The type of mortise you’re going to be creating is something else to think about. For exceptionally large pieces, like rough timber, go with an option specifically created for that, like the Makita, chainsaw-style option below.

Some have a fairly limited capacity, while others feature heads that can be reversed, so you’re no longer limited by their base at all. Make sure to carefully note the maximum distance between the base of the unit and the bit, and make sure your pieces will fit between the two. The biggest factor to consider when choosing a mortiser, is the size of the wood pieces you’re going to be using. These “mortise and tenon” joints are popular because of the strength they provide to furniture pieces, and, thanks to mortisers like these, are relatively simple to create.Īlthough you can create mortises the old-fashioned way with a hammer and chisel, or with a drill press by making a series of round holes and then squaring them with a chisel, these dedicated mortisers are designed to give you square mortises with minimal chisel work needed. Mortisers come in several different types, but they all have the same purpose: to create holes in wood pieces for tenons to fit into.

Shop built slot mortise machine