I'm looking at the Delta and the Jet bench mortisers. Any recommendations?

Max

"Max" wrote in message
. com...
I'm looking at the Delta and the Jet bench mortisers. Any
recommendations?

Max


I have the Delta. Works well. The chisels have to be sharpened before
using them for best results. Lee Valley has a conical shaped tool for doing
the inside, any good stone can hone the outside.

I chose the Delta over the Jet because it had a little more heft to it and a
better metal fence, no MDF. Thee was about a $20 price difference. One of
the magazines rated a few machines and both of these were good buys.
--
Ed
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/

"Max" wrote in
. com:

I'm looking at the Delta and the Jet bench mortisers. Any
recommendations?

Max



I have the General 75-050T. It's more expensive than the Delta or the Jet,
but it's beefier, has a front holddown, and has a tilting head.

The July 2004 issue of Wood contains some comparative reviews.

I have the Delta too and Ed is right - you have to sharpen up the chisels
out of the box. And sharpen often too if mortising hard wood - not unlike a
normal chisel.

--
John


"Max" wrote in message
. com...
I'm looking at the Delta and the Jet bench mortisers. Any
recommendations?

Max

I have the Jet and have been very happy with it. I haven't sharpened
the chisels, and the mortises always need some clean up. But it cuts
effectively and is easy to set up.

I bought the delta bacuse it had a dovetailed (?) column rather than the
round column on the jet, On a dovetailed coulmn, you can adjust the slop out
by tighening the set screws on the slide plate (Like a milling machine.) The
primary reason I bought a dedicated mortiser rather than go on using my
drill press was to eliminate the slop of my drill press. The Jet may be
adjustable as well. but I really liked the dovetail design. They were about
the same price when I bought it, 3 years ago.
I use it often, and have had no complaints.

Joe in Denver
my woodworking website:
http://www.the-wildings.com/shop/

"Max" wrote in message
. com...
I'm looking at the Delta and the Jet bench mortisers. Any
recommendations?

Max

I agree with the other posts on the brands and quality, but for most cases I
feel it's the chisels that mean the most. They mentioned the conical
sharpening tool, but many chisels need quite a bit more. The inside must be
smooth and the chip ejection slot deburred, The body should be slightly leaner
than the cutting head, to reduce friction. I seem to recall Delta used chisels
from two places, and one was pretty good while the other was pretty well junk.
Finally, some chisels seem to have bits that extend further to the side than
needed, and leave many ridges in the sides of the mortise.
GerryG

On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 03:10:14 GMT, "Max" wrote:

I'm looking at the Delta and the Jet bench mortisers. Any recommendations?

Max

Max wrote:

I'm looking at the Delta and the Jet bench mortisers. Any recommendations?


Took the Delta over the Jet for the extra heft--wouldn't consider
anything except the model(s) w/ the metal table--not the slightly
cheaper one w/ the MDF table. Essentially the same otherwise, but the
heft is significant.

Only complaint other than that mentioned by others already is that the
added column height block w/ the Delta (and I assume the others are
similar) is very poorly designed w/ the fence positioning mechanisim.
If you can see the Jet somewhere to compare, I'd look at it from that
standpoint if you foresee any need at all for the extra capacity...

I wish there were something between the small guys and the $800-range
Powermatic....I just couldn't justify the $$ and couldn't find a used in
time to meet production demands....

BTW, you'll have to have a solid bench to mount it to, also, for
anything except the smallest of work...

"Max" wrote in
. com:

I'm looking at the Delta and the Jet bench mortisers. Any
recommendations?

I've got the Jet, works well...I don't think there's much between
them tho. Neither comes with great chisels, and the holddowns on
both pretty much suck.

There's an interesting tip in the current FWW for adapting a
sliding drill-table vise for use on a mortiser. It looks like
a real good idea, and I'm going to try it sometime soon.

John

Agreed. The fence and hold down were the difference. However, I ended up
modifying the Delta to be more secure and accurate anyway.

Dave


"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
om...

"Max" wrote in message
. com...
I'm looking at the Delta and the Jet bench mortisers. Any
recommendations?

