Bob wrote:

snip

I think you would get a lot more use out of a good router. I
recently did a project that required 40 large Mortise and Tenons. I cut all
the mortises with the router and a simple template I made. A router cuts
mortises cleaner than just about any other method. I did not have to clean
up a single one of them. Once you get the hang of it and have a good jig,
you can cut them reasonably quickly.

Bob


I agree, a plunge router and a shop built jig will let you do loose
tenon,
mortise and tenon joints without using up floor space. And the
beauty of loose tenon M&T joints are
1. low risk. blow a tenon or a tenon length and you're on the
way to SOL land. Not a problem with loose tenons since
you can make another one with out having to make a whole
new part that shows (and costs a bit of $s)
2. no "visible" part length PLUS tenon length calcs. "Visible
length" and part's length are the same.

Here's a jig I made
http://home.comcast.net/~charliebcz/...TenonJig1.html

And Trend makes a Mortise & Tenon Jig for use with a router.
http://home.comcast.net/~charliebcz/...endMTjig1.html
That'll do angled on two axis mortises and tenons or both mortises
and a loose tenon.

If you're going to do angled mortises and want to spend some
bucks there's the General International 75-075 M1 or it's smaller
sibling which I think is called the 75-050. Here's the 75-075M1
http://home.comcast.net/~charliebcz/Mortiser.html

And if you want to Neander the mortises the Jim Wilson
mortising chisels Steve Knight use to sell will take a
licking and keep on ticking

Most of the combination machines (not the ShopSmith type
combi) have a horizontal boring/slot mortising feature like
on the Robland X31. The XYZ table sure helps
http://home.comcast.net/~charliebcz/X31pg3.html

As for a "mortising kit" for a drill press - unless you're
a masochist or EXTEREMELY patient and methodical
I'd skip it. The stock hold downs and hold ins SUCK!
The fence alignment is a PITA and taking it on and
off between drill press uses ain't fun either.

charlie b

(and yes, I AM a TOOL FREAK who occassionaly
actually makes things with them)
http://home.comcast.net/~charliebcz/Boxes1.html

However you go you'll need a good layout tool (or tools)
and some knowledge of stock marking methods etc.
Might want to have a look at this stuff.
http://home.comcast.net/~charliebcz/MTPrimer0.html