Use for mortising machine chisels

[headhunter636]

Has anyone used mortising machine chisels by hand after drilling out the initial mortise? I have some of them from an old mortising attachment that does not fit my drill press and I don't plan on getting a dedicated machine. I just though maybe the chisel and a wooden mallet would get the job done almost as easy as a machine.

Just a thought, what do you think?

[LarryG]

Sure, you can do that. As Nahm frequently says on The New Yankee Workshop, "The drill bit removes most of the material and the chisel squares it up." But it doesn't have to be done in one operation. I have wasted the bulk of the material in a mortise with some kind of bit (either chucked into a power drill, or a brace) and then used a square chisel from my mortising machine and a mallet to finish it up. Works great. Not as easy as with the machine, especially in hardwoods. But it does work.

[headhunter636]

I will have to give it a shot then. After looking into mortising machines, it seems that the setup took longer than just doing it by hand.

Thanks.

[Norm in Fujino]

I will have to give it a shot then. After looking into mortising machines, it seems that the setup took longer than just doing it by hand.

I guess it depends on how many mortises you have to do. I have a dedicated mortiser, and love it for doing leg mortises. Doesn't take much setup, but then, such things are relative.