Max


I have the Delta. Works well. The chisels have to be sharpened before
using them for best results. Lee Valley has a conical shaped tool for
doing the inside, any good stone can hone the outside.

I chose the Delta over the Jet because it had a little more heft to it and
a better metal fence, no MDF. Thee was about a $20 price difference. One
of the magazines rated a few machines and both of these were good buys.
--
Ed
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/




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"John McCoy" wrote in message
0...
"Max" wrote in
. com:

I'm looking at the Delta and the Jet bench mortisers. Any
recommendations?

I've got the Jet, works well...I don't think there's much between
them tho. Neither comes with great chisels, and the holddowns on
both pretty much suck.

There's an interesting tip in the current FWW for adapting a
sliding drill-table vise for use on a mortiser. It looks like
a real good idea, and I'm going to try it sometime soon.

John

I suggest you get a cross-slide vise immediately, if not sooner
It's so easy to set up and use now, its ridiculous. I can crank out
precise, repeatable mortises now, it's actually fun! Since it's a Jet,
if you want any instructions or a picture of it, let me know.

Mark Howell wrote:
....
I suggest you get a cross-slide vise immediately, if not sooner
....

How do you avoid losing most of the height clearance?

TeamCasa wrote:

....
modifying the Delta to be more secure and accurate anyway.
....

What mod's did you make?

"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message
...
Mark Howell wrote:
...
I suggest you get a cross-slide vise immediately, if not sooner
...

How do you avoid losing most of the height clearance?

By attaching the mortiser and vise, independantly, to a stepped base.

See my website on the jigs page for implementation details.


Joe in Denver
my woodworking website:
http://www.the-wildings.com/shop/

"John McCoy" wrote in message
0...
"Max" wrote in
. com:

I'm looking at the Delta and the Jet bench mortisers. Any
recommendations?

I've got the Jet, works well...I don't think there's much between
them tho. Neither comes with great chisels, and the holddowns on
both pretty much suck.

There's an interesting tip in the current FWW for adapting a
sliding drill-table vise for use on a mortiser. It looks like
a real good idea, and I'm going to try it sometime soon.

John

Replaced the table with a larger table that I put T-slots in for other
guides and holdowns - replaced the U shaped holddown with larger one
(custom made from alunimum). And I have used my cros-slide vice on occasion
for smaller pieces.

Dave


"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message
...
TeamCasa wrote:

...
modifying the Delta to be more secure and accurate anyway.
...

What mod's did you make?



Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
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Mark Howell wrote:

"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message
...
Mark Howell wrote:
...
I suggest you get a cross-slide vise immediately, if not sooner
...

How do you avoid losing most of the height clearance?

By attaching the mortiser and vise, independantly, to a stepped base.

In other words, you took the column off the original base?

"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message
...
Mark Howell wrote:

"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message
...
Mark Howell wrote:
...
I suggest you get a cross-slide vise immediately, if not sooner
...

How do you avoid losing most of the height clearance?

By attaching the mortiser and vise, independantly, to a stepped base.

In other words, you took the column off the original base?

Ahh, I see the confusion. The base gets bolted 180 to the column,
so the unused table part is in the back. Jet kindly drilled 3 extra
holes in the base to do this.

"Joe Wilding" wrote in message
...
I bought the delta bacuse it had a dovetailed (?) column rather than the
round column on the jet, On a dovetailed coulmn, you can adjust the slop
out
by tighening the set screws on the slide plate (Like a milling machine.)
The
primary reason I bought a dedicated mortiser rather than go on using my
drill press was to eliminate the slop of my drill press. The Jet may be
adjustable as well. but I really liked the dovetail design.

Yes the Jet is adjustable, 2 set screws on the side.

They were about
the same price when I bought it, 3 years ago.
I use it often, and have had no complaints.

Joe in Denver
my woodworking website:
http://www.the-wildings.com/shop/

"Max" wrote in message
. com...
I'm looking at the Delta and the Jet bench mortisers. Any
recommendations?

Max

Mark Howell wrote:

"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message
...
Mark Howell wrote:

"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message
...
Mark Howell wrote:
...
I suggest you get a cross-slide vise immediately, if not sooner
...

