ok guys... need advice here..

[Butch Edwards]

I've cut mortises and tenons on larger stock, but trying to cut 1/4" mortises in the edge of 3/4" stock(faceframe) was brutal. I drilled and chiseled, with the results most representing what a dog had chewed :rolleyes:
this maple is making it very hard to acheive the results I'm after, as it's so danged hard.

needles to say, I'm thinking using the shaper as a routing table, and trying that... but have never attepted anything that small. seems a bit risky....
advice,Please?

[Ray Schafer]

I would probably use pocket screws or dowels for the face frames. I recently did a project with dowels -- because I own a Dowelmax. I have used pocket screws in the past using the Kreg Pocket Jig. That worked well, also.

[Brian Clevenger]

are you using a mortise chisel or a bench chisel?

[Chip Lindley]

Hi Butch! If you are wanting genuine through or blind mortises, a mortising attachment for drill press would be #1 choice. A plunge router setup would be #2, unless you insist upon the experience of hacking your own by hand. Even by hand, a row of neatly drilled 1/4" holes will allow you to remove most material and square things up with a very sharp mortising chisel.

I don't see a shaper being of much use for 1/4" mortises unless you have a router chuck attachment. A 1/4" slotting bit would in effect give you a much elongated mortise akin to a big biscuit slot. Not what you are after!

Woodworking is an interest which allows one to achieve the same results so many different ways, depending on tools available. Good Luck!

Necessisity is the Mother of Invention But,
If It Ain't Broke Don't Fix it!

[Vince Shriver]

I would probably use pocket screws or dowels for the face frames. I recently did a project with dowels -- because I own a Dowelmax. I have used pocket screws in the past using the Kreg Pocket Jig. That worked well, also.

I would add mortiscpal to the list:

www.mortisepal.com (http://www.mortisepal.com)

[Rick Fisher]

A proper mortise chisel is a great help. I have a Japanese one with a name like this. Maytoallaynaaasuma..

I would suggest getting a 1/4" mortise chisel.

[Rod Sheridan]

Hi Butch, using a proper mortise chisel helps, that said I use a hollow chisel mortiser for mortises.

Second choice machine would be a slot mortiser.

regards, Rod.

[pat warner]

Yes, have succeeded in making skinny mortices (http://patwarner.com/images/mort_jig3.jpg)in skinny stock.
Medium to sophisticated fixturing required.

[Butch Edwards]

I would add mortiscpal to the list:

www.mortisepal.com (http://www.mortisepal.com)


A proper mortise chisel is a great help. I have a Japanese one with a name like this. Maytoallaynaaasuma..

I would suggest getting a 1/4" mortise chisel.


are you using a mortise chisel or a bench chisel?


Hi Butch! If you are wanting genuine through or blind mortises, a mortising attachment for drill press would be #1 choice. A plunge router setup would be #2, unless you insist upon the experience of hacking your own by hand. Even by hand, a row of neatly drilled 1/4" holes will allow you to remove most material and square things up with a very sharp mortising chisel.

I don't see a shaper being of much use for 1/4" mortises unless you have a router chuck attachment. A 1/4" slotting bit would in effect give you a much elongated mortise akin to a big biscuit slot. Not what you are after!

Woodworking is an interest which allows one to achieve the same results so many different ways, depending on tools available. Good Luck!

Necessisity is the Mother of Invention But,
If It Ain't Broke Don't Fix it!


Yes, have succeeded in making skinny mortices (http://patwarner.com/images/mort_jig3.jpg)in skinny stock.
Medium to sophisticated fixturing required.


Vince.. I like that jig a bunch, and will be investing in one ASAP...
Rick, I have a razor sharp 1/4" chisel...
Brian..I think all I own are bench types...
Chip..I have an attachment for the press, but it doesn't work real well with hard material...works ok with pine, but oak and harder, it doesn't do well..this is the Grizzly attachment that I bought(w/ mortise bits) when I bought the DP..
and Pat.. I'd give a pint of blood to do half what you can do...;)

edit to add: Thanks fellows!!

[Rick Fisher]

Im sure your chisels are sharp. The mortise chisel is a totally different type of chisel.

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/jokerbird_photo/P1010453.jpg

This is a side view of a mortise chisel and a bench chisel. This mortise chisel is made in Japan. I dont know if its a good brand but I really like it.

[Butch Edwards]

Im sure your chisels are sharp. The mortise chisel is a totally different type of chisel.

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/jokerbird_photo/P1010453.jpg

This is a side view of a mortise chisel and a bench chisel. This mortise chisel is made in Japan. I dont know if its a good brand but I really like it.

ok..I see the difference...may have to check into a few of those. Thanks..;)

[Frank Drew]

Hi Butch, using a proper mortise chisel helps, that said I use a hollow chisel mortiser for mortises.

Second choice machine would be a slot mortiser.

regards, Rod.

I'd reverse the order of preference, but those, along with a plunge router with a jig for mortising, would be my choices. Nothing wrong with chopping out mortises by hand, but it is slower than machine methods, and if time is a consideration...