multico morticer

[neilyweely]

Anyone know anything about this morticer, it's the small multico, think it's a cast iron dovetail slider, green and seems a great little morticer.

I got one today, cheapish, and wanted to know if I should swap it for the one I am currently using (an axminster cheap two tube and spring job) which is fairly new, but I am not really happy with. Am I likely to be less happy with the multico?

I got the multico for about half what I paid for the axminster thing.

Any ideas? Anyone got the multico?

Cheers

Neil

 

[OPJ]

This sounds interesting, Neil. Do you have any photo's of the Multico machine or do you know the model number?

I'd be surprised if it wasn't better than your "cheap" Axminster mortiser, whatever it's like. What's the largest chisel you can fit?

 

[p111dom]

Multico is a fairly respected brand. The only one I've seen looked pretty solid and well made to me. Without seeing a picture its difficult to say but I would have thought it was a better machine than the axminster one.

 

[JonnyD]

The multicos are a decent machine. They made models from small benchtop machines to floor standing machines and ones with removeable beds which you can mortice door locks with. The british firm has gone bust but i believe the morticers are still being made in france by another company.

I have a multico M1 floor standing morticer and its a great machine probably on par with the sedgwick 571 machines. I would have thought the smaller machines will be as well built but with smaller capacities and probably be loads better than a cheap axminster.

Jon

 

[Steve Maskery]

Yes, Multico gets a thumbs up from me, too. I have a PM20. It came with a "free" stand which is crap and, to my shame, I've never got round to sorting that out. Probably because it's housed in my neighbour's workshop and I go round there if I need to use it. I was going to sell it, because I have excellent router methods at my disposal, but he persuaded me to keep it, and actually, I'm glad I did.

If I were buying today, I'd look around. I've no idea what else is available, and the Multico is not perfect, it's a bit quirky and changing the height of the bed is a real chore. But the end results are good.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Streepips]

I have the small Multico, the model is PM12. just use it with forstner bits now for Blum hinges and suchlike since I got one of the 1HP floorstanding lumps
The small Multicos are not a powerful motor so you have to limit yourself to say 1/2" tops chisels, and need to be sharp! and mine came without any cramping to fence device. a bit basic but built like a tank and will wipe the floor with an Axminster equivalent.
Last price I saw these going at was over £350:00 and thats a year or two ago.
They are based in France now as JohnnyD says, but they have a UK agency and spares are not a problem

I rigged up a base for mine, so that it sat under the bench when not needed but the base was jigged so that it could be securely fastened in the vice ( a 52 1/2 QR) very quickly and was very stable, and easily removed when done with it.
Quality little machine and hard to beat for build, finish and functionality.

 

[neilyweely]

Streepips - think thats the one, except I think it's a pm16. small, tiny motor thing. Looks good, better than the one I have anyway. I think I used my other morticer once!

I got this one from an auction in Cambs for 26quid! It was in the week before, and sold but he didn't pick it up so it was relisted. Lucky for me.
I would be interested to see how you upgraded the table; the biggest problem I have with benchtop morticers is getting a smooth plunge in, and in particular holding the work still whilst pulling out.

Steve - Am not sure if this one has a fence even, I can't remember that. Just remember it was, as said, built like a TANK!!

JonnyD - This one looks oldish, but solid, and had Great Britain stamped on it ( I think I remember seeing it). I wish it was the M1!!

P111dom and OPJ -truth be told I haven't got it home yet, it's at me mums!! But, when I do I shall post pics.

Guess this means I have a morticer for sale, one way or another!!

Thanks all


Neil

 

[Streepips]

I can send pics of the adaptor I made, it may be useful assuming its the same or similar model..

 

[neilyweely]

streepips
That would be great. Tomorrow I shall pick it up and post some pics, so we can see what we are talking about.

Cheers mate

Neil

PS - what size shank chisel does it take? All mine are 19mm (had some shanks reduced to fit the other morticer.

 

[Streepips]

I will check the chisel shank size and let you know, speaking of which have you checked the chisel bush is there? Its the adaptor bush that fits in the housing that accepts the chisel shank. without this you have only a little pillar drill........... Still available, about £17 I think.
Just dug out the manual for the PM 12 ( seems I bought it in 1992!) but shank size not mentioned.
What is mentioned though is that the plug should be fitted with a 5 amp fuse, not a 13 amp!
Interestingly, the back of the instruction book lists other brands that are part of the Multico business, Promex bench tools ( never heard of them)
Delta.............and Scheppach.

 

[neilyweely]

diamond mate. The bit the chisel sits in is there I think; there is a threaded hole in the bottom of the cast iron where the chisel sits, the bolt is missing, but I think if I replace this it should be ok? What do you think?

Thanks, I'll keep it short as I have 2 kids climbing all over me!!

Neil

 

[Streepips]

I think thats an M10 or an M12 thread, the original would be an small starwheel type plastic affair from memory, I changed this lock stud for a Bristol lever which is much easier to use.
The handle shaft has two holes in it so the lever arm can be repositioned according to depth of stroke and height of workpiece. This orginally would have a lock bolt to clamp the handle but again I replaced this with a Bristol lever. More positive clamp action and you do not have to find the Allan key when you want to change the handle setting.
The fence is a simple affair, one guide bar that slides forward and back through the base of the machine and again has a clamp, starwheel type, replaced with a Bristol lever. The fence itself is quite rigid when locked, but not very wide so I sacrificed a little fore and aft travel and fitted a fence facing plate to extend it. I used oak about 1/4" for that. Added up these replacements save setting up time and make it more friendly to the user.
The rack and pinion gears for the lowering and raising of the unit head should be dry, oil or grease get dust and shavings stuck, so I use spray graphite.
If you use the unit as a drill press, you have to remove the chisel bush and if you lose it . problems. So I remove the handle, slide the bush onto it and replace the handle. The bush can't get lost then and is always handy !

 

[Nick Gibbs]

Does anyone know if the PM12 was made in Britain?

Cheers

Nick

 

[Streepips]

Well all the labels are in English and not multilingual, no indication of country of manufacture.

 

[Nick Gibbs]

Thanks. My guess too.