Easiest way to make a mortise

2053 Views 62 Replies 20 Participants Last post by LilMtnDave, 2 mo ago

[email protected]

Discussion Starter · 2 mo ago

I’m trying to advance my woodworking skills and watching lots of Norm Abram and others on YouTube. I want to start making mortises. Would it be easier for me to buy a drill press attachment or learn to do them with a plunge router. Seems like it would be a hassle to have to take the drill press jig off every time I want a regular drill press. And I already own a plunge router. Seems like a no brained but I figured I,d get some opinions

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JamesTinKS

· #2 · 2 mo ago

It depends. Are you going to be making a lot of them? I do so I got a mortising machine. I got mine through a brother-in-law but they can be found on Marketplace and I'm sure other places used and for a good price.
I had the attachment for a drill press. It worked well. I got pretty good at planning projects around being able to make all the mortices at the same time so there was only one setup required.

woodnthings

· #3 · 2 mo ago

3

My money is on the plunge router and a self centering jig like this:

www.woodworkingtalk.com

Mission Quilt Rack

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Lots of mortises on this quilt rack:

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Half Fast Eddie

· #4 · 2 mo ago

I have a Jet benchtop mortiser i bought 20 yrs ago. Came with 3 different size chisels. Works pretty well, but if i were to do it again a router and jig might be a better choice. The benchtop tool takes up a lot of space considering the use it gets.

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allpurpose

· #5 · 2 mo ago

Hammer or mallet and chisel.. Amazingly they still work if you don't mind the work..

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kwoodhands

· #6 · 2 mo ago

I make the mortises on a horizontal router table. The router is fastened to a 1/2" plywood disk. The disk center has a 3/8" short pin for a pivot. The height is held with a C-clamp on the base and disk. The cutter is full mortise depth and wood strips are installed to the base which is also the fence. This easier than adjusting the cutter depth. Two stops are used, first is the start of the mortise. Then this stop is hinged and flipped up out of the way. Then the second stop completes the length . When a mortise is in the middle of the stock the stops are not used. Pencil lines and freehand will be good enough.
mike

B Coll

· #7 · 2 mo ago

[email protected] said:
I’m trying to advance my woodworking skills and watching lots of Norm Abram and others on YouTube. I want to start making mortises. Would it be easier for me to buy a drill press attachment or learn to do them with a plunge router. Seems like it would be a hassle to have to take the drill press jig off every time I want a regular drill press. And I already own a plunge router. Seems like a no brained but I figured I,d get some opinions

If you are looking to advance skills I would suggest investing in a decent set of chisels. Choose a method of sharpening and learn how to put a good edge on your tool. Do some reading on the numerous types of mortises and learn how to layout a mortise. Cut your first mortises by hand and practice until you can execute it well and understand the process. You might consider learning how to cut tenons with a saw and how to clean them up and fit them. In my opinion that is learning woodworking. Once you understand the principles, if you want to use a router or horizontal boring machine fine. But you need to decide if you want to learn how to work with wood or use machines.

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woodnthings

· #8 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

3

My horizontal router "jig"

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BigCountry79

· #9 · 2 mo ago

Router all the way... none of the other methods will give you the same results, and some setups with a router will actually be faster than a hollow chisel mortiser.

Knowing how to chop them by hand will be very helpful, but it gets old fast.

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RichTaylor

· #10 · 2 mo ago

Frankly, the most precise mortiser is the Festool Domino.

Reactions: 1

allpurpose

· #11 · 2 mo ago

B Coll said:
If you are looking to advance skills I would suggest investing in a decent set of chisels. Choose a method of sharpening and learn how to put a good edge on your tool. Do some reading on the numerous types of mortises and learn how to layout a mortise. Cut your first mortises by hand and practice until you can execute it well and understand the process. You might consider learning how to cut tenons with a saw and how to clean them up and fit them. In my opinion that is learning woodworking. Once you understand the principles, if you want to use a router or horizontal boring machine fine. But you need to decide if you want to learn how to work with wood or use machines.

That's how I learned.. It's a very satisfying accomplishment once you get the hang of it..

DrRobert

· #12 · 2 mo ago

Like the others have said, of the two, a router is best. Take the time to make an adjustable jig. Make a jig to do the ends of boards for floating tenons.

