What's a good morticer for a beginner?

[tobytools]

I'm thinking of getting a morticer what's a good one to get value wise?
TT

 

[tobytools]

That takes 1/2" bits

TT

 

[marcros]

A domino.

 

[tobytools]

A domino.

Can you hook me up with a link please?

TT

 

[RossJarvis]

A domino.

Can you hook me up with a link please?

TT

He's pulling your leg, a domino is a vastly expensive, but useful, alternative;

http://www.festooldomino.com/mortisers- ... no-df-500/

 

[Glynne]

TT
It all depends on how much you're likely to use one - but on Dodge's recommendation, I got one of these and have been very pleased.
http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-hobby-series-aw16bmst2-bench-morticer-prod886343/
I don't do a huge amount of morticing but this has been good for small tables and even boxes.
Some of the on-line reviews mention the back fence not being vertical to the bit but I simply loosened the bolts and re-tightened and it is fine.
If you are going to do production line volumes you will need a more powerful machine but for me (as a novice morticer user) it is really good.

Glynne

 

[deema]

It depends I. Your budget, but have a look on ebay. There is often a brilliant Wakin or Sedgwick Morticer that's going second hand for a few hunderd. These will last you a lifetime, and with very little to go wrong you will be using a quality machine that will make your hobby far more enjoyable and rewarding.

 

[AndyT]

The Reynolds range are pretty good - Condesteeso's was quite cheap too. (List price £12.)

Marcros said that he paid about £15 for his similar one.

(Well, this is the Hand Tools section! ;-)
No noisy motors required!)

 

[tobytools]

Thanks guy I'll have a look, no production line volumes just to speed up and I have a very nice selection if bits and a signcrafter that I want to play with and spin a few quid at my grandads shop in Broadstone,
I will still use the chisel to clean up to the line but just to remove the bulk faster.

Sorry to mention power tools
As to budget for what I want one for I only need a cheap one. I'll try to save my money on rusty hand tools lol.

TT

 

[marcros]

I was and I wasn't. I fancied a morticer (electric) a couple of years back. If I had bought one then and spent 150 odd pounds, i would still be lusting after a domino. I am relatively new to woodworking- a couple of years in, and even as a hobbiest, I can see how it would save me a lot of time. I like the end result, and whilst I enjoy making things, ultimately I like looking at the finished article more. More time saved = more finished items with no loss of quality (in this case).

I did get a hand operated machine as Andy says- i fell lucky because it was local and I paid scrap value. It sits in the corner of my garage and I can't really get to it at present- it requires a fair bit of space. If you were closer I would do you a swap on it for something but it is ridiculously heavy, so not practical to send on a pallet. If I had seen it beforehand and felt the weight I probably wouldn't have bid. It is quite industrial- clearly designed for when you wouldn't volunteer to mortice using a hand chisel. A modern morticer is probably less so- you could produce a small furniture sized mortice using one- I wouldn't fancy cutting one on my beast.

 

[tobytools]

I've seen some very old mortices and 100% don't have the space just need a small one to try out ad if I get on with it I'll get a better on in a few year but hopefully I don't like these machines and stick to chisel and mallet
But I agree what you are saying less time chiseling and more time finishing
I keep starting new bits and bobs when I should just finish what I'm doing (I don't think I'm alone in this practise)

Gona look ona ebay now is there a brand I should avoid?
TT

 

[marcros]

If you are not a production line, I think that with practice you can knock them out almost as quickly with a pig sticker as setting up a morticer. Not quite as quick maybe but not far off. When making my bench, it was almost as quick not to drill out the waste and just go for it- bang them out and tidy up at the end.

 

[tobytools]

I think I messed up, I'm after a router, they can do the same as a morticer as well as profiles? I'm seriously stupid when it comes to power tools I can use a drill that's about it.

So what's the difference. Pros and cons?

Sorry to keep on about power tools :s

TT

 

[RogerP]

It depends I. Your budget, but have a look on ebay. There is often a brilliant Wakin or Sedgwick Morticer that's going second hand for a few hunderd. These will last you a lifetime, and with very little to go wrong you will be using a quality machine that will make your hobby far more enjoyable and rewarding.

That's the route I thought I'd take. I did find a couple, both many miles away, huge and heavy - would have need two men (at least) and a medium van to shift them and twice their asking price in fuel. Ended up with something similar to the one Glynne recommends. Moveable around my small shop on my own, does the job and will last my lifetime (I'm 71 )

 

[Jacob]

For a beginner the slot mortice attachment on the end of a planer spindle is good value. I had one on a Maxi 26 and used it a lot.

 

[Racers]

Only if you have a planer, other wise it a lot more than a pig sticker.

Pete

 

[marcus]

If you could stretch to it you might try to get a second-hand sedgwick 571 on ebay (the old green ones). They are really compact and take up surprisingly little space, they work beautifully, and if you don't like it you can sell it for what you got it for whenever you like. You could probably get one for under £300 if you wait a bit....

 

[Jacob]

Only if you have a planer, other wise it a lot more than a pig sticker.

Pete

Yes you would need a planer Pete, well spotted. :roll:

Our OP may have one, or may be looking at one. And a cheap planer plus morticer attachment could be cheaper than a stand alone morticer.

 

[nathandavies]

a second hand multico morticer can be had for very little money. an undervalued brand of machine in my very very humble opinion.

 

[disco_monkey79]

If you want to remove the bulk of waste, and then finish off by hand, have you considered a pillar drill and forstner bit/s? A potential advantage is you then have a pillar drill, for whatever else you may like to use one for. I got mine from Axminster for about £60.

That's the method I used, until I got a 2nd hand SIP morticer from Ebay. Was (very) lucky enough to pay just £35, as I think they go for £200+ brand new. Bargains can be had, but of course you need to be in the right place at the right time.