Another stupid mortiser question...

[dbhost]

As we all know, the HF mortiser has a terrible fence / hold down mechanism...

I am wondering... What's wrong with replacing the not so great table, with a shop made table, with T tracks in the same manner as a drill press table, so you can use better hold downs on this thing that won't be anywhere near as problematic as the OE ones?

[LCHIEN]

My mortiser solution was to install a X-Y sub-base.
A machinists slide milling X-Y table I used to modify my Mortiser (Jet JBM-5) - is substantially more solid than the X-Y vises sold at HF.


Like this:
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=201-2826



I raised the post for the mortising column by the height of the X-Y table.
I could use the original fence and inadequate hold down, or, Using the t-slots in the table use a new table with an integral clamp mechanism. The whole clamp mechanism will shift with the table so there's no need to loosen the clamp or allow the clamp sliding clearance. Much more accurate and solid performance. I can move the table exact amounts using the vernier on the X- travel and also make precise width adjustments using the Y-travel.

The only trouble is, the X-Y table costs about $90, nearly as much as your mortiser.

Oh, here some pics posted a while back - my X-Y table on my Jet mortiser:




I took off the smallish base, added a new, larger base and a riser for the post The riser needs to be a bridge to allow part of the x-y table to stck back under the mortiser post. The original fence (it and the base can be seen in the background) will still line up to the x-y top like it did for the original base, but I can also use a base afixed to the X-Y to clamp and move the work piece (new base not shown).