Amazon.com Review

Square holes? No problem. Delta's industrial mortiser offers precision with a1/2-horsepower motor behind it. A rack-and-pinion system raises and lowers the head,and the mortising head column swings 180 degrees for off-table work. Clearly a step upfrom Delta's MM300 Shopmaster mortising machine, this one's made with theprofessional user in mind and includes an adjustable dovetail way on the mortising head,a tool and chisel tray, a gas-filled head stabilizer and multiposition feed lever. There'salso a generous 16-3/4-by-13-1/2-inch cast-iron base and 2-15/16-inch tall two-piecefence totaling 13-5/8 inches in length. Bit and chisel changing is easy with the chuckkey/hex wrench. Of course, we always want to use new tools right out of the box, andDelta's made sure you can get started right away with 1/4-, 5/16-, 3/8-, and 1/2-inchchisel and bit sets. Beats a drill and hand chisel any day! --Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Includes 1/4-, 5/16-, 3/8-, and 1/2-inch chisel and bits to get you started right away
• 1/2-horsepower motor designed and engineered exclusively for mortising for greater accuracy and reliability
• handles work up tp 3-3/4 inches under hold down for a variety of applications
• Multi-position hand lever and rack and pinion lowering system for easy operation
• Large Cast-iron base with center through hole

Reviews (34)

Excellent machine
Assembly is straightforward, though compressing the hydraulic cylinder to mount it is not mentioned in the instructions. It takes some force, but you can do it by hand.

You do have to keep an eye on the depth of the drill relative to the chisel. If the drill bit isn't in REALLY tight, it can back out a bit when mortising dense hardwood. Then you'll get the chisel making premature contact, and that will probably shorten its life.

The instructions that come with the device could be better. I think Delta assumes that pros are buying these things, and underestimate the "New Yankee" factor.

Even given these relatively minor complaints, this tool rocks. It makes a difficult and time-consuming manual operation a simple and fast power operation. Well done. As long as the chisels hold up, I'll be happy.

buena herramienta
adquiri delta mortiser machine y la recomiendo como una estupenda herramienta hace el trabajo mas facil y limpio y rapido una buena herramienta a bajo precio
la recomiendo

Boo Hoo Hoo
I just received my Delta Mortiser and like others have reported, it was damaged. The packaging looked as if it had already been "around the block" a few times. After opening it, I found a crack in the cast iron motor bracket. (my heart fell to the floor... ;-(
Just finished packing it up for return. I was very suprised at the flimzy packaging from Delta. I own at least a half dozen or so Delta power tools and all of them where packaged as if they were ready to take a trip on the space shuttle. I've bragged to my wife several times about the way Delta tools are packaged. (She even keeps the boxes for storage) Even with the marginal shipping practices of UPS, this unit is truely packaged poorly. The fact that the unit is packaged with the head attached to the stand creates an accident waiting to happen. It seems that minimal shock can crack the dovetail. I guess Delta failed to do a drop test on this unit.
The styrofoam seems as if was not fitted for this tool. There is so many little cubby holes that don't seem to fit the parts that it took some time to figure out how to repackage it for return.
I guess I'll give it another try. Maybe next time I'll be able to talk about how much I love the tool.... dc

what service
i read all the reviews ,including the horror stories about broken parts and bad packing , but i ordered the 14-561 anyway.
i have always had good results with amazon. i placed my order on
may 31. tracking said i would receive items(i had other items in
this order) on june 7. well they all arived on june 8. only 8 days total. not bad! i really did not know what to expect because of all i had read. my delta 14-651 mortiser was in perfect condition.the box had one tear on a corner about 2in.long , no big deal.i set it up in about 20 min. and made my first mortise in some oak. THIS MACHINE WORKS GREAT! bits and chisles VERY sharp. machine has plenty of power. take your time and enjoy.

shipments cause concerns
this is an excellent piece of equipment if it is delivered without damage. from the reviews I read it appears that all the
damaged units were purchased from amazon.com. why? should I buy
a second unit for my son from a local merchent? ... Read more

