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Floor Standing Mortiser

1898 Views 3 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  pintodeluxe
I'm in the market to replace my Delta benchtop mortise machine with a larger and more powerful floor standing mortise machine. I just can't seem to decide whether or not a tilting table would be beneficial or not. There doesn't appear to be much difference in the way of price, so I'm sure I'll wish I would've spent the extra money when the times comes and I don't have it. Does anyone have experience with these machines and could provide some insight and thoughts? Much appreciated - Crickett.
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You might consider something like the Powermatic 720HD,
because it can (I think) do end mortising for loose tenons.

I have a Powermatic 719 and it's pretty solid. It doesn't tilt
though the head does travel quite a ways and modest angled
mortises can be accomplished using a fixture.

For quick frame mortises a slot mortiser is easier to set
up, and can cut angled and end mortises. They can
take 4" long bird's mouth bits for angled and deep
mortises, but I wouldn't do that personally with one that
uses a router as the engine.
One of the biggest advantages I'm looking for is the sliding table while keeping my work piece tightly clamped in position. I typically like to keep my power tools of the same brand, and I recently purchased a Baileigh cabinet saw. The Baileigh mortiser looks to be pretty sweet with a sliding dovetail table, and there's only a modest price different in their vertical vs. tilting mortisers. What other key features in your opinion or important to keep in mind as I shop for one? Thanks for your input.
I have the Delta benchtop model as well. I can see why you want to upgrade. Any of the floor standing mortisers offer better stock hold down than a benchtop mortiser. I have been impressed by the features of the Powermatic, Jet, and General international. In fact General international has one model that is technically a bench top unit, but with better hold downs and increased capacity.

Fine Woodworking magazine ran a comparison test…
http://www.finewoodworking.com/membership/fwnpdf/011159084.pdf
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