Jim W. White
03-15-2009, 10:50 PM
Guys,
I recently scored a used benchtop mortiser off of CL. It was in good working order, but I was unhappy with the fence and clamping system on the machine. I stumbled across an old Popular Woodworking article that explained how to retrofit an x-y sliding vise so that the wood was presented properly to the mortiser and decided to give it a go.
This was a really easy (one day) project and it was super cheap ($40 vise on sale from HF, could also be bought from Grizzly.) I'm really pleased with the results. The base was built from scrap peices of 3/4" ply and one scrap peice of 1/8" steel. The steel top plate was overkill but I didn't want to give up anymore reach or depth of plunge than necessary.
I know many have blazed this path before me but I just wanted to encourage any Creekers out there that may never have run across this upgrade before. If you need a copy of the article on how to modify the -xy vise send me a PM.
Jim in Idaho
http://myweb.cableone.net/jimnbeck/mortiser_base.jpg
http://myweb.cableone.net/jimnbeck/x_y_vise.jpg
I recently scored a used benchtop mortiser off of CL. It was in good working order, but I was unhappy with the fence and clamping system on the machine. I stumbled across an old Popular Woodworking article that explained how to retrofit an x-y sliding vise so that the wood was presented properly to the mortiser and decided to give it a go.
This was a really easy (one day) project and it was super cheap ($40 vise on sale from HF, could also be bought from Grizzly.) I'm really pleased with the results. The base was built from scrap peices of 3/4" ply and one scrap peice of 1/8" steel. The steel top plate was overkill but I didn't want to give up anymore reach or depth of plunge than necessary.
I know many have blazed this path before me but I just wanted to encourage any Creekers out there that may never have run across this upgrade before. If you need a copy of the article on how to modify the -xy vise send me a PM.
Jim in Idaho
http://myweb.cableone.net/jimnbeck/mortiser_base.jpg
http://myweb.cableone.net/jimnbeck/x_y_vise.jpg