1/2" router for m&t work?

[pike]

I'm thinking it may be worth me picking up a 1.2" router to do mortise and tenons in 4x4/6x6" framing of an extension rebuild.

I've got the Dewalt 621K which is only 1/4" but I see the 622K not much more cost is 1/2" but not a lot more powerful.

Any suggestions for something around 200-300 which will help me speed up the m&t's (using a 2 inch bit)?

Having said that, am I doing the right thing looking at a new router for this job?

I've got a domino which I love and use for all my furniture, but probably best not using it for this particular project ;-)

Thanks,
Carl.

 

[George_N]

If you want to use a router for mortises in 4x or 6x stock you really will need a 1/2" router. You can get 1/2" by 50 mm or even 75 mm long. a DW625 or Trend T10/11 would fit the bill and your price range.

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

Will all the m&t's be of different sizes? do you already own a jig that can do them to the size's you require? If both are no then a router isn't the best tool for this project for you. You can pick a good mortiser up for £150. You can even cut the tenons using a moriser. I don't know how practical it would be as i have only just thought about using the mortiser to cut tenons.

 

[pike]

Thanks George, I like my dewalt so maybe the bigger dw625 is the way to go.

Hudson Carpentry: they will be mostly the same size as I'd be using it primarily for framing 4x4, 6x6 for example. I don't have a jig or anything yet. I'd assumed I'd be making my own jig up for the job. What sort of mortiser were you thinking of? The only one's I'm aware of which woudl be useful for big heavy long timber framing would be expensive chain mortisers. Might be wrong though as I've not done this before.

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

Yes you would need one that can use 1/2" size chisel. £200-300 would get you one but if you only have 2 sizes of m&t, then just make your 4 jig's and you should be ok with a router.

My only thought would be depth of the joint on the 6x6. What material are you using?

 

[OwenRS]

Hi
Have u never thought about buying a chain mortice sitework machine?
These are hand held pieces of kit that are supplied to people who hang doors on site and clamp to the edge of the door and machine the deep slots for the handles.
Absolt animals and right up your street for large sections.

 

[pike]

OwenRS, I've seen them, they look great but I'm fairly sure they cost too much unless you are using them enough to justify it. Thanks.

 

[OwenRS]

Yeah granted but boy are they fast.
Times money

 

[Jacob]

Router really not up to doing deep 1/2" mortices.
Square chisel morticer is what you want. Chain morticer is really for fencing and rough work.

 

[mtt.tr]

Half inch router i have noticed at least are quiter running and i think work better

 

[Dibs-h]

I'm thinking it may be worth me picking up a 1.2" router to do mortise and tenons in 4x4/6x6" framing of an extension rebuild.

I've got the Dewalt 621K which is only 1/4" but I see the 622K not much more cost is 1/2" but not a lot more powerful.

Any suggestions for something around 200-300 which will help me speed up the m&t's (using a 2 inch bit)?

Having said that, am I doing the right thing looking at a new router for this job?

I've got a domino which I love and use for all my furniture, but probably best not using it for this particular project ;-)

Thanks,
Carl.

Carl

4"x4" & 6"x6" - in the latter that will give you 2" wide tennons\mortices. Tennons aren't really an issue - a handsaw\bandsaw isn't exactly hard work.

Mortices - with a router on anything other than PAR - good luck! I tried it and it doesn't take much tilt for the mortice to go off. Even if a jig locates\references the sides and has it's own "top" for the router to sit on, it isn't going to be plane sailing.

Considering you want a good fit - I'd either use a mortiser or do them by hand! I did and it's not as slow as you think. Yes - not as fast as a machine, but speed isn't really an issue, accuracy is, and if I had to choose - it wouldn't be speed!

My 2c worth.

Dibs

 

[pike]

Thanks Dibs. Food for thought. I've done m&t's by hand in 4x4's before and they were "ok" but I'd need to be a little more accurate this time around. That was kiln dried oak though.

It is very tempting to go down that road (hand) for a one off job. I've got a month or two before I need to crack on, so plnety time to make a decision.

Cheers all for your thoughts. I haven't decided yet but will let you know.