Wanted: Morticer any ideas?

[The_Stig]

Does anyone know where I can get a morticer from this weekend, I've got lots of mortices to do and I really don't fancy doing nothing but them all weekend.

I live in Leicestershire, I was looking at the Axminster brochure and given the credit crunch and things I don't really fancy spending £150 plus on my first machine.

 

[joiner_sim]

On the top of this page: http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/categories/search/drill-presses-mortisers There's a £30 attachment for drill stands that convert them into a morticer. You would have to be sure that the drill stand you brought would be compatible, and at the same time, powerful enough.

I have never used this attachment, so I can't say how good it is.

Have a look on eBay. :wink:

 

[The_Stig]

Unfortunately I brought one of those a few months back and it wasn't compatible so I had to return it for credit

 

[wizer]

Those drill press attachments are rubbish, to put it bluntly.

You don't say what the mortices are for? Fine Furniture? Timber Framing?

If you don't want to drive to a reputable tool seller and buy a half decent morticer, then you need to look at other options. Do you have a router? Drill Press? Forstner Bits? Pig Stickers?

 

[The_Stig]

Its going to be used for furniture which I hope will turn out fine. I have a small drill press and an old router although I don't trust it since its well passed safe to use before date and my work very rarely warrants me buying a new one.

 

[The_Stig]

I've just seen this on eBay:

Click me I'm a link

 

[wizer]

Well you are talking about buying a morticer, why not spend some money on a good router? The amount of woodworking jobs you can do with a router is vast. You can use it to plough out the mortices. I'd go for one with a good micro-adjustable fence. Doing it this way, you haven't bought a tool that won't get used again. Most of us here have more than one router, it's probably the most adaptable power tool in the woodworker's arsenal.

 

[The_Stig]

Can you recommend one?

 

[wizer]

Have you got a screwfix branch near?

This would be ideal:

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/72124/Pow ... 00W-Router

The fence on that model would be ideal for morticing.

 

[The_Stig]

I think there is a ScrewFix in Leicester as everytime I see my mates he's always spent the weekend in ScrewFix. I think I'll put it into Google and go tool shopping in the morning whilst the misses is at work

The Ryobi ERT looks a lot more up to date than the one I've got, it hardly plunges! It was given to me around 10 years ago when a friend of the family died.

 

[wizer]

I honestly think this is a good option for you. It's a good quality router at a good price. You'll get a lot of use out of it, not just for mortising but all kinds of work. Do you know what size your mortises will be? You will need a bit. Remember you're shank size is 1/2". If you need to buy a bit this weekend then get yourself something from the trend range. If you can wait a bit, then Wealden Tools are extremely good router bits. Go for a spiral up cutting bit.

When you cut the mortices, do shallow passes until you reach your depth. Don't try to plunge to the full depth and hog it all out in one pass. You can also clamp some stop blocks to the timber to make sure each pass is the same length.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

 

[The_Stig]

I think they'll be 13/16mm, since I'm going to be cutting into 45mm square european Oak its going to be best to take it slow otherwise its going to burn and make a right mess.

I guess if I set the fence up to 45mm it'll pass nice and easily over the pieces. I've got some bits from my old router as I got given a box with some brand new bits in it, some of them still have the wax coating on them although their 1/4" since its a light use Black & Decker machine. A make that I'd never buy myself!!

 

[wizer]

I hate to do this to you. But I just found that router much cheaper online.

http://www.protecdirect.co.uk/Routers/E ... %2F2in.htm

£95 delivered. If you can wait a week you'll save yourself £40. Tho £135 from screwfix is still a good price for a good router.

 

[Gower]

I bought one at Aldi 2 weeks ago for, I think, £65 plus £12 for a set of 4 chisels(metric). Might be some left somewhere. Very impressed for the money and carried a 3 year warranty.
Cheers,
Gower

 

[The_Stig]

Ooo... I like the Screwfix one as the guide seems to be more clamp like unlike the cheaper models (B&Q sort) which seem to have a single sided fence.

What is the difference between a 1/4" and a 1/2" machine apart from the bit size.

Is this any good?
***Click me!***

 

[wizer]

Is this any good?
***Click me!***

Apart from being 110v (you want 240v), it's a little under powered for mortising. Usually 1/4" routers are lower power and intended for lighter jobs. If you are desperate for a router this weekend then go with the screwfix one. It really is a good price, despite finding it much cheaper elsewhere. The double sided fence will make mortising easy. I am tempted to buy it myself tbh. Other than that you're looking at the DeWalt and Trend clones and they start at £200+

 

[The_Stig]

I see, well it looks like its time for a trip out shopping.

Its really annoying when you've got wood in the shop all planed andcut to size but you just don't want to start anything new until morning!!

 

[wizer]

hehe I can't tell you how many times I have realised I needed something on a Friday night for the weekend. :roll: :wink:

 

[The_Stig]

You sit in the office watching the clock tick down for the weekend and then when you get into the shop oh, somethings been missed off the list!!

 

[Rich]

Does anyone know where I can get a morticer from this weekend, I've got lots of mortices to do and I really don't fancy doing nothing but them all weekend.

I live in Leicestershire, I was looking at the Axminster brochure and given the credit crunch and things I don't really fancy spending £150 plus on my first machine.

Stig, find your nearest Aldi store, you can pick one up for £50.00 and a set of 4 bits for £12.00.

Regards,

Rich.