Shopsmith Forums

I got the email special of the SS mortise & tenon package and it looks to be a really sweat deal, almost saving $100. I have seen them demonstrated at the TA's but just wondering what the forum members think of it and if anyone out there has one and has used it. It looked quite easy and useful when Mike Cobb demonstrated it. The sale is on until tomorrow, the 7th. Any opinions out there??

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/specials/5FD11.htm

I'm cheap, but it still seems overpriced to me.

I have the Mortise and Tenon Package. I have made some tables and other projects with it.
It takes a lot of preasure to make them with the Mark 5. I think if you are going to do a lot of them I would buy a separate free standing unit like Delta, etc.
I have seen Norm Abram use his on the New Yankee Workshop and he don't seem to use much effort at all with his. I know his is a more expensive unit but it seems to work a lot better than mine.
It might be ok with pine , but with hard wood you really have to bear down.
I think it would take a toll on the unit if used a lot.
Just my opinon.
Paul

I have been told to predrill the mortise so that the mortising chisel and bit don't have to work as hard. For owners of the Overarm router they could pre cut the holes with it then square them up with the mortiser.

Jim in Tucson

james.miller wrote:I have been told to predrill the mortise so that the mortising chisel and bit don't have to work as hard. For owners of the Overarm router they could pre cut the holes with it then square them up with the mortiser.

Jim in Tucson

Thats a lot of extra work that should not be needed.
The Mark 5 is a quality product don't get me wrong, but I have seen better
Mortise and Tenon Tools. Maybe if you only us it once in a while its ok.
I think that it is very hard on the headstock and other related parts of the machine with the force you have to use to operate it.

I just cut 20 mortices today for legs for two end tables I'm making. I'm using walnut for the legs and I didn't notice that it required a lot of force to cut the mortices. I start at one end and just cut about 1/4" to 1/2" deep. Then move over so the next cut just slightly overlaps the first one. The 2nd cut is about 3/4" deep. Move over again and cut to the final depth. From there on to the end all cuts are to the final depth. Since the cuts overlap it reduces the force necessary to make the cuts. The last step is to go back to the end you started on and finish those cuts to the final depth.

I'm quite happy with the mortise tool. Until now I've always cut the tenons with my stacked dado but on this project I plan to use the tennoning jig. We'll see how that goes.

Price does seem a little steep