How do you avoid losing most of the height clearance?

By attaching the mortiser and vise, independantly, to a stepped base.

In other words, you took the column off the original base?

Ahh, I see the confusion. The base gets bolted 180 to the column,
so the unused table part is in the back. Jet kindly drilled 3 extra
holes in the base to do this.

OK, I see...I've done the same and mounted it at the edge of the bench
in order to get heighth to mortise ends of longer pieces where (owing to
being a retrofit to existing pieces) I had to use loose tenons on both
pieces instead of making the tenon into the end of the crosspiece.

Built a set of blocks w/ slides to capture the lockbolt heads to
position the fence a the higher elevation from the bench surface.

"John McCoy" wrote in message
0...
"Max" wrote in
. com:

I'm looking at the Delta and the Jet bench mortisers. Any
recommendations?

I've got the Jet, works well...I don't think there's much between
them tho. Neither comes with great chisels, and the holddowns on
both pretty much suck.

Me the JET, too. Never have understood the objection about hold-downs.
Don't you hold your work down with one hand while pulling the lever? In
which case the "hold-down" is really a bit extractor.

"George" george@least wrote in message
...

Me the JET, too. Never have understood the objection about hold-downs.
Don't you hold your work down with one hand while pulling the lever? In
which case the "hold-down" is really a bit extractor.

I don't own a mortiser, but I'd expect that holding a piece of wood down
with the hand is much less stable than using the metal hold down on a
machine. Do the hold downs on a mortiser permit the wood to slide around,
even incrementally?

Upscale wrote:

"George" george@least wrote in message
...

Me the JET, too. Never have understood the objection about hold-downs.
Don't you hold your work down with one hand while pulling the lever? In
which case the "hold-down" is really a bit extractor.

I don't own a mortiser, but I'd expect that holding a piece of wood down
with the hand is much less stable than using the metal hold down on a
machine. Do the hold downs on a mortiser permit the wood to slide around,
even incrementally?

Some do and the inexpensive machines are poorly toleranced castings.

It's also not at all uncommon for them to not have sufficient vertical
force to hold the workpiece down solidly when extracting the chisel from
hard wood, particularly w/ larger chisels...

"TeamCasa" wrote in message
...
Agreed. The fence and hold down were the difference. However, I ended up
modifying the Delta to be more secure and accurate anyway.

Dave


"Max" wrote:

I'm looking at the Delta and the Jet bench mortisers. Any
recommendations?

Max

Dave,
Could you tell me what sort of modifications you made?

Max

"Upscale" wrote in message
...
"George" george@least wrote in message
...

Me the JET, too. Never have understood the objection about hold-downs.
Don't you hold your work down with one hand while pulling the lever? In
which case the "hold-down" is really a bit extractor.

I don't own a mortiser, but I'd expect that holding a piece of wood down
with the hand is much less stable than using the metal hold down on a
machine. Do the hold downs on a mortiser permit the wood to slide around,
even incrementally?



Hate to ask, but what would _you_ do with your other hand while mortising
that's so important?

Little stickyback sandpaper and holding seem to work fine.

"Max" wrote in message
. com...


I'm looking at the Delta and the Jet bench mortisers. Any
recommendations?

IMHO, the order is:
1. Delta 14-651
2. Jet JBM-5
3. Delta MM-300

patrick conroy wrote:

"Max" wrote in message
. com...


I'm looking at the Delta and the Jet bench mortisers. Any
recommendations?

IMHO, the order is:
1. Delta 14-651
2. Jet JBM-5
3. Delta MM-300

I agree with the order and I own the JBM-5.