Rich, you would have to go with a Dominos XL if you were serious about tenons wouldn’t you? That like at $1800 tool 😳. I‘m one of those oddball people who bought a Domino 500, found it wasn’t a game changer, and so I never got the use I thought it would, so I sold it. I wouldn‘t even consider using it to build something like a table. I think more appropriate for a production shop. Lotta money sitting on a shelf, eh?

Another option is a horizontal mortiser. Here is one I built. Once you learn how to set it up, it’s fast and really works well. Actually the fussiest paert is making the tenon stock to exact thickness. Easy to do with a drum sander or hand plane.

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ducbsa

· #13 · 2 mo ago

kwoodhands said:
I make the mortises on a horizontal router table. The router is fastened to a 1/2" plywood disk. The disk center has a 3/8" short pin for a pivot. The height is held with a C-clamp on the base and disk. The cutter is full mortise depth and wood strips are installed to the base which is also the fence. This easier than adjusting the cutter depth. Two stops are used, first is the start of the mortise. Then this stop is hinged and flipped up out of the way. Then the second stop completes the length . When a mortise is in the middle of the stock the stops are not used. Pencil lines and freehand will be good enough.
mike

Can you post some photos?

DrRobert

· #14 · 2 mo ago

Everyone should try a mortise by hand. It’s not as difficult as you may think, and doesn’t take that long. If you only have a couple to do, it’s quicker than setting up a router. Maybe not a mortiser, but you may not have one.

You don’t need a pig sticker (mortise chisel) to do them, either. As Paul Sellers demonstrated, any old chisel, even an old beater will work.

Interesting that the mortise chisel took about 5 minutes, bevel edge chisel only about 3 minutes. He also brings up an good point that the long bevel of a mortise chisel actually presents some issues in a shallower mortise.

Anyway, @B Coll reminded me dont forget hand work! I thought it was worth bringing up the video for those interested.

R B Fishin

· #15 · 2 mo ago

I'm just learning mortise and tenon, too. Sellers makes it look so easy.
How is he gauging the bottom, and not cutting too deep? Or is he looking through the glass?
How do you know the depth when there's no glass side?

firehawkmph

· #16 · 2 mo ago

3

I don’t do a lot of mortises, but when I do I just use a forstner bit in the drill press to clear most of the material and set the depth. Finish up with a mallet and sharp chisel. Actually pretty fun in my book.
Mike Hawkins

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DrRobert

· #17 · 2 mo ago

You measure the depth by using a ruler, or simply a finger on the shaft and measure that. Some people put a Sharpie mark or tape on the shaft.

The depth isn't critical the focus is on parallel sides.

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Rebelwork

· #18 · 2 mo ago

[email protected] said:
I’m trying to advance my woodworking skills and watching lots of Norm Abram and others on YouTube. I want to start making mortises. Would it be easier for me to buy a drill press attachment or learn to do them with a plunge router. Seems like it would be a hassle to have to take the drill press jig off every time I want a regular drill press. And I already own a plunge router. Seems like a no brained but I figured I,d get some opinions

It is going to depend on the projects. Why not a mortising machin?

Most decide by how much time they have,,

StevenWoodward

· #19 · 2 mo ago

[email protected] said:
I’m trying to advance my woodworking skills and watching lots of Norm Abram and others on YouTube. I want to start making mortises. Would it be easier for me to buy a drill press attachment or learn to do them with a plunge router. Seems like it would be a hassle to have to take the drill press jig off every time I want a regular drill press. And I already own a plunge router. Seems like a no brained but I figured I,d get some opinions

If you already have a router table with a router lift, here is a simple mortice sled that can be made and works great.

RichTaylor

· #20 · 2 mo ago

DrRobert said:
Rich, you would have to go with a Dominos XL if you were serious about tenons wouldn’t you? That like at $1800 tool 😳. I‘m one of those oddball people who bought a Domino 500, found it wasn’t a game changer, and so I never got the use I thought it would, so I sold it. I wouldn‘t even consider using it to build something like a table. I think more appropriate for a production shop. Lotta money sitting on a shelf, eh?

I use my Domino regularly. For face frames, it can't be beat. I don't agree that the XL is king.

Your horizontal mortiser is pretty awesome! Here's my Domino version:

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