Morticing Attachment.

[conny]

I'm considering buying one of these.

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cma1b-mortising-attachment/?source=criteo&TC=CR-060620023

Probably won't use it much at the moment but looking at when I retire in about 4 years time.
Anyone got any opinions on it? i.e. cheap for what it's expected to do, difficult to set accurately, load of rubbish etc.
Bear in mind I'm not out to make craftsmanship work, just simple things around the home/garden as a hobby in the future.

 

[Burnerman]

Do you have the drilling machine already, conny?
John

 

[conny]

Yes mate. I've got a Titan pillar drill with a 700watt motor. Collar is 55mm but this has a reducer collar that should fit, if it's slack I can always get some thin sheet metal and make sleeves but the advert says it should fit ok.

 

[Burnerman]

I have one of these 'drill / press' machines and its good enough as a drill (using HSS jobber drills but not more than a 20mm wood flat bit) but useless as a press - there's just too much distortion.....after a while the chuck seemed to wander too but after all it was only around £40
For sure, the mortiser will work on small drillings but for anything more it will struggle - particularly on hardwood. Personally I'd go for the mortiser with a combined motor but it obviously depends on how much work you have for it and how much you want to spend.
John

 

[conny]

Thanks John.
It would only be for light stuff, maybe a few wooden toys for the grandkids or possibly something for the garden. If I get the hang of using one then maybe I'll look at getting a dedicated unit as I get closer to retirement.
Thanks for your input.

 

[Diver Fred]

It's probably OK for very occasional use in softwood. You will find it frustrating to cut more than the odd mortise. The table doesn't move either sideways to cut the length of the mortise or front to back to align the mortise easily or quickly.
To be honest you'll better off saving your money to buy even the cheapest mortising machine

 

[Notch7]

No it wont work. I tried one years ago.

A drill press has a tiny rack and pinion and is designed to impart enough force for drilling.

Even small bench top morticers have much much larger rack and pinions with a long handle.

I would suggest keeping your eye on ebay and pick up a 2nd hand morticer. Mortico made a great one.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=m...d=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#imgrc=QyOtRQFZYSyPEM:

 

[big-all]

i would spend your money on a decent twin pin marking gauge a mortise chisel

 

[conny]

i would spend your money on a decent twin pin marking gauge a mortise chisel

Already got a guage and a full set of chisels, looking for a less arduous way. LOL

 

[big-all]

spade bit may work in the same press providing you have enough wood for the point to hold the bit on line when overlapping the cuts

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Already got a guage and a full set of chisels, looking for a less arduous way. LOL

1/2in plunge router (for up to about 50mm deep cuts) or auger bits (which drill straighter than spade bits IMHO) in your drill press with overlapping holes then cleaned-out with a proper mortise chisel. FWIW what makes a mortiser really accurate and usable is the X-Y moving table - makes it so much easier to accurately cut mortises to most reasonable lengths as well as to "non-standard" widths (i.e. widths greater than any chisel set you have but narrower than the next size up you own)