Features

• Gas cylinder controlled rack and pinion head raising and lowering system for smooth operation
• Sturdy cast iron construction for optimal stability and durability
• Quick position table mounted swiveling vise clamp for angled work pieces
• Feed lever features six positions for quick adjustments
• Table and fence tilt from 0 to 35 degrees for a wide variety of applications

Amazon.com Review

What a beauty. If Gustav Stickley had had Delta's MM300 Shopmastermortising machine, imagine how much more furniture he would have built! This unitrequires some assembly, but the instructions are concise and the photos are extremelyclear and helpful. You'll love this machine for its quiet 1/2-horsepower motor thatdelivers 1,725 rpm. We especially like this mortiser because the body swings 180degrees, allowing you to work on larger pieces off the table. A rack-and-pinionmechanism raises the head easily and smoothly, and the long lever handle plunges the bitlike a dream. It's heavy for a benchtop model, but we appreciate the way the weight addsto the tool's stability. It's always fun to be able to use a tool right out of the box, andDelta's made sure you can get started right away with 1/4-, 5/16-, 3/8-, and 1/2-inchchisel and bit sets. Beats a drill and hand chisel any day! Woodworkers looking for alarge cast-iron table and gas-filled head stabilizer should consider Delta's Industrialmodel 14-651. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Includes 1/4-, 5/16-, 3/8-, and 1/2-inch chisel and bits
• 1/2-horsepower TEFC motor for long-lasting, trouble free operation
• Designed and engineered exclusively for mortising for greater accuracy and reliability than drill press add-on kits offer
• Handles work up to 4 inches under hold down for a variety of applications
• Multi-position hand lever and rack and pinion lowering system for easy operation

Reviews (2)

Preliminary review....
I just last week received the mortiser, put it together. The instructions were clear, only took a few minutes to assemble. I was surprised at the quality. The quality of Delta products (and Jet) varies wildly. I got a good one, it seems. I punched a dozen holes with each of the chisels in some mahogany scrap I had lying around, all were quite satisfactory. I haven't tried it yet on any of the hard maple or oak I usually work with. I'll report back later if I have any problems. Menards wanted another [money]for their Jet model, without chisels. A set of 5 chisels is [money]. The Jet I checked out in the store wasn't fit for use, sloppy dovetail, sticky slide. Be sure to get the preservative grease off the dovetail and gears, and grease it all before you use it. So far, I'm having fun drilling square holes!

Gary

A great little machine.
If you've ever drilled and chiseled mortises by hand you'll love the MM300, it gets the job done, quickly. The Delta is solidly put together with plenty of power for deep mortises. Assembly is simple, no surprises, set up also without a hitch. If the MM300 has a weak spot it would be the fence. It doesn't hold as well at times as I would like for it to, a trait not uncommon in mortisers in this price range. Overall a great little machine for the money, one that I would recommend to anyone. ... Read more

Features

• Made in Austria
• Contains 1/4",5/16", 3/8", 1/2" mortise chisel & bits in fine hardwood box
• Fits all major bench top mortisers and drill presses attachments Fisch, Delta, Jet, Powermatic
• Made of high quality carbon steel
• Rockwell Hardness 52-55

Features

• Ideal for making furniture with steadfast joints
• Installs quickly and easily
• Cuts precision mortises at depths that are easily controlled
• 1/4" chisel and bit set for the Powermatic Model 719 mortiser

Features

• Fits Delta mortising attachments and mortising machine
• Drills 1/2" square holes for making mortise and tenon joints
• Center drill bit removes material, hollow chisel squares off the sides
• Two-piece design for easy re-sharpening
• High quality steel for durabilty and sharpness

Features

• Drills 5/16" square holes for making mortise and tenon joints
• Center drill bit removes material, hollow chisel squares off the sides
• Two-piece design for easy re-sharpening
• Fits Delta mortising attachments and mortising machine

