- MOTOR POWER: 1/2HP(370W)
- MORTISING WIDTH: 1/4〞,3/8〞,1/2〞(6.35/9.525/12.7MM)
- MORTISING DEPTH: 3〞(76MM)
- DRILL CHUCK CAPACITY: 1/2〞(13MM)
- TABLE SIZE: 13-3/8〞X 6〞
- BASE SIZE: 10〞X 7-3/4〞
- VERTICAL SPINDLE TRAVEL: 3〞
- MAXIMUM TIMBER HEIGHT: 5〞
- MAXIMUM TIMBER WIDTH: 3-3/4〞
- N.W./G.W. 24.5/26.5KG
- PACKAGE DIMENSION: 680/580X320X280MM
- QUANTITY PER 20’CONTAINER: 480/580PCS
- QUANTITY PER 40’CONTAINER: 960/1160PCS
A mortiser (North American English) or morticer
(Commonwealth English) is a specialized woodworking machine used to cut
square or rectangular holes in a piece of lumber, such as a mortise in
a mortise and tenon joint.
Square chisel mortiser
The square chisel mortiser (also called hollow chisel mortiser),
similar to a drill press in many respects, combines the cutting of a
four-sided chisel with the action of a drill bit in the center. The bit
clears out most of the material to be removed, and the chisel ensures
the edges are straight and clean. This device was invented in 1874 by
Robert and Ralph Greenlee (founders of the Greenlee Company).
Square chisel mortising bits can also be fitted to normal drill presses using a mortising attachment.
The Greenlee Company still manufactures mortisers, as do a large
number of other power tool manufacturers. It is a common tool in the
woodshop of professional woodworkers, but because of its specialized
nature, many amateur woodworkers would not make enough use of it to
justify the moderately high cost and space this tool takes up in the
woodshop. Some smaller and less expensive models, suitable for cutting
only narrow mortises are available.
Horizontal mortiser
A more recent innovation is the horizontal mortiser,
which incorporates a router mounted statically on its side with the
workpiece clamped to a multi-axis sliding table. This type of mortiser
can produce either traditional mortise and tenon pairs, however it
excels at floating (or 'loose') tenons. A floating tenon is where both
the pieces of wood that are to be joined have aligned mortises cut into
them and a separate piece of wood is milled into a fitted tenon which
is glued into the two mortises.
Chain mortiser
For cutting larger mortises such as those used in timber frame construction, chain mortisers
are commonly used. A chain with cutters (similar to a chainsaw chain)
rotating within a frame clamped to the work is successively plunged
into the workpiece to mortise out the required volume. The Makita 7104L
is a frequently used such tool.
Other methods of cutting mortises
Traditionally, a mortise would be cut by hand, using a chisel and
mallet. However, due to the precision of fit required for a mortise and
tenon joint, this can be a difficult and time-consuming task.
Other tools such as a router could be used for the task, but the
router usually requires special attachments, jigs or templates and the
router bit leaves rounded corners that might need to be squared by hand
with a chisel.
For cutting small mortises, a normal drill bit can be used. However,
for larger mortises, a common type of bit in modern mortisers is a
Harry Watt square drill bit, in which a bit with a Reuleaux triangle
cross section is allowed to "wobble" while it rotates within a square
with rounded corners (compare to the motion of a rotary engine). This
type of bit removes all but the corners of the material to be removed,
leaving very little to be cut by the chisel.