I'm planning on getting a mortising attachment for the dp (I know, I
know, a dedicated machine is better, but I don't have money or space
right now). Anyway, I've read in the archives here that a good-quality
chisel makes a big difference in this application. I was wondering if
anyone has used the LV "Premium Hollow Mortise Chisels & Bits"
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...240,53317&ap=1
Other possibilities I've found in this price range include the CMT
mortising bits from Woodcraft, or the Delta "Professional" chisel & bit
set through Amazon. Hartville Tool also has some of their own name
bits for about $10 on clearance that they claim are as good as bits
twice the price.
(I know the shank sizes vary (5/8 or 3/4), so the attachment I buy will
probably depend on which bit/s I get.)
So... What "premium" chisel/bit sets have you used, and what were your
experiences? I'm not looking for the super-premium $40-100 bits - I'm
thinking $20-25 each range. I'd appreciate shared experience or
advice.
By the way, does anyone have a used DP mortising attachment sitting
around your shop, unused since the purchase of your new dedicated
mortising machine? My DP spindle is 1 13/16"; the closest attachments
I've found are 48mm by Delta or 1 7/8" by Grizzly, so I'd need to shim
it up either way. Let me know.
Thanks,
Andy

"Andy" wrote in message
s.com...
I'm planning on getting a mortising attachment for the dp (I know, I
know, a dedicated machine is better, but I don't have money or space
right now). Anyway, I've read in the archives here that a good-quality
chisel makes a big difference in this application. I was wondering if
anyone has used the LV "Premium Hollow Mortise Chisels & Bits"
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...240,53317&ap=1
Other possibilities I've found in this price range include the CMT
mortising bits from Woodcraft, or the Delta "Professional" chisel & bit
set through Amazon. Hartville Tool also has some of their own name
bits for about $10 on clearance that they claim are as good as bits
twice the price.
(I know the shank sizes vary (5/8 or 3/4), so the attachment I buy will
probably depend on which bit/s I get.)
So... What "premium" chisel/bit sets have you used, and what were your
experiences? I'm not looking for the super-premium $40-100 bits - I'm
thinking $20-25 each range. I'd appreciate shared experience or
advice.
By the way, does anyone have a used DP mortising attachment sitting
around your shop, unused since the purchase of your new dedicated
mortising machine? My DP spindle is 1 13/16"; the closest attachments
I've found are 48mm by Delta or 1 7/8" by Grizzly, so I'd need to shim
it up either way. Let me know.
Thanks,
Andy


Take it from me, a DP mortising attachment is a huge pain. By the time you
buy the attachment, quality chisels and bits, hone and sharpen them, you
could have made the mortis with a forstner bit and a sharp chisel.

OTOH, if you plan on doing allot of mortising in the future, buy a good,
dedicated mortising machine and a set of high quality chisels. The ones
from LV look nice but the low price scares me a little. I paid close to $75
for each chisel/bit combination (Forrest City) and damn glad I did. They
made a huge difference in the machines performance.

However, I still make a number of mortises with the plunge router.

"Andy" wrote:

I'm planning on getting a mortising attachment for the dp (I know, I
know, a dedicated machine is better, but I don't have money or space
right now).

snip

SFWIW, a drill press mortising attachment gets a lot of bad press
around here.

So much so that I used a good forstner bit in a drill press followed
by a 4 flute bottom end mill to do the chisel work.

Very acceptable for my work; however, next time around probably use
the plunge router with an up spiral bit.

In any event it won't be a drill press mounted mortising attachment.

