Shiraz please make a slot mortiser

[michael case]

If there is one great machine that this country needs it a decently priced slot mortiser. Not a boring machine that needs to be rigged in some way, but a true slot mortiser. It would be great if Grizzly would make one. First, it would be priced to sell. Secondly, Grizzly would back it up. And last, and perhaps not least, you could find out the price just by looking it up on the Grrizzly site without any coy "contact us for pricing games" such as those played by Rojek et. al.

[Van Huskey]

I am surprised Jet, Grizzly nor Rikon did a PTO for a slot mortiser on their 12" J/Ps, I can only guess price point pressure prevented it.

[Rick Lizek]

They did at one time

[David Weaver]

Laguna has an inexpensive import, and their page says free shipping.

I have a feeling it's a tool that doesn't sell nearly as well as tablesaws, jointers, planers, drill presses and bandsaws.

I see them used around here fairly often, too.

[NICK BARBOZA]

If there is one great machine that this country needs it a decently priced slot mortiser. Not a boring machine that needs to be rigged in some way, but a true slot mortiser. It would be great if Grizzly would make one. First, it would be priced to sell. Secondly, Grizzly would back it up. And last, and perhaps not least, you could find out the price just by looking it up on the Grrizzly site without any coy "contact us for pricing games" such as those played by Rojek et. al.


+1!!!! I'd be second in line behind Michael to buy one! I have looked at the Laguna, but heard mixed reviews. And I constantly keep an eye on the used market for one. From what I understand about Grizzly customer service, I would be more comfortable purchasing there.

[Rod Sheridan]

Felder have a free standing and an accessory slot mortiser for their jointer/planer.

Excellent customer support and service, and an excellent product.......Rod.

[Shiraz Balolia]

Sorry - not happening.

[Harold Burrell]

Sorry - not happening.

OK...well...

I guess that about does it for this thread.

Everyone move along, now. There's nothing here to see.

[Peter Aeschliman]

Sorry - not happening.

Ha ha! Rejected!

For the record, I just bought a 10" Laguna jointer/planer combo machine. Most of my decision to buy it rather than the Grizzly 12" machine was because the Laguna has a slot mortiser option.

I think you should give it a second thought, Shiraz. American and Canadian woodworkers seem to be moving more in the direction of European woodworking machines (sliding table saws, combo jointer/planers). You guys have clearly responded to that trend by making sliders and combo jointer planers... I think the same trend could be expected with slot mortisers...

I'm sure you guys are very careful about what machines you choose to manufacture, so I assume there is some market data to back up your decision to stay away from slot mortisers... But I'm one measly data point- I would've bought your 12" machine if it had a slot mortiser attachment.

[Mike Henderson]

Just a comment - the Festool Domino is somewhat of a portable slot mortiser. You can't do everything you can with a slot mortiser but it doesn't take as much room as a slot mortiser and there's a few things you can do with it that you can't do with a slot mortiser. It's almost as expensive as a low end slot mortiser, however.

A slot mortiser is a great machine for making mortises.

Mike

[Justin Bukoski]

I have the Domino and I've owned and used slot morticers in the past and I can say that 99% of the mortices I do can be done by the domino. However, when it comes to doing a lot of the same mortice, nothing beats a slot morticer IMO.

That said, when I go to upgrade to a J/P combo, I will probably get the Laguna or one of the Euro ones because I can get the SM.

[David Weaver]

Ha ha! Rejected!



Someone with some picture editing skills should take a picture of a crazy cat and do a "Shiraz has ruled....FAIL" picture Icanhazcheesburger style.

I realize that 90% aren't going to get that, but those who do will know what I'm talking about.

It'd be a great thing to whip out in any grizzly thread like this.

[Dave Lehnert]

Sorry - not happening.

Anyone else find this refreshing. To get a true, honest answer instead of the BS company give us today like "We will pass this on to our marketing department for review" to only toss the idea in the trash.

[Don Alexander]

yes it is refreshing to skip the BS and get right to the bottom line

also sounds like Grizzly has already considered it

[Kevin Groenke]

Have you looked at the Richline (http://www.richlinemachines.com/machines.html)?

