New Powermatic mortiser - need chisels

[Tim Reagan]

Got my new powermatic 701 from amazon yesterday. Quite a substantial unit! It comes with no chisels and was looking for recommendations. Should I buy one at a time or a set. What is a good, "best buy" brand? Thanks.

[Rob Bodenschatz]

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...,53317&p=53252 (http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&cat=1,180,42240,53317&p=53252)

I got the set of 4 for my PM 701. $105.

[Allen Bookout]

Tim,

Last month I got this set and am really impressed with the quality for the price. This way I can see which sets I need the most and buy higher quality bits and chisels as I go along. I did get one Lee Valley bit and chisel but have not had a chance to compare it to the others yet. After using the Yorkcraft ones they may prove to be good enough without having to put out the money for the more expensive ones. Wilke also has the professional quality sets but they are really expensive. The guy that I talked to there is one of the owners and he said that he uses the Yorkcraft ones and they are good enought for him as he is not using them eitht hours a day five days a week as in a production enviroment.

http://www.wilkemachinery.com/default.tpl?action=full&cart=11318638421097584&id=36&--woSECTIONSdatarq=36&--SECTIONSword=ww&--eqskudatarq=5471

I did get the cone sharpners form Lee Valley. Forgot to ask Wilke if they had them.

One thing that did supprise me since I have never had a mortising machine before, is that all of my bits needed to be shortned a little to work in my Yorkcraft. The shanks are easy to cut off with a hacksaw and dress with a file. This must be a common problem with so many models on the market as the Lee Valley bit instructions also noted that and said that their bit may have to be shortned to fit some machines.

[Tim Reagan]

Would going with the set be my best option. I know like with router bits, most recommend buying a good one, one at a time.

[Allen Bookout]

Tim,

I decided to go with the economical set so that I could make mortises is a wide variety of material thicknesses without having to make two passes. Saves a lot of time. Then I could go with better quality if I really needed it and only buy the sizes that I use most. I would still have the origional sizes for the seldom used ones. I am not a production shop so it is looking like that the bits that I bought might be good enough. I know that they will need sharpning more often but how much extra time will be involved is yet to be determined.

I did buy the one Lee Valley as a kind of middle of the road quality to compare but have not had a chance to use it yet. Wilke has the Forest City line that is priced about the same as Lee Valley, but like Lee Valley do not show any sets. Bit by bit adds up fast but might be worth it.

The production chisels and bits at Wilke were WAY to expensive for my blood.

I know that there are other suppliers but I did not shop around very much as I was in a hurry to get a project done and just had them throw in a set with my mortiser.

Allen

[Tim Reagan]

Rob,

Do you know whats the difference between what you recommended and these?

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&cat=1,180,42334,41702&p=41702

Will those only fit the delta drill press attachment?