Wanted: Morticer any ideas?

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Hi Stig

I don't want to diss you but take it from me, don't buy a cheap morticer. I bought the Axminster one and it has only been used once. I feel that the router option is the better choice.

cheers

Phil

PS, Anybody want to buy a Axminster morticer? I t comes with four chisels free!

PPS the postage would probably cost more than the price of the morticer :(
 
Hi Stig, the 1/4" machine would be too light for cutting mortices IMHO unless they are very small ones. Considering it is Oak I would go for a 1/2" router. Bear in mine that the bigger routers are much heavier so not ideal for light hand held work. On the other hand a good powerful 1/2" router can also be used in a table so doubling it's usefulness. I am afraid I know nothing about the Ryobi router but am sure someone will on here. :wink:
 
Hi Stig
You are probably out shopping at this very moment, but if you are going for the Ryobi, bear in mind that it has a plunge of only 50mm. This is not a great deal really considering you intend to do mortising. I know it's a lot more expensive, but DW625 has 80mm plunge, for example.

Can I also suggest you spend a little time making a good mortising jig? It will make your mortising easier, faster and more consistent. There are lots of plans available. It goes without saying that I think that mine is the best in the world, but there are lots of plans around, and, unlike mine, some of them are free.

I suggest the following checklist:

1 Reliable, pre-set travel stops and reference stops
2 Has an anti-drift arrangement
3 Reversible so you can do left- and right-hand mortices without changing settings, and be able to cut a deep mortice from both sides (this is particularly important if you have a very limited plunge)
4 Capable of doing mortices in the middle of a rail, not just near to an end
5Quick to set up
6 Inexpensive and quick to build

Such a jig will take just a few hours to build, be a fun project in its own right and will serve you well for many years. At least, mine has.

Whilst ultimately I think that a good morticer (such as a Multico, for example) is a better option if you are cutting mortices all the time, a good router with a good jig is infinitely preferable to a poor mortiser, which is only going to give you disappointing results as well as taking up valuable space and doing only one job.

Let us know how you get on.

Cheers
Steve
 
My suggestion of the Ryobi was that it has the double fence and so will get him setup and making mortices very quickly without needing to make a jig initially. Good point on the plunge depth tho, I missed that.
 
i bought a sheppach morticer ££££££££££ crap. should have bought a decent set of mortice chisels instead.
 
stevieg":2q8giuei said:
i bought a sheppach morticer ££££££££££ crap. should have bought a decent set of mortice chisels instead.

I've got some of the Ray Iles mortice chisels.....................Absolutely Fabulous!!!!

I came across the review that Chris Schwartz wrote about the English Pattern Mortice Chisels from Ray Iles. They sounded so good that I called The Old Tool Store and ordered some.

Even a complete novice like me can make an accurate mortice in a couple of minutes with these things!!
 
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