I haven't used one but it's on the shortlist (also the Laguna or a floor standing square chisel or a multi-router)

The compact size of the Richline is a real asset for a machine that won't be used every day.

-kg

http://www.richlinemachines.com/images/mortise-large.jpg

[Dave Lehnert]

Have you looked at the Richline (http://www.richlinemachines.com/machines.html)?

I haven't used one but it's on the shortlist (also the Laguna or a floor standing square chisel or a multi-router)

The compact size of the Richline is a real asset for a machine that won't be used every day.

-kg

http://www.richlinemachines.com/images/mortise-large.jpg

How much do they go for. Did not see pricing on the link you gave.

[Rod Sheridan]

They look interesting except that they use a router and I don't think you would be able to mortise the ends of boards.

It is however really nice to see some made in NA equipment........Regards, Rod.

[Peter Quinn]

I have a Laguna slot mortiser, cost around $1K, it is the bargain basement of the slot mortiser world, and it gets the job done. Two weeks ago I ran an entry door with 3 1/2" deep mortises in African mahogany, very accurate and did it with ease. A few weeks earlier than that I did sets of double 1/2" X 3 1/2" mortises in 10/4 WO laminations for a work bench frame, and I'm pretty sure I heard the mortiser scream with a strong Scottish accent "I'm givin it all she's got Captain!" But it got the job done, and the mortises were dead accurate. Its quick to set up, easy to operate, and despite its Chitty Chitty bang bang Chinese cheepo build quality and generally shaky character, it continues to operate without fail and do good work. The doweling feature works decent as well if that is of interest to you.

Now the CS at Laguna is a variable to consider. Some find it great, some never need it, some have trouble getting parts and have to get a little hostile before things get resolved. There is no consensus. I think with the $1K slot mortiser there is almost no profit in the machine, which is why Grizzly won't sell it and Laguna wont bend over backwards to support it. Lets face it, most real slot mortisers costs close to $4K, its not a cheep investment, and for me this model has proven to be a good value. The Rojek is around $2K, as is the Hammer, and from there most models go up quick.

My point is the cheep slot mortiser thing already exists for sale here in the USA, Torben has you covered, don't expect him to come to your house and cook you dinner for buying one though.:D I think it may be a loss leader to get Laguna products in your shop? I will say the bits Laguna carries are the best I have used. Really fine tooling at a fair price.

For small mortises the Domino rocks. But it makes only what it makes. There are rumors of a supersized domino in the works? True or false, I don't know. That would be cool, but I still can't imagine a hand held machine doing 1/2"X 3 1/2" mortises with any ease.

[Kevin Groenke]

How much do they go for. Did not see pricing on the link you gave.

According to this review-
http://www.finewoodworking.com/ToolGuide/ToolGuideProduct.aspx?id=33169
$1850.

Shiraz could probably have a similar machine made overseas for less than $1000, the quality probably wouldn't be the same.

I have closely inspected the Richline and the fit and finish of this machine is noticeably better than the green equipment that's currently in our shop.

-kg

[Rick Lizek]

http://woodworker.com/wirth-machine-package-mssu-95-100.asp?search=wirth&searchmode=2
http://www.rojekusa.com/PHP/slot_mortisers.phphttp://www.woodcentral.com/articles/reviews/articles_729.shtml
http://www.woodcentral.com/articles/reviews/articles_729.shtml

I've been an advocate of the slot mortiser for since the early 80's. There's plenty of low priced options available over the years. Some fizzled out from lack of interest and were discontinued. Haven't any personal experience with the Laguna but I'm betting it's better than the Rojek and the Rojek was certainly doable. There's no excuse for not owning or building one. FWW has had several articles on building very doable units for low cost. I can think of at least 20 options I've run across over the years.

The Richline isn't really even close to a slot mortiser...only about half way. It needs to be in the horizontal plane to make mortises and the rails and stiles.