Product Description

This king of benchtop mortisers is a rugged, high-quality machine with all the features found in the best mortisers made, but with none of their faults. The super heavy-duty fence and hold down eliminates unwanted wood movement and "sticking chisels", an all too common complaint, thus ensuring accurate and fast operation. The unique swiveling base allows easy off the bench operations and opens new possibilities for custom mortises. The precision 1/2" chuck eliminates the need to modify chisels and bits, and the extra capacity allows the use of larger stock. The all steel quick-adjust depth stop is easy to set and provides a positive stop. With features like an adjustable length solid steel quick-positioning handle, 8 tool holder, easy two-door chuck access, large base and twin hardened and ground column insures perfect mortises every time. ... Read more

Features

• Aluminum finned 3/4 H.P. 3450 R.P.M. motor for years of trouble free service
• Heavy cast iron construction
• Includes 5/8" and 3/4" chisel sleeves
• Mortise lumber to 8-3/4" thick
• Mortise to the center of a 8" wide board

Reviews (1)

You get what you pay for
Not bad for the price and I guess it is quite versatile compared to competitive products.

The handle fixture has been redesigned, with some real poor engineering. The manual has not been updated. Poor quality from Taiwan, leaving burr marks on threads, screw heads and shafts.
The wood work table is actually particle board with imitation wood plastic coating, which rubs off with your nail.

The flexibility to do larger pieces and bigger mortices, is offset by additional set up time.

Once the machine is set up and tuned, it should give good performance though. ... Read more

Product Description

A Sunhill Exclusive Feature: Single handwheel control to logitudinal and lateral table movements for precise and rapid adjustments. Chisel head is provided with independent vertical adjustment to obtain correct leverage. Depth, haunch and length stops are provided for repetitive work. Includes 13/16" and 3/4" bushing. Chisel sold separately. Magnetic switch. ... Read more

Features

• 1HP, 1Ph 220V Motor
• Spindle Speed 1,720 rpm
• Maximum Chisel Size 3/4"
• Timber Capacity 10" x 7"
• Table Movement: Longitudinal 16", Lateral 3-1/2"

Features

• Can be operated right or left handed
• Full 1-HP 1140 RPM motor
• 5-point holding system
• Micro adjustable fence
• Patented ratchet handle

Reviews (1)

great buy for the major hobbiest
I have had the mortise for a while now and have used it for several days now. The machine is bigger than I expected which is nice between the machine and the base is about 250 pounds. I love the ease of adjustment of the fence and depth adjestments. The handle can be adjusted without tools which makes it nice scence you have six inches of travel. Overall I am very glad I purchased it instead of a tabletop model. ... Read more

Product Description

This Industrial Hollow Chisel Mortiser quickly became a favorite of shops needing a commercial mortiser. It features a mighty 2 speed, 2 HP, 220V, three phase motor capable of plowing through thick pieces of hardwood all day long without bogging down. Extremely versatile, the universal compound table provides generous vertical cross, angle and longitudinal travel. This mortiser's combination of price power and versatility makes it the standard for all others that follow. ... Read more

Features

• Maximum stock width: 12"
• Table cross traverse: 5"
• Table longitudinal traverse: 18"
• Table vertical traverse: 12"

Amazon.com Review

For you furniture makers out there who find yourselves spending more time than you'd like setting up the mortising attachment on your drill press (then taking it off, again), JET's affordable benchtop mortiser ought to be a welcome addition to your woodshop's tool collection. Designed to take up to 1/2-inch chisel bits, JET's benchtop mortiser runs off a 1/2-horsepower induction motor. At only 44 pounds, the tool is sturdy but also easily maneuvered, plus it reverses on its base to allow for mortising in long stock. The 4-3/4-inch head stroke is great. Bits are easy to change. Just flip open the steel door on either side (these doors are made of flimsy plastic on some of the competition's models) to gain easy access to the chuck. And, thanks to the 4-inch chuck key, there's little chance of banging or scraping your knuckles while switching bits (a small touch, perhaps, but a nice one). We also like the quick-setting depth stop on this tool--as well as the removable toggle switch that keeps less-experienced (or child-size) hands out of harm's way. The mortiser's feed handle adjusts, too, so you can choose the most comfortable position for each application--another nice touch. Set on a heavy-duty cast-iron base with four predrilled mounting holes, this dependable machine allows any woodworker, from the beginner to the expert, to create fantastic-looking mortise-and-tenon joints. --Justin Paul ... Read more

