Beyond the basics Mortising Machine Techniques

One of the best parts of building a project is creating the joinery. It doesn’t really matter what joint it is, either. My enjoyment comes from carefully forming the joints and seeing the parts come together and the project taking shape.

Since I added a mortising machine to my shop, I go out of my way to incorporate mortise and tenon joints into projects. There’s an element of fun in making square holes. And the completed joint is as classic and tough as they come.

There are any number of methods to make mortises, such as drilling and chiseling or using a router. The main reason I selected a mortising machine is that it forms consistently sized mortises in a short period of time. At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, I also like that the tool is easy to set up. (The box on the next page shows how to install the auger bit and chisel.) Other pluses include its relatively quiet operation and its compact size.