[Jeff Duncan]

I'm guessing there's just not a big demand for slot mortisers in this country. As someone who's bought them and found the search much more difficult than anticipated. And as someone who's been trying to sell one (a nicely built Italian one mind you) for over a month now with no takers. I feel pretty comfortable saying there's just not a big market for them here.
good luck,
JeffD

[mreza Salav]

How about building one yourself? You can get the plans too:

http://woodgears.ca/slot_mortiser/

[Peter Aeschliman]

How about building one yourself? You can get the plans too:

http://woodgears.ca/slot_mortiser/

That dude is a borderline genius. So cool. I assume that I couldn't make an accurate version of that no matter how hard I try. Maybe I'm selling myself short, but that seems like a ton of work.

[Rick Lizek]

I'm guessing there's just not a big demand for slot mortisers in this country. As someone who's bought them and found the search much more difficult than anticipated. And as someone who's been trying to sell one (a nicely built Italian one mind you) for over a month now with no takers. I feel pretty comfortable saying there's just not a big market for them here.
good luck,
JeffD

Where are you advertising it? What kind and how much is it? Should sell easy in the right place. Most folks don't know how good the slot mortisers are and the advantages to them over other mortising methods.

[Peter Quinn]

The Richline isn't really even close to a slot mortiser...only about half way. It needs to be in the horizontal plane to make mortises and the rails and stiles.[/QUOTE]

I checked out the richline site and it seems to me to be a slot mortiser, but not a horizontal slot mortiser, so thus cannot do rail slots. But it is not a chisel mortiser, though it is configured in the same plane as they typically are. It does make mortises with round ends. And it is part of a pair of machines the other of which makes the tenons with round shoulders. A local guy has one and I hear second hand it is quite a well made machine of some versatility. It will not as far as I can tell make loose tenons, which is a feature I personally value greatly in a horizontal slot mortiser.

Interesting concept in any event.

http://www.richlinemachines.com/machines.html

[michael case]

Kevin I looked at these their nice but its NOT a slot mortiser. It will not mill the mortise on the end of a rail. It only cuts mortises in same aspect as a hollow chisel mortiser. Hence your limited to doing only traditional, very slow, mortise and tenons (not floating tenons). You could the same thing AND do end mortises with $169.00 Mortise Pal.

[Jeff Duncan]

Where are you advertising it? What kind and how much is it? Should sell easy in the right place. Most folks don't know how good the slot mortisers are and the advantages to them over other mortising methods.

Hi Rick,
I don't want to put too much info here as I think some would see it as trying to by-pass the SMC classifieds. But I advertised it on a Pro WW forum and CL. Several nibbles but I still own it. My asking price is about 60% of what I paid a dealer 2 years ago??? Just trying to move it but those of us still in business are holding onto their money I guess:confused:
JeffD

[craig wiseley]

I know this is an old thread but bear with. While looking through the Grizz catalog I noticed that Mr. Balolia has the makings for a slot mortiser in his inventory in the form of the horizontal portion of the G3617 mill. If you cover up the vertical part with your hand you'll see what I mean. Doing away with the vertical parts power feed and coolant systems would have to bring the price down quite a bit, and, if you read the specs and let your imagination take over it would be a very versatile tool. While I'm having fun spending Mr. B's money, why not make the sliding table from the G0623X saw an option on the shapers?

[John TenEyck]

You can easily make a slot mortiser of any size you want for not much money. I made the one shown in the photos and drawing below for less than $50 and it quickly cuts accurate, smooth mortises in edge grain, end grain, any orientation you want. If you want a slot mortiser, there's no reason not to have one - and you can have one for cheap if you make it yourself. I arrived at this design after looking at a couple of articles in FWW and some web postings. Accuracy in building it is important, but easily within the capability of nearly anyone. It took me less than 8 hours to make.
John

Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/JohnTenEyck54/SlotMortiser?feat=directlink

Here's a fairly complete Sketchup drawing of the "machine": http://sites.google.com/site/jteneyckwoodworker/current-projects

[Michael Weber]

How about building one yourself? You can get the plans too:

http://woodgears.ca/slot_mortiser/

I purchased those plans more out of curiosity than serious consideration of building one. Interesting but pretty elaborate. I think with a little thought they could be simplified a bit to make the a little easier to build. The plans are in sketchup and very well done IMO.

[Charlie Jones]

Heres one I made through the winter. I spent about 200.00 including the router. The machine is very accurate. I got plans from "woodgears.ca" and made some changes to suit me.