collinb Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 Just curious how many here use a mortising attachment on a drill press as opposed to a separate unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 I have one but, bought an HCM after using it only once. Then I bought the domino and now rarely use either one.. Make you a sweet deal one either one if you want them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 I have the Delta HCM drill press kit and a Delta drill press, neither one is great or even good, fair to poor would be my assement. Since I got my Domino I haven't used the HCM but I might use it for Greene & Greene details one day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AceHoleInOne Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 Don't do it. POS, get a decent bench top Mortiser instead off craiglist. Or if you have a plunge router, go buy an up-cut spiral bit and a router edge guide. -Ace- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AceHoleInOne Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 I use a HCM. If I had a little more patience/skill/hand eye coordination I'd use a router. You get cleaner mortises but the set up for repeatable cuts is fussy. If I had more $$$ I'd get a domino. Ya know Mike...mortises on a plunge router is not that bad. You do need to fuss a little with a clamp and a block of wood for support. The key is to not hog the mortise out in one cut. Yes no cleaning out the mortise with a router bit cut. But the offset is rounding over the edge's of tenons. Damn if you do damn if ya don't. But I hear ya on the Domino!!!!! -Ace- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 I have a benchtop HCM and wouldn't consider using an attachment for a drill press. The drill press was never designed to force a chisel through wood but a "dedicated mortiser" (as Norm calls it) is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 I have a Delta mortise attachment for my drill press. I use it because that is what I have at this point in time. The main reason I purchased it wasn't to necessarily make mortises, I was putting square spokes in the head and foot board of a set of bunk beds. I didn't think I would ever use it beyond that point, that is why I didn't by a mortising machine at that time. It is by no means anything more then OK. It is a hassle to set up unless you are not going to use the drill press for anything else and you can leave it on. I will get a mortiser at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collinb Posted March 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 Don't do it. POS, get a decent bench top Mortiser instead off craiglist. Or if you have a plunge router, go buy an up-cut spiral bit and a router edge guide. -Ace- Well, there is a Shop Fox at an auction today ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodbutcher74 Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 I have a Jet bench top model. Does what I need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 I used a drill press attachment of a long time before I ever bought a mortising machine. They do fine, just more of a pain to set up and slower because you don't want to force it, but it's nice having a mortiser (or two) set up ready to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 If I had the space, I would buy a pantorouter. Not just for mortices and tenons, it has a lot of other uses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinF Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 I have one but, bought an HCM after using it only once. Then I bought the domino and now rarely use either one.. Make you a sweet deal one either one if you want them I have $10 and a 14 year old I'll give you for both Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 I would never put my drill press through that abuse. As Terry said, it's not what they're designed to do. If you really have to have square mortises, buck up for a HCM. I don't mind doing my integral M&T's with router and table saw. I bought a Domino to speed it up when I'm not in the mood. People will disagree with me, but I think the Domino makes the HCM an obsolete tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 I would never put my drill press through that abuse. As Terry said, it's not what they're designed to do. If you really have to have square mortises, buck up for a HCM. I don't mind doing my integral M&T's with router and table saw. I bought a Domino to speed it up when I'm not in the mood. People will disagree with me, but I think the Domino makes the HCM an obsolete tool. I think bench top HCM's and smaller units were obsolete before they ever came to market. Routers do a much better job and can easily be as or more accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Seems like a weird workaround to turn a drill press into a multifunction tool. Not sure I'd use it if it were given to me for free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Seems like a weird workaround to turn a drill press into a multifunction tool. Not sure I'd use it if it were given to me for free. It's also a really good way to damage your quill and mess up alignment. Go with a HCM if you need to do square holes. Plunge router with edge guide is a better option. You could always use a M&T jig like the Leigh Super FMT. Also, like everyone else said Domino. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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