DIYbanter - Anyone using General 75-050 mortiser?

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Anyone using General 75-050 mortiser?

Is anyone using the General 75-050 mortiser? I'm interested in the
comments (good/bad) of owners.

Thanks,
Nate

Hi Nate,
About 41 threads here. Cheers, JG

http://groups.google.ca/groups?hl=en...ec.woodworking

Nate Perkins wrote:

Is anyone using the General 75-050 mortiser? I'm interested in the
comments (good/bad) of owners.

Thanks,
Nate

Nate -

Got it, love it, wish I could have waited for the tilt head version....
Plenty of power, good chisels, good fit and finish and beefy hold down.
The cheeks of the mortises it cuts are smoother than other MM's I've used
and WAY tighter than I'd ever get with a mortising chisel. I'd buy it again
in a heartbeat.

YMMV,

John Moorhead

Does anyone know who sells the 75-050 T. I was it in the wood review but I
can't find anyone who sells it. Even Generals web site doesn't list it.

--
If at first you don't succeed, you're not cut out for skydiving

"John Moorhead" wrote in message
. com...
Nate -

Got it, love it, wish I could have waited for the tilt head version....
Plenty of power, good chisels, good fit and finish and beefy hold down.
The cheeks of the mortises it cuts are smoother than other MM's I've used
and WAY tighter than I'd ever get with a mortising chisel. I'd buy it
again
in a heartbeat.

YMMV,

John Moorhead

"TBone" wrote in
m:

Does anyone know who sells the 75-050 T. I was it in the wood review
but I can't find anyone who sells it. Even Generals web site doesn't
list it.

The list of distributors can be found at the General website.

Most of the distributors I talked to were aware of the T model, but
everyone I contacted was out of stock until January.

Good luck,
Nate

"Nate Perkins" wrote in message

Most of the distributors I talked to were aware of the T model, but
everyone I contacted was out of stock until January.

What's the different between the 75-050 and the 75-050 T?

"Nate Perkins" wrote in message

What's the different between the 75-050 and the 75-050 T?

The 75-050T has the tilting head (as opposed to the 75-050M1, which has
a fixed head). Also, it has a slightly different column, a slightly
wider base, and weighs about 20 lbs more. It also costs about $50-$75
more. Both have the same front and top clamp holddown mechanism.

So I can assume that the T model is the little brother to the 75-075 model?
I've had my eye on the 075 model for awhile, but only because it had the
tilting option. IF the 050 T model tilts, then it sounds like the best of
both worlds ~ lower price but still tilt capable.

On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 04:06:33 -0500, "Upscale"
wrote:
snip
... IF the 050 T model tilts, then it sounds like the best of
both worlds ~ lower price but still tilt capable.

or one of those horrible compromises that is weak in all features.
For example, adding the tilting feature possibly weakens the upright
strength of the original tool and is not robust enough to do the tilt
cut properly.

Mind you, I have no opinion on this matter or any experience with this
particular tool, I'm just pointing out an alternate possibility based
on my experience with other equipment.

TWS

"TWS" wrote in message
For example, adding the tilting feature possibly weakens the upright
strength of the original tool and is not robust enough to do the tilt
cut properly.

Mind you, I have no opinion on this matter or any experience with this
particular tool, I'm just pointing out an alternate possibility based
on my experience with other equipment.

Yes, it makes sense to consider all variables. However, my tendency is to
buy better quality products, especially tools and that usually mandates my
researching opinions on usage as well as examining them in person first.

"Upscale" wrote in message
...
"TWS" wrote in message
For example, adding the tilting feature possibly weakens the upright
strength of the original tool and is not robust enough to do the tilt
cut properly.

Mind you, I have no opinion on this matter or any experience with this
particular tool, I'm just pointing out an alternate possibility based
on my experience with other equipment.

Yes, it makes sense to consider all variables. However, my tendency is to
buy better quality products, especially tools and that usually mandates my
researching opinions on usage as well as examining them in person first.

Wood Magazine did its review on mortises and named the 75-050 T its top
choice. I doubt that it has been weakened by the tilt feature enough to
effect it in any way for the job it was designed for.

--
If at first you don't succeed, you're not cut out for skydiving

I looked on their web site but could not find it in any of the distributors
listed. Which ones did you contact?