Lew

Andy wrote:
I'm planning on getting a mortising attachment for the dp (I know, I
know, a dedicated machine is better, but I don't have money or space
right now). Anyway, I've read in the archives here that a good-quality
chisel makes a big difference in this application. I was wondering if
anyone has used the LV "Premium Hollow Mortise Chisels & Bits"
Let me know.
Thanks,
Andy
For what it's worth I took the plunge a couple of years ago and bought
the Delta Bechtop Mortiser,the newer model with the big heavy cast iron
base ,and I love it. I probably don't use it nearly enough to justify
having it, but it sure makes mortises a breeze. And as has been noted
above by the time you buy the attachment and some good chisels you are
most of the way to the price of that delta benchtop. I haven't looked
lately but it was about $200 the last time I looked. Hope that helps.
bc

Andy wrote:
I'm planning on getting a mortising attachment for the dp (I know, I
know, a dedicated machine is better

A good mortising chisel can make a 5" deep mortise; what is the
plunge (spindle feed) range of your drill press? Mine is only 2.375
inches.

Teamcasa wrote:

However, I still make a number of mortises with the plunge router.



Make that two of us.

snip

The ones from LV look nice but the low price scares me a little.

Well.... we could put the prices up .....

Actually - the prices on those DO go up 8-10% on Friday......

B A R R Y wrote:
Teamcasa wrote:

However, I still make a number of mortises with the plunge router.



Make that two of us.

OK, if anyone's still watching this thread, you've almost convinced me
to go with a plunge router mortising jig rather than a hollow mortise
dp attachment (don't worry Rob - LV will still be receiving a good
portion of my woodworking budget...). What kind of jig have you found
to be most useful/convenient/effective? A link would be wonderful, or
a book title would be great also. Trying to decide whether to get a
3/8" collet for my DW618 plunger, so I could use a spiral upcut to do
3/8" mortises without worrying about the little bushing adapter thing
(which isn't all that much cheaper than the $16-19 collet...)
Thanks,
Andy

The chisels are great, I love mine, much better then Grizzly's or the ones
off an old shopsmith that I have. Now do you have to raise prices? Still
would be a good buy though a real good buy.
"Rob Lee" wrote in message
...
snip

The ones from LV look nice but the low price scares me a little.

Well.... we could put the prices up .....

Actually - the prices on those DO go up 8-10% on Friday......

"Andy" wrote in message
oups.com...

B A R R Y wrote:
Teamcasa wrote:

However, I still make a number of mortises with the plunge router.



Make that two of us.

OK, if anyone's still watching this thread, you've almost convinced me
to go with a plunge router mortising jig rather than a hollow mortise
dp attachment (don't worry Rob - LV will still be receiving a good
portion of my woodworking budget...). What kind of jig have you found
to be most useful/convenient/effective? A link would be wonderful, or
a book title would be great also. Trying to decide whether to get a
3/8" collet for my DW618 plunger, so I could use a spiral upcut to do
3/8" mortises without worrying about the little bushing adapter thing
(which isn't all that much cheaper than the $16-19 collet...)
Thanks,
Andy



I built the Jeff Miller jig shown in his book about chair making. It works
great! I can do a picture in a.b.p.w if you want to see it. I have a 3/8
spiral upcut (Whitehead) bit with a 1/2" shank. It works in my DW610 and
DW620.

For spiral bits, look at some place that sells machine shop supplies. 2
flute, solid carbide end mills work great and are less expensive. You will
need a 3/8 collet for the 3/8 end mill though. I use them for anything that
I need a strait bit for.

"Lowell Holmes" wrote in message
news:ZiiJg.8785$Xl5.2283@trnddc06...


I built the Jeff Miller jig shown in his book about chair making. It
works
great! I can do a picture in a.b.p.w if you want to see it. I have a 3/8
spiral upcut (Whitehead) bit with a 1/2" shank. It works in my DW610 and
DW620.

Andy wrote:

OK, if anyone's still watching this thread, you've almost convinced me
to go with a plunge router mortising jig rather than a hollow mortise
dp attachment (don't worry Rob - LV will still be receiving a good
portion of my woodworking budget...). What kind of jig have you found
to be most useful/convenient/effective?

Check Highland Hardware for a description of the Frid Jig. You can
build it in less than an hour, and that's if you're really slow.