Router Forums banner
Cancel

Dedicated mortiser vs DP mortise attachment

1801 Views 12 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  MEBCWD, 
Cherryville Chuck
I'm in the process of building a night stand for my wife. Two nights ago I was fighting with a machine and then got called in for supper and came out and made a really rookie mistake because my brain wasn't fully involved in what I was doing. I cut the crosspieces for between the legs and forgot to add on the lengths of the tenons. I had already drilled the mortises for the top pieces into the legs with my drill press mortise attachment so I was committed to tenons already. I thought that it wasn't a start over type catastrophe, I'd just switch to floating tenons instead. I just needed to mortise the ends of the cross pieces to match.

I had just finished reading an article in FWW about one of the authors wanting to use his dedicated mortiser for a project but it didn't have enough height capacity. My screw up highlighted a major difference between using a dedicated mortiser and using a drill press mortise attachment. If someone is thinking about buying one opposed to the other this is something they may want to consider first. A dedicated mortiser has a height limitation of around 6-8 inches it looks like (I couldn't find a spec on that in their ads). A floor standing DP with attachment has a height limitation of a little over 3 feet if you turn the table to vertical or move it out of the way. This allowed me to use the DP to make mortises in the ends of my 13 1/2" long pieces instead of drilling and chiseling.

Attachments

See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 5
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
Nickp
Excellent point, Charles...not so obvious until it's needed...
Reply
Save
Like
Cherryville Chuck
I hadn't thought about it before.
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 1
DesertRatTom
Good thoughts. Is it rigid enough to stay vertical with hard wood? Been thinking about getting the DP attachment beause I just won't use a mortising machine that much.
Reply
Save
Like
Cherryville Chuck
That's white birch that's 30 years old I'm using it on Tom so yes. Once the points enter the wood the top isn't going to move. A dedicated mortiser will set you back around $500, the attachment was $130 I think, but 25 years ago roughly. BJ used to say why have another machine taking up room when you already have a DP. That was my sentiment too but now I realize that the DP has far greater range so to me that makes the attachment an even better deal. The attachment takes 5 minutes or less to mount BTW. There is a clamp ring on the yoke that fits on the base of the quill, above the chuck. Mine was a Delta attachment for a Delta DP so no issues with fit but it came with a bushing for a different size quill and it sounds like the two sizes are pretty standard.
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 2
H
Cherryville Chuck said:
That's white birch that's 30 years old I'm using it on Tom so yes. Once the points enter the wood the top isn't going to move. A dedicated mortiser will set you back around $500, the attachment was $130 I think, but 25 years ago roughly. BJ used to say why have another machine taking up room when you already have a DP. That was my sentiment too but now I realize that the DP has far greater range so to me that makes the attachment an even better deal. The attachment takes 5 minutes or less to mount BTW. There is a clamp ring on the yoke that fits on the base of the quill, above the chuck. Mine was a Delta attachment for a Delta DP so no issues with fit but it came with a bushing for a different size quill and it sounds like the two sizes are pretty standard.
Click to expand...
Are you using square tenons in the spreaders instead of round?
Herb
Reply
Save
Like
Cherryville Chuck
Herb Stoops said:
Are you using square tenons in the spreaders instead of round?
Herb
Click to expand...
Yes. I used a 1/2" chisel and overlapped the holes to about 3/4" long so I cut some rectangular stock to match. If it's a little tight it only takes a minute to hand chisel out one end. None have been too loose yet but if they are I use paper or cotton cloth to tighten them up if needed. Cotton and paper will both absorb the glue and become part of the joint.
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 3
woodworker47
I have the opportunity to purchase a usd Delta mortising machine for $150 with 4 drills. New it is $352 without drills. I cannot justify the great buy. I have the drill press attachments and works for what I need.

Frank
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 3
smitty10101
those of us with Shopsmith's or other multi-tools don't have the floor as a limit!!!
It's the wall that's the limiting factor.

just sayin'

smitty
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 3
DesertRatTom
Thanks,I'm going to look into that. I have a WEN DP, which is identical to the Jet, so I can probably get the one for the JET. Sounds like it would be a good idea to contact the manufacturer to be sure. Thinking about it, I suspect I'll want the chisel bits in 3/8ths and one half inch.

I recently bought the Rockler round mortise and tennon jig that uses the pre made tennons, but I'd like to be able to make through tennons as well.
Reply
Save
Like
Cherryville Chuck
Frank if we had a lot of mortise joints to do and on a daily basis then the dedicated mortiser would be good idea and not tie up our DPs but if you just mostly putter around in the shop then it's a different story, but that is a sweet deal.

Smitty I used a Shopsmith that belonged to someone else back in the early 70s and I don't understand why they aren't more popular. They are a very handy machine for a one person shop. Especially if your floor space is limited. I pretty much have tools that do everything that one will do but if I saw a good deal on one I'd still be tempted, but I rarely see one for sale even if it's a bad deal.

Tom the yoke that holds the chisel has to fit the diameter of the quill. I found this ad for it from Lowe's that says it fits quills of 66mm, 50.8, 48, and 38mm diameter. The sets I'm familiar with come equipped with 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, and 1/2" chisels. Replacements are about $14- $17 for a chisel/drill bit pair. I snapped the drill bit on the original 1/4" one and had to replace it years ago. https://www.lowes.com/pd/DELTA-Dril...ment-with-4-Piece-Chisel-and-Bit-Set/50159101
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
Danman1957
I have both but can't use the DP attachment for it doesn't fit the DP. It's a King mortising set that cost $99 and is still brand new. It doesn't fit the collar on my General Intl DP. So I bought a dedicated mortiser a couple of years ago and I love it. The limitations only apply to a very small % if mortising requirements and if I ever need those I'll go old school and drill with a Forstner bit and chisel it square. My mortising machine is the Canadian version of HF, named Busy Bee. They sell a brand named Craftex and it's not high end but works fine and only $199 when I bought it. My joiner is also a Craftex.
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 2
MEBCWD
I have an attachment for my drill press but it has a set of adaptors so it can be used on several different drill presses.
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 3
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Router Forums
A forum community dedicated to router and woodworking professionals and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about different types of routing and routers, shop safety, finishing, woodworking related topics, styles, tools, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
New Member Introductions Tools and Woodworking General Routing Table-mounted Routing Show N' Tell
Top