Features

• Safety toggle switch
• 1/2 hp, 115-volt, 1,725 rpm motor
• 1/2-inch chisel capacity
• 4-3/4-inch head stroke
• Rack-and-pinion head for raising and lowering

Reviews (53)

Good Value and Good Quality
If you utilize mortise and tenon joints and have been creating them with a router or a drill press with a mortising attachment, you will really enjoy this product. There are several positive attributes about this tool and one negative.

Positive Attributes:
1) HP is quite adequate.
2) The chisels and bits I received were very sharp. They believe that they would serve the non-professional well. I usually use Clico bits, but I recommend that you at least try these before you purchase an expensive set. You might be as pleasantly suprised as I was and you could save yourself some money.
3) Fit and finish is very good.
4) The column mounts to the base structure with capscrews. The Jet engineers were thinking, because they provided two assembly hole patterns. The second hole pattern allows you to turn the head around 180 degrees. This will enable you to mortise stock one or two inches taller than normal designed capacity without a major setup changes.
5) Good quality for the price.

One Negative attribute:
If you have read any of the reviews of mortise machines, you will notice a common issue with bench top mortise machines is the hold down fixture. Jet is considered to have one of the better hold down fixtures. If you have used drill press with a mortise attachment you have lived the pain of setup and hold down. This machine is by far a huge improvement over a drill press attachment. However, this hold down fixture could also be improved. Mine is not parallel with the base surface or square with the back fence. This allows the stock to rack slightly when withdrawing the chisel from the mortise. It doesn't take much movement of the wood to bind the chisel in the mortise.

Note:
I am upgrading to the Powermatics floor model because of the improved hold down, the translating table, and the larger chisel capacity. I am very happy with my Jet mortiser and do regret purchasing it. I just want more.

Operator errors to avoid:
A) If you try force the chisel and bit, you run the risk of elevating the temperature of your cutting tools and ruining the temper. Try to keep the wood from smoking.
B) If you force the cut faster than the helix on the bit can remove the chips, you can induce too much heat into the cutting tools and could stall the motor.
C) The HP is fine. If the wood is smoking, slow down.
D) Lastly, it seems too obvious, but be prepared to mount this to a table or some other ridgid structure before use.

A good benchtop mortiser
I am a beginning woodworker, and after building two mission-style end tables from quartersawn white oak, with mortise and tenon joinery, as well as all those spindles, I knew there had to be a better way than the drill press and chisel! I did a good bit of research, and decided on the Jet as a good value for the money. Setup is quick and easy, and it will do very nice blind mortises. It does leave a small bump on one side of the cut, which I attribute to the stock Jet chisel. The first cut needs to be slow with a couple of backouts to help clear the chips. After that, it goes quite fast. I set the hold down ever so slightly loose, and can slide the workpiece from one cut to the next. I am building a mission style coffee table now, and the mortises took a couple of hours including layout and machine setup...this process took the better part of a weekend before! No, this is not a floor type production mortiser, but it doesn't cost what one does either! For the home shop, it does a great job!

looks like it was meant to do some work
I just purchased the jet mortising machine through amazon.com. I recieved pretty quick witht the free shipping. I had it set up in about 15-20 minutes and did some test holes. I was expecting to hear alot of noise but it was real quite, a big plus for me. I bought it to use in the making of my baby cradles. I think this guy will be with me along time. Just doing the test holes I could tell that I made the right choice with this one, I didn't see where I would have any problems with the hold downs like the reviews on some of the other brands were written about. I guess only time will tell. I can not complain on my purchase, the price was right and the free shipping was perfect. These reviews are great, they help me make my choice on this purchase, thanks to everyone that took the time to write them. Good luck to those that are looking for one.

