Big oak tenon Joints

[BarbaraT]

I've got about 20 tenon joints to cut in some oak sleepers.

Pockets Ideally to to go in about 150mm sleepers are (200 x 100)

I was planning on hiring a chain morticer, but I'm in Scottish boarders so a weeks hire including shipping both ways was over £300.

Has anyone used a makita 7305, I was put off buying a second hand chain morticer as the replacement chains are so expensive and I've no experience sharpening them.

I know some of the bench morticers are really hard work in oak.

 

[Fitzroy]

I’d not seen that machine before so made me do some googling. I have a Sedgwick 571 morticer and it will cut 19mm mortises in seasoned oak, but it’s a battle and I tend to limit myself to 16mm and make two cuts if I want something bigger. It has a 1.1kw motor the same as the 7305, but the 7305 cuts a 30mm hole so I was intrigued.

Couldn’t see much but found this interesting post where someone with experience says green oak yes, seasoned oak no. So it’ll rather depend on the sleepers you have.

 

[okeydokey]

I've got about 20 tenon joints to cut in some oak sleepers.

Pockets Ideally to to go in about 150mm sleepers are (200 x 100)

I was planning on hiring a chain morticer, but I'm in Scottish boarders so a weeks hire including shipping both ways was over £300.

Has anyone used a makita 7305, I was put off buying a second hand chain morticer as the replacement chains are so expensive and I've no experience sharpening them.

I know some of the bench morticers are really hard work in oak.

View attachment 196065

£300 is about £15 each - seems reasonable as it will get the job done

 

[BarbaraT]

I looked at the Axminster AP25bm, it looks like it will do 127mm with a 20mm cutter.. Almost deep enough, just expensive.
And dragging the sleepers around is going to be hard work.

It's good to know it's unsuitable for dry oak. Just double checked the moisture content and it's between 25-30%. So a long way from being green and soft.
It looks like you can buy smaller 16mm cutters for £250ish, but I
The capacity drops.

Reading online it sounds like you can keep resharpening the chains, guessing I'll either learn or find somewhere I can post the chain too.

Just having fun trying to find the spec of some of these old Hitachi and makita chain mortisers. Definitely a job for tomorrow.

 

[XTiffy]

Have you thought of looking for a fencing contractor/ They use these machines for morticing fence posts.
I would ask if they would be willing to cut them at your place.........just a thought!

 

[Diver Fred]

My late father cut M&T joints in 12x12 Oak with a chain saw.