Project: 160 mortises-- router or bargain Delta mortiser @ Amazon?

[davidtu]

Well, I went ahead and bit the bullet... just ordered the Mortiser... I was afraid it would clear out before I decided. Good news?! The ship date is May 1st, so I have time to cancel or change the order before then. In the meantime, I've picked up a Ryobi Plunge Router for $99 from HD. Haven't read anything about it, but I like other Ryobi tools, so hoping it will be a decent placeholder until I find a great router bargain for mounting to the BT3100 table. I may end up returning the Ryobi router. Does anyone have opinon on whether it will suffice or does it just suck?

** IMPORTANT: not sure if I can find a 3/4" mortise bit for the Delta mortiser... does anyone know if it can handle it (Larry was skeptical) and if Amazon carries it (so I can add to my order)?

Thanks!!

[sacherjj]

You probably don't have too long to cancel. Mine has the same ship date, but it is in Shipping Soon status, which means I couldn't cancel if I wanted to.

[agent511]

I'm a little late to the party, but here is my 2 cents.

The way to go would clearly be the mortiser. Squared holes, punched down, much easier than the router for this application. Punch, punch and done for your rectangular 3/4" x 1 1/2" hole. Slide to next mortise, punch, punch, done.

I bought my benchtop mortiser from Harbor Freight. Goes on sale for $99, use a 20% off coupon, costs $80 - great value. There is not enough increase in quality on a simple tool like this to justify to me paying 2x as much for a 'name' brand - also made in Asia.

I took 2 seconds and typed the words '3/4" mortise bit' in google to find that they are readily available. If I was buying one, the next step would be to find out if the mortiser you purchased has the chuck capacity for a 3/4" bit, and simultaneously call one of the vendors for the bit to see if the shaft is stepped down to 1/2". then you would know for sure whether the plan is valid or not. If not, then use a 3/8 or 1/2" mortise bit, and have to do more punches, thats all.

I would expect that the Ryobi router is a little underpowered for this application, besides the fact that you would have to construct a jig unless you were really a glutton for punishment.

Actually I would have bought a premade fence from HD or Lowes, or adapted one by cutting it down, but I appreciate your energy and I am sure that the end result will be more pleasing to your eye.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Jeffrey, couple of questions: 1) can you explain where you suggest putting that 3" screw? Uh... be nice. ;-) FYI, I am putting two 4" lags to hold the post to the ties

2) I purhcased Liquid Nails Ultra Duty Poly... is the Titebond II much different? I could exchange.

Guys, assuming I have to make a pass w/ the router to round the ends OR chisel out the holes, it seems like the Mortiser would be easier... except for the 3/4" bit not coming w/ the mortiser (and possibly overworking the machine?! -- Jeffrey do you agree it may not handle 3/4" bit?)

Regarding mortising bits... is there a difference bet. the type used w/ a drill press and for a mortiser? I want to make sure I order the right bit, if I go that route... which I am leaning towards.

One other thing... I guess I should meantion I have a 12" drill press, I've read they suck for use w/ mortising bit... but is it worth a try, especially if the bit is the same bit I'd need for the mortiser anyway?

LOL! Forget the 3" screw. (2) 4" lags certainly ought to do the job.


Don't know much about the Ultra Duty Poly, but if it is a poly like Gorilla Glue then you are set. Either way I dont think it is a big deal now that I know you have (2) 4" lags holding the post in place.

It will handle the 3/4" chisel as you are working with a soft wood, however they are dreadfully expensive. Two passes of the 3/8" would be in order.


Good news . . . . Delta Mortiser you are looking at includes chisel/bits. (and my guess is that they are different).

Some people use attachment for drill press. Given that is your single task and you don;t have to worry about taking it on and off over time, it would not be as big of a hassel as someone who used the Mortising component and needed the regular drill press often. I understand they are not fun to take on and off. Seriously, my vote is for the dedicated tool here! Kit for DP is probably around $60-70 . . . thats halfway to the Delta Mortiser. Plus other woodworkers who visit your shop will give you 1.5 extra credits on the skilled woodworker scale just cause you have it. LOL.

BTW, I certainly am not against using router and straight bit here, but I would not roundover, I would use square mortising chisel. I don;t think it is that much work versus time on mortiser. I think time would be about equal between router/chisel and mortiser.

[agent511]

It will handle the 3/4" chisel as you are working with a soft wood, however they are dreadfully expensive.

As I said, i googled "3/4" mortise bit." the first three prices are $32.95, $24.95, and $19.95. I would be hard-pressed to call that dreadfully expensive.

If the Delta is like most mortisers, it comes with a 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" chisel. So the 3/4" would be an extra purchase.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

As I said, i googled "3/4" mortise bit." the first three prices are $32.95, $24.95, and $19.95. I would be hard-pressed to call that dreadfully expensive.

If the Delta is like most mortisers, it comes with a 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" chisel. So the 3/4" would be an extra purchase.

Sorry I offended, however I did not read your response, rather I was replying to the question the poster ask me.

Fisch 3/4" chisel/bit is $59.99 which is 1/3 the cost of the Delta Machine, which I consider to be a bit on the high side. Agent511 points out that there are cheaper chisels out there, so that would be an option in the soft wood.

The Delta in question comes with 1/4", 5/16", 3/8" and 1/2".

Again, sorry if you thought I was second guessing you agent511.

[LarryG]

Well, sure, the mortising machine will definitely be the better tool for this job. I had the impression, from this thread and the one the OP started elsewhere about routers, that there was a budgetary limit that made it a choice between one tool or the other -- not both.

Anyway, with that said:

Even if the Delta will accept a 3/4" chisel, I'm not sure I'd buy one. Since you're working with softwood on this project, the additional punches with a smaller size won't be that much extra work.

If I were doing this, I'd rig up stop blocks at each end of the post as it lays on the mortising machine's table, to define both ends of the mortise. Set the fence as needed to define one edge of the mortise, and cut a removable spacer block to fit between the fence and the post to define the other edge. Alternatively, you could cut one side of all the mortises in all the posts with the fence in one position, then reset the fence and make a second pass to widen them out. I'm inclined to think the spacer block would be easier/quicker, though.

[davidtu]

Well, I guess I am going to have my choice of tools as I ended up grabbing the Detla Mortiser w/ intention of getting a router on sale at some point. "Unfortunately" that some point turned out to be today as I picked up the Bosch 1617 kit today for $161 at Amazon, and also applied the $25 off (again!) So.... in a week or two I will get to decide which one works best.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Well, I guess I am going to have my choice of tools as I ended up grabbing the Detla Mortiser w/ intention of getting a router on sale at some point. "Unfortunately" that some point turned out to be today as I picked up the Bosch 1617 kit today for $161 at Amazon, and also applied the $25 off (again!) So.... in a week or two I will get to decide which one works best.

Sweet! Your woodworking skills are about to take a quantum leap forward. A router is an incrediably versatile tool that you will find yourself using on practically every project (except the fence posts. LOL!).
Good luck and welcome to the forum.