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
(Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply)

I bought this Shop Fox model:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...=hi&n=507846on sale for $150 at a local hardware store, and this fence set up hehttp://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product...%20machineThis is my first Shop Fox machine (I normally buy Jet or Delta) and I'vebeen quite pleased with it. Recently I've been using the 1/2" chisel tobore large mortises in 10/4 oak for a workbench and it's never even boggeddown. Also, it's 100x easier to set up and use than those drill pressattachments, especially with the aftermarket table (I didn't like thefactory supplied table at all). I preferred this machine over the Delta andJet because I really liked the way the handle is- longer means moreleverage. The machine has 3/4 hp motor and I thought just it seemed morestout than the others. The price is what ultimately won me overhough. --dave."TeamCasa" wrote in ... Replaced the table with a larger table that I put T-slots in for otherguides and holdowns - replaced the U shaped holddown with larger one(custom made from alunimum). And I have used my cros-slide vice on occasionfor smaller pieces. Dave "Duane Bozarth" wrote in ... TeamCasa wrote: ... modifying the Delta to be more secure and accurate anyway. ... What mod's did you make? Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services ---------------------------------------------------------- ** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY ** ----------------------------------------------------------http://www.usenet.com

"Max" wrote in message
. com...
I'm looking at the Delta and the Jet bench mortisers. Any
recommendations?

Max



I agonized over this decision a few years back.
I took home a Fisch and love it.
Bottom line, any of them will do a good job.
Don't forget stones for the bits.
Mark

"Max" wrote in message
. com...
I'm looking at the Delta and the Jet bench mortisers. Any
recommendations?

Max

I certainly appreciate all the input. I've ordered the Delta 14-651. I'll
post my impressions after I've had a chance to use it.
My thanks to everyone. I've also ordered sharpening stones.

Has anyone discovered which bits are the best?

Max

"Max" wrote in message
. com...

I certainly appreciate all the input. I've ordered the Delta 14-651.
I'll
post my impressions after I've had a chance to use it.
My thanks to everyone. I've also ordered sharpening stones.

Has anyone discovered which bits are the best?


Sharp ones. Deburr the hollow chisel inside and out, set the bit properly
below the edges for chip clearance.

"George" george@least wrote in message
...

I don't own a mortiser, but I'd expect that holding a piece of wood down
with the hand is much less stable than using the metal hold down on a
machine.

Hate to ask, but what would _you_ do with your other hand while mortising
that's so important?

Pushing with my left hand on something solid like a bench edge while pulling
the lever with my right hand is the only way I could use a mortiser. I use a
wheelchair so using my bodyweight to assist me with the lever is not an
option. If the hold downs on a mortiser are as generally inefficient as it
sounds, I wouldn't want to add to be adding to the chance of the wood
moving.

Of course, I don't own a mortiser (yet), so other solutions may be more
practical, but my experience so far with some tools and machinery is
remarkably similar.

Upscale wrote:

"George" george@least wrote in message
...

I don't own a mortiser, but I'd expect that holding a piece of wood down
with the hand is much less stable than using the metal hold down on a
machine.

Hate to ask, but what would _you_ do with your other hand while mortising
that's so important?

Pushing with my left hand on something solid like a bench edge while pulling
the lever with my right hand is the only way I could use a mortiser. I use a
wheelchair so using my bodyweight to assist me with the lever is not an
option. If the hold downs on a mortiser are as generally inefficient as it
sounds, I wouldn't want to add to be adding to the chance of the wood
moving.

For the Delta-style that are simply the small fork on a 1/2" diam rod w/
a small hand screw (that is pretty much the same for all the small
bench-top mortisers in the $250 range afaik), they may not be sufficient
for hard wood and larger mortises w/o some help. In those instances I
typically use a clamp to hold the material snug against the fence to
prevent rocking. Adjust the clamp where it is just snug, not torqued
down and one can still make the adjustment from one position to the next
along the mortise. W/O use of the off hand, it might be necessary to
tighten that a little more.

That would be a prime reason for the adaptation to a slide vise which is
a good alternative anyway.

Of course, I don't own a mortiser (yet), so other solutions may be more
practical, but my experience so far with some tools and machinery is
remarkably similar.

In your position you might consider something more like the Powermatic
or General although they're significantly more costly they have much
better fences and hold downs. I wanted the Powermatic but had spent so
much on the barn over the last year couldn't bring myself to lay out the
extra $$ at the time...

"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message

In your position you might consider something more like the Powermatic
or General although they're significantly more costly they have much
better fences and hold downs.