A Great Bench Top Mortiser
After building two mission style end tables, I knew there had to be a better way than the drill press and chisel to make mortises. I did a bit of research and decided on the Jet...cost and reputation were factors. This is my 3rd jet tool...the JWSS-10 SuperSaw and a dovetail jig are the others. The machine is easy to set up, and does nice mortises. My 1/4" bit leaves a small hump on one side of the mortise...which I attribute to the bit. Unless it is a through mortise, you'd never know it was there on a finished piece. I set the hold down just a touch loose, and can easily slide the workpiece from one cut to the next. You'll need to go slow on the first cut, and back out the bit a couple of times to clear the chips. After that, you can move right along. Is this a production floor model machine? No. Did it cost [money]? No. Does it make good mortises? In my opinion, yes, and it is worth every penny of [money].

GREAT SPECIALTY MACHINE
This machine lives up to it's name, it does indeed make square holes in all types of wood! The machine is very well put together and as solid as any out there. The only complaint is the clamping mechanism, Delta and many others have the same type. I wish they would have just used a toggle type clamp. Other than that, I would have rated this machine a full five stars. ... Read more

Features

• Chuck extension adaptor
• 1HP TEFC motor
• Depth and length work stops
• Enclosed stand
• Drill bit adaptor

Amazon.com Review

Serious craftspeople looking for a dedicated shop machine should consider the Powermatic hollow chisel mortiser. This tool features heavy-duty cast-iron construction, and its 1-horsepower motor turns 1,725 rpm, supplying plenty of power--we made 1/2-inch cuts in a few choice hardwoods with no problem at all. The sliding table rides smooth and sure with depth and length stops and front-mounted hand wheels for linear and cross adjustments. Rack-and-pinion gearing raises and lowers the entire motor head and feeds the mortiser solidly into work. We like the removable, see-through plates for easy access to the chuck and find the lock knob for securing the chisel convenient. --Tim Block ... Read more

Features

• Two-year warranty
• Chisel and bit capacity of 1/4- to 1-inch
• Adjustable stops for setting depth of cut
• Swing away plate allows access to chuck
• Adjustable operating handle

Reviews (13)

No holes about it...this tool is amazing
To be honest, this wasn't my first choice for a mortising machine. I had originally chosen the smaller benchtop versions but after a good 'test drive' at my local dealer I knew this was the one for me.

My first impression was that this machine is just too big for me and my shop, however, after trying the benchtop versions I realized that this Powermatic was just the size I needed. The key difference between the benchtop units and the Powermatic is Powermatic decided to make the table that holds the material mobile/adjustable. The idea is to clamp the piece of stock you wish to mortise in the vise and just turn the fluid handles that operate the moveable vise, thereby creating a very negotiable mortising procedure. You just move the appropriate handle to move the stock on an X or Y axis (never having to remove the stock from the vise) and mortise your holes where necessary. It is extremely fast and very smooth to operate, increasing production time and accuracy while never having to constantly move the piece by hand or adjust fences with the benchtop models.
I found the 1 h.p. motor to be tenacious with the hardest of material and the bits supplied with the unit were very sharp and have kept their edge even after repetitive uses in differing materials. The only thing I found to be a hinderance was the low height of the machine table. I found sitting in a folding chair while mortising was much more comfortable especially after standing for an hour bent over watching where I was plunging my mortising bit(I have since elevated the cabintet 12" to accomodate for my height).

Overall, I would recommend this unit to everyone, even the casual user because of the ease of set up, power of the machine, adjustable plunge arm, depth stop features, and simple use of this compared to the bench top units.

The price is a little tough to handle but after numerous jobs, I see that this Powermatic unit has saved me both time and set up costs due to its moveable mortising table.

10 STARS ( 5 STARS for being Great + 5 bonus STARS)
This is one piece of serious, well-engineered machinery.
It is packaged in two separate boxes. The lower cabinet portion is in one box and entire mortise/table assembly is in another. You will need some help unloading the upper portion because it is quite heavy. The cabinet is well constructed and provides valuable storage space.

