Good thread on it here http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=3D31502
On Jun 16, 6:37=A0am, "Rick Samuel" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> Any opinions on the Steelex/Woodstock mortiser? =A0Griz has it labeled T2=
0836,
> $400 plus shipping.. plus..plus.
>
> =A0Thanks
Just looking at features
- dovetail ways (sp?) on both X and Y axis. Might check to make sure
the have replaceable/adjustable brass shims - two set screws per
- two cam operated hold downs - good
- rapid adjust "hold in" - not clear if it's threaded or the lever is
a cam that tightens it up to the stock as it is locked down
If threaded, the handle for tightening it looks pretty small for
really torqueing it tight
- rack and pinion on the vertical movement is good. Rides in dovetail
ways which hopefully have shims
- left/right stops for the mortise that are easy to set and stay where
you put them make life a lot easier. Without them you you have to
have layout lines and have to keep aligning the chisel to the lines
for each mortise
On the General 75-750 the L/R stops slide on a rod under the table
and are held there with small handled knobs - that are hard to get
to,
tricky to position and can slip unless you're gentle
- don't see any kiind of stop to slide the stock up against
- don't see the plunge stop for depth of cut. You want that to be easy
to set and then stay there when you really pull down on the handle
- speaking of the handle - this one looks long enough - if the pinion
gear is big enough to produce full travel - with only about 120
degrees
of travel , that's good. But if it hits the mortising table before
the
mortise is at full depth . . .
- mortising chisel and bit sets come in at least two diameters. Having
a collet adapter so you can use either or both sizes is nice to have
since the chisel and bit sets that come with mortiser aren't always
the best quality Figure on adding in the price of better sets in two
of the mortise sizes you plan on using
And figure on sharpening, honing and polishing so check Lee Valley
for the cone diamond sharpeners and some sharpening stones or
diamond plates
Unless that metal cabinet has at least one drawer, plan on adding
one for the chisels and bits not in use, chuck key, cone sharpener
etc. If they're kept with the unit you'll save a lot of time not
hunting
for them