Already been considered. When the time comes, I intend for my next table saw
purchase to be the General 650-T50.
http://www.general.ca/product/general/650t50an.html and I'll just as likely
consider a General mortiser. Only other decision to make would be if I'd
want (or need) the tilting version or not.

"Upscale" wrote in message
...

Pushing with my left hand on something solid like a bench edge while
pulling
the lever with my right hand is the only way I could use a mortiser. I use
a
wheelchair so using my bodyweight to assist me with the lever is not an
option. If the hold downs on a mortiser are as generally inefficient as it
sounds, I wouldn't want to add to be adding to the chance of the wood
moving.

This is such a strange issue, isn't it? If you use the thing to hold
tightly, you can't move the piece to the succeeding hole without loosening
and retightening. I consider that the pressure of the chisel is enough
downward pressure - makes the hole. All I have to provide is alignment -
for which the sandpaper and the hand works a treat.

"George" george@least wrote in message
...

This is such a strange issue, isn't it? If you use the thing to hold
tightly, you can't move the piece to the succeeding hole without loosening
and retightening. I consider that the pressure of the chisel is enough
downward pressure - makes the hole. All I have to provide is alignment -
for which the sandpaper and the hand works a treat.

Well, I don't know if it will work, but I suppose I could use my hand to
hold the work until the chisel starts to enter the wood and then grab
something more solid so I can apply real pressure to the lever. That's
assuming the chisel will stay true after it starts to enter the wood. I
guess only practical experience will answer that for me.

"Upscale" wrote in message

Well, I don't know if it will work, but I suppose I could use my hand to
hold the work until the chisel starts to enter the wood and then grab
something more solid so I can apply real pressure to the lever. That's
assuming the chisel will stay true after it starts to enter the wood. I
guess only practical experience will answer that for me.



I adjust it so it barely touches the wood and it can slide easily. IMO the
best use of the hold down is to hold the wood for chisel extraction.
Ed

"Upscale" wrote in
:

"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message

In your position you might consider something more like the
Powermatic or General although they're significantly more costly they
have much better fences and hold downs.

Already been considered. When the time comes, I intend for my next
table saw purchase to be the General 650-T50.
http://www.general.ca/product/general/650t50an.html and I'll just as
likely consider a General mortiser. Only other decision to make would
be if I'd want (or need) the tilting version or not.

I like the General. FYI, they have a large mortiser the 75-075, which is
similar in size and price to the big Powermatic (e.g., around $800). They
also have a benchtop mortiser that is bigger than most of the Jet/Deltas
.... that's the 75-050. It is moderately priced (about $320) and has a
front clamping holddown and a topside holddown. For an extra $80 or so
there's also a benchtop unit with a tilting head.

On Sat, 26 Feb 2005 07:18:10 GMT, the inscrutable Nate Perkins
spake:

"Upscale" wrote in
:

"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message

In your position you might consider something more like the
Powermatic or General although they're significantly more costly they
have much better fences and hold downs.

Already been considered. When the time comes, I intend for my next
table saw purchase to be the General 650-T50.
http://www.general.ca/product/general/650t50an.html and I'll just as
likely consider a General mortiser. Only other decision to make would
be if I'd want (or need) the tilting version or not.

I like the General. FYI, they have a large mortiser the 75-075, which is
similar in size and price to the big Powermatic (e.g., around $800). They

If I ever upgrade my Shop Fox, it'll be to a General 75-075. Beauteous
beasties, they. As it is, I'll be removing the fence and installing
an X-Y table to make it more functional.


---
- Sarcasm is just one more service we offer. -
http://diversify.com Web Applications

Nate Perkins wrote:
....
I like the General. FYI, they have a large mortiser the 75-075, which is
similar in size and price to the big Powermatic (e.g., around $800). They
also have a benchtop mortiser that is bigger than most of the Jet/Deltas
... that's the 75-050. It is moderately priced (about $320) and has a
front clamping holddown and a topside holddown. For an extra $80 or so
there's also a benchtop unit with a tilting head.

I haven't ever seen the 75-050 listed...what's the capacity? (I know, I
could go look but... )