A mortiser is a woodworking tool used to cut square or rectangular mortises in wood. It is electrically powered and has a cutting mechanism that lowers onto a workpiece. Mortising machines have squared corners and are made by combining a rotating point and a sharp four-pointed hollow chisel. Horizontal and chain mortising machines are also available. Mortising machines are essential for professional carpenters, but hobbyists can use a standard drill press or router and finish with wood chisels.
A mortiser is a specialized woodworking tool used to cut square or rectangular mortises, or indentations, in wood. They are usually electrically powered and work by lowering the cutting mechanism onto a workpiece fixed to a work surface, much like a drill press. In fact, rather than buying a dedicated mortising machine, some carpenters buy or make special mortising jigs to use with their drill presses. The key feature of a mortising machine that differentiates it from a drill press is the squaring of the corners of the drilled holes. Therefore, a mortising machine could also be used to cut a square edge hole through a workpiece.
The straight sides and squared corners of the cuts that characterize a mortising machine are made by combining two cutting tools, one with a rotating point and a very sharp four-pointed hollow chisel. The bit works within the chisel with enough space for the sawdust to escape. When the operator lowers the drill assembly onto the workpiece, the drill bit enters the workpiece first, removing most of the material, so the chisel has only a small amount of material to remove.
Horizontal mortising machines work in much the same way, except that the cutting edges are aligned horizontally. A horizontal mortiser is especially useful for cutting mortises into larger pieces and also for making mortise and tenon cuts. Chain mortising machines are larger mortising machines that use a cutting chain, much like the one found on a chainsaw, to cut the mortises into larger pieces, usually for wood frame construction.
Shallow mortises are cut to accommodate things like hinges, strike plates, and other functional and decorative inserts in doors and windows. These mortises are cut deep enough to ensure that the hardware is flush with the surface of the wood when installed. Deeper mortises are cut to create mortise and tenon joints. These joints are made by cutting a mortise into a piece of wood and trimming the end of another piece — the tenon — to fit snugly into the mortise. The created joint is fixed with carpenter’s glue and locked. There are many different types of mortise and tenon joints; all are cut more easily with threading machines.
Mortising machines are of limited use to hobbyists, which is why they are rarely found in a hobbyist’s shop. A hobbyist will generally cut the bulk of a mortise with a standard drill press or router, and the sides and corners will be finished off with conventional wood chisels. These mortises will usually be of a similar quality to those produced by a mortising machine, but will take much longer. But for the professional carpenter, for whom time is money, a mortiser is an essential component of a carpentry shop.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