Now, for the assembly.
Note: Most likely, you will NOT need assembly instructions.
The assembly take about 20 minutes and consists of the following:
1) Attach the mortise machine to the cabinet (4 bolts, 1 per corner. (Less than 10 minutes)
2) Attach Operating handle. It screws on. (less than 3 minutes)
3) Attach wheel handles to the table adjustment hand-wheels. They screw on. (3 minutes)
4) Attach the quick-release hold-down vise to the table. 2 cap screws/3 minutes.
5) Attach the sacrificial pressed fiberboard to the table. (2 screws/2 minutes.
Everything fit perfectly. I spent more time putting the HTC mobile base together that putting this together.

Observations:
1) The Table movement and adjustment is very smooth.
2) They don't tell you anywhere, but the operating handle is attached with a spline drive that is held in place with a spring assembly that allows very-quick/no-tool-required adjustments of the operating handle. This is very convenient.
3) The hold down clamp is fantastic. It operates with a quick release much like the woodworkers quick-release table vises. You can slide the clamp into contact with the material. Then as you begin cranking the handle to constrain the material, the threads engage and your material is very securely held in place. Turn the handle about 1/3 turn and it releases the material and enables you to pull the clamp out of the way without engaging the threads. (This is typically the weakest portion of the portable mortise machines. This one is outstanding)
4) All the Stops (table stops, depth stops, work stop) are very intuitive and easy to use.
5) The bits are very good and very sharp. I can not comment on the long-term durability. However, with a little care and occasional sharpening, they should provide a long service life.
6) The 1 HP motor is very smooth and powerful.

I'm a hobbyist woodworker who started with the drill press attachment. (I regret that purchase) Then I moved up to a JET table top mortise machine. (Muuuuch better, however, I never was satisfied with the hold down ability, and I really wanted to be able to do larger mortises.) I bought this machine and it's SOLID.
I give it additional 5 BONUS STARS for elegant simplicity and effective functionality.
If your thinking about buying one of these just do it, you won't regret it. If I needed another one of these, I would buy it and never think about anything less.

Stop here. The only mortiser you will ever need!
I thought I could get away with cutting 3/8 inch mortises with a 12 inch drill press + attachment. Forget it!! You can barely make a dent in the Brazilian cherry-wood I was trying to mortise. The attachment slipped off the drill press!! And I tightened it all i could!!

If you have any inkling of trying the same, don't! Spend the money now and save yourself the heartache later. The Powermatic is the ultimate in mortising machinery. And I do mean machinery. It is rock solid, large (but a perfect fit in any workshop), and looks like it will last a lifetime. It cuts through the densest of hardwoods like a hot knife through butter. No stalling, no burning, no binding. Ever. The table top adjustment mechanisms on this machine are excellent. You never have to remove the clamped stock from the table. Precision is guranteed. Powermatic, you have done an excellent job in creating this fine piece of machinery. Believe me. Buy this machine if you need to do reliable, repetitive mortising in dense hardwoods. Nothing else will do. Ive tried the rest, and Powermatic is by far the BEST!

