Jet JBM-5 Mortiser

[BigguyZ]

Morning all,
Last night I picked up a floor model JBM-5 mortiser for $100 from Menards. But the thing didn't come with a manual, so I don't know what parts may be missing and I'm not experienced with using a mortising machine.

I've look on Jet's website, and online as well and can't find a PDF or anything of the manual. Does anyone know of a resource that would include this? Can anyone suggest where I can go to learn to use the sucker?

[LarryG]

amazon.com has downloadable manuals for many tools but, alas, your mortiser isn't one of them.

They do, however, have the one for the Delta MM300, which is very similar to your JET, and the Delta 14-651. If all else fails, grab one or both of these. A few minutes perusing either ought to tell you what you need to know. There's really not a lot about a mortiser that isn't self-evident apart from how to install the chisel and bit, and that's pretty much the same for any machine regardless of brand.

[RayintheUK]

I've been in touch with my Jet contact, who will e-mail me a copy of the manual. I'll let you know when it arrives.

Ray.

[BigguyZ]

Wow, thanks Ray! Now I gotta figur out how I'll have this thing set up in my shop....

[LCHIEN]

good find for $100!

[RayintheUK]

Manual sent by e-mail to the address you provided. I hope it's what you need.

Ray.

[BigguyZ]

Thanks again! I'm not at work anymore, but you can bet that come 6am tomorrow I'll be reading it!

[BigguyZ]

Well, I dropped by my local Rockler for the hand screws, and checked out their JBM-5 while I was there. Looking at the manual Ray sent me confirms what I noticed was missing from my machine- the additional bushings. I'm also missing the chuck key, but that's no big deal.

The manual also lists a spindle extension as being included in the box. Looking at the parts list, I can't find it to see if my tool has it. Is is necessary, and what does it look like?

[LCHIEN]

Well, I dropped by my local Rockler for the hand screws, and checked out their JBM-5 while I was there. Looking at the manual Ray sent me confirms what I noticed was missing from my machine- the additional bushings. I'm also missing the chuck key, but that's no big deal.

The manual also lists a spindle extension as being included in the box. Looking at the parts list, I can't find it to see if my tool has it. Is is necessary, and what does it look like?

I don't recall offhand what a spindle extension is, but IIRC
the chuck key is extra long... may be a special.

[JimD]

I have a height extension - so you can mortise wider stock - for my Jet but I don't think it was called a spindle extension but I could have forgotten by now. it is a cast piece the diameter of the big tube on the back of the mortiser and a couple longer bolts to you can bolt the mortiser to the base through the extension. For narrower pieces, you do not need it.

I would think the spindle is the part the chuck is on, however.

If it will hold bits, has a movable fence to hold the wood against, and a hold-down to go over the workpiece, it should work. Needs a motor but that is pretty built in. Not that much too these machines but they sure make cutting mortises a lot quicker.

Jim

[BigguyZ]

Well the bushing that was on the machine seems to fit all of the chisels that came with it. So, I guess I only need the other bushings if I use other brands of chisels? If so, I won't need those.

I can't find the spindle extension in the diagrams, so I don't really need that, it would seem. So, it looks like the only thing I need is the chuck key. It is extra long, so I'll either have to order one from Jet, or online somewhere. The price I got frim Jet is $3.07. The spindle adaptor is $4.74... The bushings were just under $3 each.

[JimD]

I would definitely get the Jet chuck key for this price. It fits well but is also long which helps since the chuck is not out in the open like on a drill press. I have one bit other than what came with the machine (a 5/16) and it worked fine with no adapter.

You might eventually want the extension for the column but if you don't need it for anything right now, you can add it later. I bought it to make mortises in some stiles of interior doors. They were close to 6 inches wide and I needed the extension. For typical furniture projects, I doubt you will need it.

Jim

[LCHIEN]

The bushing adapter being only 3 bucks, if you have to place an order for the special chuck key (needed as pointed out by JimD because the chuck is recessed in the housing behind a door, not out in theopen like a regular drill), I'd get one.

There are two common bushing sizes in use, 3/4 and 5/8. This is the bushing at the top of the mortise chisels. If you buy a new chisel off the street, they'll be one or the other bushing at the top. The ads for chisels don't usually state which they are, you have to wait till you get one in hand or do a lot of calling and explaining to find out. So it's a safety or insurance bet that you'll be able to use any encountered chisel.

[Patterson]

I picked up a JBM-5 last night from Menards - also missing 3/4 bushing and spindel extension. The extension is for use with shorter chisel-bits, so no big deal for me... The 3/4 inch bushing, however, annoys me...

Just got off the phone with Jet. They say I have to special order through a distributor, i.e. they say I have to pay for it again... Not very happy...

I also got the floor model, but not at such a great price - $200 plus they threw in a $50 set of chisel bits. I was also missing the manual, but the Jet customer service people emailed me a pdf very quickly...