PM 719T Mortiser Set Up / Question

[pkinneb]

Hi all I am finally getting my mortiser set up, made a sacrificial fence, sharpened the bits, etc

What a difference a sharp chisel/bit makes. Bottom is right out of the box top is after sharpening

Everything seems dialed in but the up/down and side to side tables are really stiff, any thoughts on how to loosen them up? Here are some pics of the DT Keyways and gears I am referring to

In the last pic you can see the gear for front to back and that works amazing.

Thanks in advance for any help you all might have!

[Tom King]

Can you seat the bit all the way home in the chuck, and have the proper clearance between that, and the chisel?

If not, I have glued little washers on the ends of the bits to accomplish this.

The Japanese Star brand, also sold by LV as their Premium sets, come with long bits, so you can cut them exactly the right length.

If the bit is just held in the chuck by friction alone, it will end up, at some point, getting pushed up into the chisel.

I keep the diamond paddle stones (forget what they are called, but come with different colored plastic handles), and it the outside of the chisel, keeping the paddle flat, to keep any burrs down.  Burrs will form on long runs, and make it more difficult, to impossible, to withdraw the chisel.

[pkinneb]

Thanks Tom! I think the chisels are dialed in the issue is the table movement left to right and the head up/down both have dovetailed keyways and both seem too tight. To be clear this is not while cutting a mortise but rather just while moving the table or head. I waxed and added dry lube today but it almost feels like I need to loosen the keyways a bit.

[Tom King]

I doubt they let the castings season as long as they used to, before machining, so not surprised it will need a little help.

[curlyoak]

Call powermatic. I bet you will get an answer.

[pkinneb]

Hoping to get time tomorrow to do just that, been crazy busy in my office so far this year.