I thought the Delta 14-651 Mortiser would do the job...oops!
Think of the engineering behind the task. You are taking a square chisel, and not slamming it into some wood with a mallet, but rather taking a long slow plunge. Plunging hardwoods like oak, cherry, maple etc. makes you think it is actually a near impossible task. It is helped because the bit in the center is drilling the core, making it easier for the chisel to scrape the walls down. This process is really a challenge for a drill press with a mortising attachment. Some say it could eventually waste a drill presses bearings. Ok so I stepped up to the plate and bought the Delta 16-541. It appeared to be the best out of the smaller dedicated mortisers, and it does do a nice job. That is as long as you are not doing mortises on anything larger than 4 inches. If your making doors, you need to convert the machine with a base spacer, which takes time, adjustment, and disables the adjuster on the fence. If you are an occasional Mortiser, that will suffice. The range of motion on the Delta is only a little over 3 inches. The 1/2hp motor is adequate, but the bit/motor jammed on me twice in a single project. I had to take the bit apart, clean, realign, and reinstall. I also had to be careful to manually keep the wood tight up against the fence. (No clamp)
All of this takes me to the fullest appreciation of the Powermatic and why I ordered the 719A. The fence has a large quick holding clamp, that assures you that your work is going to stay in a perfect line against the fence. The entire table moves left to right with a 16 inch range, and 4 1/2 inch range front to back by using the large wheels on the front. You simply crank with one hand, and plunge with the other. That is efficiency. If you are using a 1/2" bit, and want to make a 1" mortise, you can use the other wheel, move it back a half inch and finish the run. The Powermatic sports a 1 HP motor, twice that of the Delta, therefore it accepts bits up to 1 inch. So you can even make 1" mortises in a single pass. If you look at the very long plunge handle, you can see that it would be easy to create a lot of leverage.
I was concerned about the board capacity in size, so I called Powermatic. The rep measured the distance between the chuck, and the TOP of the fence, and it measured 9 inches. Add to that the 4 inch height of the fence, and you can see that this is a machine with a large capacity. It also has a plunge range of motion of 8 or 9 inches according to the rep. You can see that the Powermatic will handle most any size board. Using the large control wheel, moving the fence front to back, with a range of 4 1/2 inches, means you could put a mortise in the center of an 8" thick beam. Simply put, you don't need to disassemble anything for a full range of sizes. If you are doing repetitive runs, there is a built in adjustable stop on the right side. With a 282 pound shipping weight, you can put in a good size board, clamp it in, and not worry about it tilting onto the floor.
A last few considerations; It is shipped in two boxes, and one of them is 240 pounds. So my advice is to pay the twenty five dollars extra (current rate) for lift gate service. That way you don't have someone waiting in the truck while you offload the crate from a high bed truck. If you are unloading alone, your back is worth more than that.
The only downside is that the purchase does not include any chisel and bit sets. They are extra. Although I can see why Powermatic would do it that way, considering that Deltas bits, and several others fit the machine as well. That way you can get it for a more competitive price, and add the chisels only as you need them. I asked if the Delta chisels were as good as the Powermatics, and the rep professionally did not make an assertion, but I got from the tone of his voice that they were not. In all fairness Delta has two levels of chisels, at two different price points. Their professional bits are highly rated.
This Powermatic is a great commercial/industrial grade piece of equipment, that should give you a lifetime of service. The efficiency created with the unit will more than pay for itself. A foot activated automatic Mortiser is even more efficient, but you can only justify that level of price tag if you are mortising all day for a living. This Powermatic 719A fills the bill perfectly for a wood working professional, and the serious enthusiast. Highly recommended.

Great Machine
The machine took a month to arrive. Take Amazon's shipping estimates with a grain of salt. It was easy to assemble while laying down (as other recommenders on this site suggested). However, it was a bear to stand up by myself (other recommenders on this site seemed to imply that it was easy). I would suggest asking a friend to help. The manual leaves a little to be desired. The mortiser itself, on the other, hand meets or exceeds my expectations. So far it seems well worth the investment. ... Read more

Features

• Ideal for making furniture with steadfast joints
• Installs quickly and easily
• Cuts precision mortises at depths that are easily controlled
• 1/2" chisel and bit set for the Powermatic Model 719 mortiser

Features

• Ideal for making furniture with steadfast joints
• Installs quickly and easily
• Cuts precision mortises at depths that are easily controlled
• 3/8" chisel and bit set for the Powermatic Model 719 mortiser

Reviews (1)

This cuts hours of the conventional way of cutting a mortise
These creations are wonderful. They install quickly and easily and will cut precision mortises at depths that are easily controlled with a drill press. If you like building furnature with real professional quality joints this is the tool to make the hard parts simple. ... Read more

Features

• 3/4 inch chisel and bit set
• Fits Powermatic 719 mortiser

Features

• Now has more powerful 3/4 hp motor @ 1724 RPM
• 5" head stroke with 1/2" chisel capacity
• Oversized gears for smooth operation and longer life
• Twin columns for improved stability and accuracy
• Two-year warranty

Reviews (6)

Best of the Best
I recently read two magazine articles about the Fisch bench top mortiser. Both articles gave Fisch high marks. I was suprised to see reviews on Amazons website that told a different story. I also noticed that these review were very old. Fisch has a great reputation so I ordered the 3/4 HP mortiser and was not dissapointed. I have tried the Delta and Jet. There is absolutely no comparison. Fisch has a much better machine. The Fisch mortiser is a strong reliable tool that I will be happy with for many years to come.