--
If at first you don't succeed, you're not cut out for skydiving

"Nate Perkins" wrote in message
25.201...
"TBone" wrote in
m:

Does anyone know who sells the 75-050 T. I was it in the wood review
but I can't find anyone who sells it. Even Generals web site doesn't
list it.

The list of distributors can be found at the General website.

Most of the distributors I talked to were aware of the T model, but
everyone I contacted was out of stock until January.

Good luck,
Nate

"Upscale" wrote in
:

"Nate Perkins" wrote in message

What's the different between the 75-050 and the 75-050 T?

The 75-050T has the tilting head (as opposed to the 75-050M1, which
has a fixed head). Also, it has a slightly different column, a
slightly wider base, and weighs about 20 lbs more. It also costs
about $50-$75 more. Both have the same front and top clamp holddown
mechanism.

So I can assume that the T model is the little brother to the 75-075
model? I've had my eye on the 075 model for awhile, but only because
it had the tilting option. IF the 050 T model tilts, then it sounds
like the best of both worlds ~ lower price but still tilt capable.

The 075 model is really a step up ... more comparable to the Powermatic
719 w/tilt. The 075 has better stops all the way around and handwheels
moving the bed in x and y.

The 050T is really more like the 050M1, except that the column and base
appear to have been beefed up to permit the tilt. Otherwise the 050T
looks to be pretty much the same as the 050M1.

The only place I've seen a review of the 050T is in the July issue of
Wood magazine. It's a pretty new model, just released last spring.

Good luck!
Nate

"TBone" wrote in
m:

I looked on their web site but could not find it in any of the
distributors listed. Which ones did you contact?

Here's the link of all US distributors:

http://www.general.ca/english/usa.htm

There's another link for distributors in Canada, etc. Their distribution
network is not the greatest it seems.

Nate Perkins wrote:
"TBone" wrote in
m:

Does anyone know who sells the 75-050 T. I was it in the wood
review
but I can't find anyone who sells it. Even Generals web site
doesn't
list it.

The list of distributors can be found at the General website.

Most of the distributors I talked to were aware of the T model, but
everyone I contacted was out of stock until January.

Good luck,
Nate

Hey folks,

I picked up my new General 75-050T mortiser last night. Nice machine!
A few observations:

- It's pretty heavy for a benchtop (about 90 lbs or so). Seems a lot
beefier than most of the benchtops.

- The tilt head model is more pricey than the average benchtop at $379.
But then again it's a step up in terms of mass, appearance, and
features compared to most of the benchtops. The non-tilt was $319.

- High fence with a good clamping front hold down, as well as a topside
hold down. I love the frontside clamp and handwheel. The only
drawback I saw was that the frontside holddown and the topside holddown
cannot both be used simulaneously if the wood you are using is less
than about 2.5" tall. Could be fixed if General made the frontside
clamp attach a little lower to the table. Frankly the frontside hold
down is good enough that I don't see much need for the topside second
clamp.

- The horizontal and vertical stops as well as the frontside clamp are
all done with hand knobs (no tools). Nice. The only tool required is
a chuck key, which has a holder on the back of the unit.

- The four supplied chisels are pretty sharp out of the box ... they
work well once the auger to chisel depth is set correctly according to
the manual (like all mortisers, they'll clog if the auger is set too
shallow). I'm still going to polish the sides and get the Lee Valley
cones.

- The long hand crank is very comfortable, and the top end of range
travel adjustment is nice.

- Only did about two dozen holes (mostly in poplar). No binding, etc,
with clean holes. Seemed to take very little effort and the chips were
coming out pretty cleanly. I need to test it out on hard maple to see
if it's as smooth.

- The manual is a little skimpy but a mortiser isn't that complicated.
There are a minimum number of parts to assemble and with common sense
it's no sweat. A better manual would be nice but most woodworkers will
have no problems figuring it out.

- I have yet to try the head tilt or head extension. Maybe tonight.

I bought this unit in Denver at a place called Tool Zone. Cool place
if you are in the area. They have lots of tools ... Jet, General,
Powermatic, etc sitting on the floor. Prices are reasonable and they
seemed to want to spend a lot of time cultivating repeat customers.

Cheers,
Nate

p.s. Usual disclaimer: no relation to General or Tool Zone other than
as a customer.