edges. For under $2,000.00 I thought the Rojek is a much better machine for the money (though some here say it's not that great). I found the machining on the rojeck to be tight and it is a very solid barebones machine that would work well in a school setting.

   
   

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   Edited 12/2/2007 6:55 pm ET by ted

1. 
   RickL | Dec 04, 2007 01:24am | #8

   I'm very familiar with the Rojek. They have one at a school I maintain the machines in and it's OK! I think the Grizzly G0540 has just as good a fit and finish. The advantage of the Rojek over the Grizzly is bigger motor and the oprional 32 mm boring bar avaiable on the Rojek.

   I've used the Multi-router as well. Too many unnecessary bells and whistles. Goes against the spriit of what the slot mortiser was made to do. I much prefer the lower rpm of the commercial mortisers as it makes a  great horizotal drill for doweling and general horizontal drilling.

   I've also used Griggio, SCMI, Paolini slot mortisers as well as converted handmills. Slot mortisers are one of the best kept secrets out there along with stroke sanders.

4. 
   Jfrostjr | Dec 03, 2007 04:52pm | #5

   The MiniMax combo jointer/planer has an optional attachment of a slot mortiser. Cost is $875 - I think. But the dollar/Euro change may affect that.

   Frosty

   "I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922

5. 
   coreylemessurier | Dec 03, 2007 07:58pm | #6

   look at the general 10" jointer plus slot mortiser. powerful and quiet with stout 3hp motor. buying one pretty quick.

1. 
   JohnWW | Dec 03, 2007 11:36pm | #7

   Seems like an impractical design unless the table is very easy to mount and remove, their web site doesn't show how the mounting system works.  European machines have the table on a base like a hand truck to make it easy to move the table system to the side.

   John W. 

1. 
   Jfrostjr | Dec 04, 2007 04:16pm | #9

   John, My MiniMax slot mortiser is "easy" to install:it just drops down on studs - BUT it is heavy as hell (about 70#). Do you know where I could see a picture of the hand truck device you mention?Frosty"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922

1. 
   RickL | Dec 04, 2007 04:57pm | #10

   Go to the Felder site for the handtruck.

1. 
   Jfrostjr | Dec 04, 2007 05:11pm | #11

   Thanks.Frosty"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922

2. 
   JohnWW | Dec 04, 2007 05:22pm | #12

   Frosty,

   If you are interested in the MiniMax machine you'll need to bother them for a photo of the truck, if they have one, for their mortiser.  To get an idea of what one looks like, the truck I'm familiar with is the one made by Felder, but their's won't work for other brands.

   John W.

1. 
   Jfrostjr | Dec 04, 2007 07:48pm | #14

   I suppose that as a "good, innovative woodworker" I should be able to design my own "cart" now that I've got the idea. I think a lever-lift would be simpler and cheaper than hydraulics to get the mortiser up and over the studs on the side of the machine.Frosty"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922

6. 
   bones | Dec 04, 2007 05:55pm | #13

   I have the Grizzly Horizontal boring machine.  When I got it the price was 275 plus shipping. Now it's 375.  It does a great job.  I did a review when I bought it. Here is the link.  It does a good job but it's an occasional use tool, so I don't know how the motor would hold up with every day use.  But at the price, you would have to use up a lot of motors to equal the price of the big ticket ones.  Good luck on the decision.

   http://forums.taunton.com/fw-knots/messages?msg=5525.1

   Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases:
   If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
   And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
   
7. 
   colebearanimals | Dec 05, 2007 02:24am | #15

   Hi Archibald,

             I'd like to chime in here. If you haven't already done so, check out this thread. # 36263.1   Sorry it's not a link. But there are some photos you might find interesting.

             I was the OP and after using the Grizzly machine these past few months I'd have to say it's a great tool. Simple. Robust. Accurate. Inexpensive.

             Two complaints

                    1   As I said in my original thread the table doesn't raise high enough to drill to the center of 3/4" material. That was easily fixed with the addition of an auxiliary table.

                    2    The table stops are a hassle to set because it'a done from underneath with an allen wrench. But once done they hold there settings well.

             Give these a look. There's not much that can go wrong with them. For the price you might even be able to afford 2 or 3 and set them for different sizes.

                                             Good luck

                                                         Paul

   ps  I'm not in any way affiliated with Grizzly

            

1. 
   Archibald | Dec 05, 2007 06:59pm | #16

   It sounds too good to be true, but those mortise slots are really clean. Certainly a big step up from our Delta Hollow chisel.Thanks for an insightful response.

1. 
   colebearanimals | Dec 06, 2007 12:43am | #17

    

         Plus, get this. They were done with an end mill that costs all of $ 7.50. I've cut about 150 mortises in red oak with one bit and it's still going strong.

                                                           Paul