[Paul W Gillespie]

I made an offer on a Delta Hollow Chisel Mortiser 14-651 of $75. This one has some surface rust and sounds like it needs a good cleaning. They were asking $150, which is high in my opinion. The chisels and the chuck key are missing, but they said they would look for them.

My questions are this, when I lowered the arm, it did not try and return up like on a DP. There is a shock absorber type thing on the side, like a car hatch back piston, that I thought was to raise the arm, but maybe they don't return to the top position on a mortiser? Is that just to make the downward stroke smooth?

If they counter with a higher price, do I bother? What is the top for something like this, in this condition? I can get this model new/used on Amazon for 237 shipped, with all the parts. Its and open box buy with no real warranty, but it is practically new.

 

[BZawat]

I think even at 100 bucks that's a good buy, as long as it comes with some chisels.

 

[Paul W Gillespie]

Yeah, I was going to offer $100, but without the chisels or key, I figured starting at $75.

 

[mike1950]

I have had the same tool for 6 yrs- works great. It does not spring back up. I think the shock absorber just keeps it where it is at.

 

[ryan50hrl]

Mine doesn't return upward on its own....but it does make the upward motion easier.

Oh....and the 100 bucks would still be a decent deal.

 

[Crusader]

http://woodworker.com/deluxe-mortising-machine-mssu-14-651.asp?search=hollow mortising chisel&searchmode=2

A full set of chisels here are $100, you might be able to find them cheaper somewhere else. I wouldn't go over $100 myself for the machine. Like you said, by the time you buy the chisels you're almost at new.

I have the same machine and it does fine, not a production unit by any means but for guys like us it's great.