Not great.
I've had this mortiser for about a year. It doesn't include any chisel/bit sets, so that was a substantial additional outlay. I have three gripes about this tool.

First, the depth stop is difficult to adjust. There is no depth gauge, and using a tape measure is very difficult. That's because there's a plate on the bottom of the motor assembly that contacts the depth stop, but that plate doesn't extend to the edge of the motor assembly and you can't get a tape measure in to where that plate is. You're pretty much reduced to trial and error with a piece of scrap wood. Very frustrating.

Second, the depth stop is made of plastic. It needs to be very tight in order to keep from slipping, but one of the plastic seams that the threads of the "tightener" go into ended up splitting.

Third, the posts aren't mounted very securely to the base. I wound up having to dismount the mortiser from my workbench in order to retighten them.

I have run into some clogging (and subsequent stalling) and burning, but I can't blame the mortiser for those.

It does the job, just not as easily as I'd like, nor is it as well made as I'd expect....

Not worth it
I bought the Fisch because of the micro-adjustable fence, spring return, and two-post design. I was not satisfied with the tool. Deficiencies: 1. The depth stop slips. I can't tell you how many times I accidentally converted 1 1/4" mortises into 1 3/4" through mortises... Major hassle. 2. The "indexable" knob that controls the depth stop stripped almost immediately--had to resort to vise grips. 3. After about 400 mortises, the machine stalled very frequently--even in very soft wood (western red cedar). Yes, the chisel and bit were sharp and adjusted properly. 4. The chuck cover is made of plastic. This may not matter--because of the frequent stalls, you'll need frequent access to the chuck. Just remove the cheap plastic cover, because it'll break pretty quickly... 5. The micro-adjustable fence is more trouble than you'd expect. The spring makes it difficult to adjust, and the screw isn't long enough to give you the full range of motion I needed. 6. Like all the small mortisers, the hold-down is inadequate. I returned the Fisch and bought the Jet. Now I'm relatively happy. Jeff

Less than expected
I had purchased and returned the Delta mortiser, finding much the same problems described in reviews I susequent read. After reading a review on the Fisch mortiser I ordered one and unfortunetely was again dis-satisfied with the results. I am building mission style furniture out of white oak and the mortiser's motor was just not up to the task. It stalled quite often, something that happened infrequently with the Delta. With the Delta all I had to do was raise the mortiser, freeing up the jam and then continue to mortise. With the Fisch pieces of wood lodged between the bit and the chisel necessitating re-adjustment of the chisel to free the clog. This happened no matter how I adjusted the gap between the bit and the chisel. I also found the mico-adjustment less than optimal. I expected a screw type adjustment, not one that depended on a spring. And finally, I found the spring return more difficult to use than those on the Delta or Jet. I returned the Fisch and purchased a Jet, which I find to be an excellent machine. I have made numerous mortises with it and find it consistantly accurate and easy to adjust and use.

Fisch benchtop mortiser
I had a good bit of experience with the Delta mortiser (on loan from a friend), when it came time to buy my own, I researched long and hard to find the best. I succeeded!! the Fish has none of the problems the Delta has (sloppy plunge, bad hold down, weak fence) and works like a charm.

Don't be fooled by the fact that this machine looks a lot like the other machines, it is head and shoulders above the rest.

P.S. Shop Fox (marketed by Grizzly) has a faster spinning motor - a definite DISADVANTAGE - major burning problems

Phil ... Read more

Features

• Manufactured of steel
• 48 Rockwell Hardness to ensure strength and durability
• Set includes 1/4", 5/16", 3/8" and 1/2" chisels
• Protective canvas roll

Features

• 5/16 inch chisel and bit