Mortising for the 1st Time

terryd · Post by **terryd** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 4:39 pm

Our son is building a high-chair for their first-born. He has cut the parts and machined them but has asked for help with a few tasks. We need to create a couple of dozen 1/2"x 1/2" mortises to install the spindles for the arms and back of the seat. I have never built a project with mortises so I have no experience in this area. I do have the Shopsmith mortising tools, I just haven't used them yet. I've read all the instructions in the PTWE and looked at the videos on site. I just wondered if anyone had any personal experience tips to share. I've found that nothing beats experience but shared experience is very helpful...thanks in advance.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 9:55 pm

Sharp chisel.

Under table support.

Practice on scraps first.

Lay them out accurately.

fixit · Post by **fixit** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 11:14 pm

Make sure you use the trick of using a dime to set the gap between the drill bit and the mortise chisel. It's difficult to explain in words but the video on using the mortiser explains it clearly. It's at the 3:30 point of the video.

Here's the link.
http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Archives/SS101/SS101_Mortising_Pt1.htm

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 11:54 pm

Not having a mortising set, I would drill a couple dozen 1/2" holes instead of square mortises. You and always square them out with a chisel or round off the tenons to fit.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 12:17 am

charlese wrote:Not having a mortising set, I would drill a couple dozen 1/2" holes instead of square mortises. You and always square them out with a chisel or round off the tenons to fit.

Or a 1/2" router bit.