How do I make mortises?

[LinuxRandal]

I can pick one up with a coupon for $100 where I am. Is there anything else that I will need in order to use it or to make good mortises?

Interested in the response to this, as I think hand chisels will still be needed for cleanup (cutters dull). But I want to see what else they recommend.

[JimD]

I would not get the HF mortiser. At least research it. I seem to remember negative comments. I have the Jet mortiser. It is about $200 and it or the Delta are about the cheapest mortisers I think you will be happy with. 1/2 inch mortises in hardwood are a little tough for my mortiser but it will do it. I think 3/8 is enough for your application.

Before I bought my mortiser, I used a plunge router with a spiral up cut bit. It is noisy and pretty slow but I got accurate mortises. I just rounded over the tenons rather than trying to square the mortises. I also used loose tenons sometimes - mortises on both sides and tenons that slide into each. Getting the shoulders tight is the toughest part of making the tenons and this is avoided with a loose mortise and tenon. I ended up with a shoulder plane (about $140) to allow me to trim the shoulders.

So for maximum speed and accuracy, I would get a hollow chisel mortiser, cut the tenons on a table saw, and trim them with a shoulder plane. But for the same results with a little more noise and time, you can use a plunge router and loose tenons. I have done multiple projects both ways and I am sure they both can give good results.

Jim

[billwmeyer]

I have the HF mortiser and it cuts well. The only problem I have with it is the fence is a little finicky, however, I understand that is a problem with many brands.

Bill

[Norm in Fujino]

This past summer I made a router mortising jig based on one I found in Shopnotes. It is easy to build and works great. One of the best jigs I've found online. Just remember to use a straight spiral upcut bit to help clear the chips. You will still need a couple of chisels to clean the sides and square the ends.

[LinuxRandal]

Or using Norms method, you don't have to use chisels and clean/square the sides. (My brain is fried tonight)

Our old friend/member from Poland, if I remember correctly, on one of the forums, showed, taking stock the thickness of the tenon, and rounding the edges on the router table. Then he cut them to length for floating tenons.

[drumpriest]

Relink #1000, ha ha, I STILL can't believe the tutorials get overlooked. I have the good fortune of now owning a domino, but before that, and for larger stuff, this is how I do it. It's cheap and space efficient, I wish I had room for a dedicated mortiser, but I don't, I'd rather have my drum sander.

http://bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=27419