Jet Mortiser - any good?

[matt]

I'm back on the subject of the mortiser again... Spotted this in the Rutlands sale and wondered if it was a good investment?

http://www.rutlands.co.uk/cgi-bin/psProdDet.cgi/F14656

Whilst my funds are limited, I would rather spend money on something that will do the job now and not become the source of frustration in the future. Or, to put it another way, I could spend £150 on a mortiser, but then that's also £150 toward a £250 mortiser which, in theory, would be a better buy.

Immediate jobs I have in mind... garden gate for the side access and garage doors (side hinged sort).

Grateful for any feedback on this prospective purchase...

Cheers

 

[DomValente]

Hi Matt, had one of those, it was adequate is the best I can say the various locks and chuck could have been more rigid but if you are only using it for heavy work e.g. gates etc it's fine.

Dom

 

[matt]

Cheers, Dom. I'll more than likely be using it for light work too, therefore, some good advice. Thanks again.

 

[Shultzy]

Matt, Practical Woodworking have a group test in their latest mag. It shows the Record RPM75 (£160) as "best on test" and the and the Axminster AW16BMST (£132) as best value. This will allow you to compare what you are getting for that extra £100.

 

[matt]

Good call. I'll pick a copy up tomorrow. Cheers.

 

[RogerS]

Matt, Practical Woodworking have a group test in their latest mag. It shows the Record RPM75 (£160) as "best on test" and the and the Axminster AW16BMST (£132) as best value. This will allow you to compare what you are getting for that extra £100.

Oh please! You're comparing chalk and cheese. Scrit gave an excellent and detailed post here on what to look for in a morticer. The Fox pretty well meets those criteria spot on.

Dom, I'd really like to know why it's not suited to 'fine' work and for what reasons.

 

[DomValente]

Hi Roger.
I found the chuck wobbled so the chisels drifted of line and the various lock downs were sloppy.
Perhaps I was unlucky.

Dom

 

[Nick W]

I have the Charnwood re-spray of that morticer, and I'm very happy with it.

Dom, I don't understand your point about the chuck wobbling. There is room for a bit of play between the chisel and the auger, so as long as the chisel is held firmly, there should not be a problem.

 

[Scott]

That "Jet" mortiser seems to be a Fox mortiser! :?

 

[Shultzy]

Matt, Practical Woodworking have a group test in their latest mag. It shows the Record RPM75 (£160) as "best on test" and the and the Axminster AW16BMST (£132) as best value. This will allow you to compare what you are getting for that extra £100.

Oh please! You're comparing chalk and cheese.

The point of my post Roger, was to point out to Matt how much better the Fox morticer is for the extra £100.

 

[RogerS]

Sorry, Shultzy, for misreading your post. Did they cover the larger morticers in the article?

Interestingly, I was quite keen on the Axminster large morticer but see that the Fox/Jet sports an extra wheel!

 

[Shultzy]

Sorry, Shultzy, for misreading your post. Did they cover the larger morticers in the article?

No probs Roger - They reviewed 8 morticers between £100 - £200. Low end really, I just spotted the article as I am looking for one.

 

[RogerS]

Sorry, Shultzy, for misreading your post. Did they cover the larger morticers in the article?

No probs Roger - They reviewed 8 morticers between £100 - £200. Low end really, I just spotted the article as I am looking for one.

I used to have the small Perform and sold it as a bad lot. The hold-down was a real pain to use.

 

[DomValente]

I have the Charnwood re-spray of that morticer, and I'm very happy with it.

Dom, I don't understand your point about the chuck wobbling. There is room for a bit of play between the chisel and the auger, so as long as the chisel is held firmly, there should not be a problem.

That was my point Nick the whole thing, i.e.the chuck holding the chisel,
wobbled so when it was lined up and pulled down it could easily go a mill. of the cutting line, the hold downs were in my opinion awful and very fiddly, perhaps I'm overly fussy.

Dom

 

[Nick W]

Dom,

This is probably gandmother egg sucking teritory, but did you have the right sized bush for the chisel and did you try adjusting the gib strips? Both sets?

 

[DomValente]

Dom,

This is probably gandmother egg sucking teritory, but did you have the right sized bush for the chisel and did you try adjusting the gib strips? Both sets?

Oh Yes.

 

[JFC]

Record RPM75 best on test :shock: Where they testing it against a bit and brace ? :lol:

 

[matt]

Record RPM75 best on test :shock: Where they testing it against a bit and brace ? :lol:

Just took the words out of my mouth (more or less)...

Picked up PW and read the review - very odd if you ask me. There seems no rationale placing the Record above the Amxminster AW16, particularly when the Record is £159 to the Axminster at £131.

Lacks credability as reviews go.

 

[Alf]

Dear lord, magazines have been doing the Record-best-on-test since Noah was choosing his first bandsaw. From which I cynically take it that Record are still taking out large, and regular, adverts...? :roll:

Cheers, Alf

 

[RogerS]

From which I cynically take it that Record are still taking out large, and regular, adverts...? :roll:

Cheers, Alf

Surely not :-$