Hollow Chisel Mortising with a Shopsmith Mark V or Mark 7 or any Drill Press, for that matter!

SHOP NOTES: This week’s a long one, but if you ever want to give hollow chisel mortising a try on your Shopsmith you are going to need all this information. We will go over a couple modern changes in chisels and bits, how to sharpen and hone them, the set-up of the entire mortising kit and then we’ll put the stock quill handle to the test by trying to mortice with a 1/2” chisel, followed by doing the same with the aftermarket Geoffrey Baker levers.

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0:00 - Intro
1:00 - Changes in modern chisels and bits
3:55 - Sharpening and honing the mortising chisels
8:15 - How I store my chisels and bits
8:43 - Set-up and support of the table
11:18 - Hold-down
13:33 - Setting-up the chisel holder
19:20 - Actual mortising!
21:17 - How I mortise today and important final thoughts

LINKS to products that were used and discussed in this video (in no particular order):

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#Shopsmith #ShopsmithMarkV #HollowChiselMortising

[giljusino]

Hey Scott, I just set up mortising on my vintage and near new Mark V. The mortising bits had wax on the from 1984. I reinstalled the Mark V table, as I have the hold down for that table. Wow, you are right about the downward pressure needed, I didn’t like the stress on the table. BTW, I picked up a set of the triple & single long handles. I’m glad I had them. I’m not sure I’m going to pursue the mortising on my Shopsmith, but I wanted to give it a try. Thanks for your video 👍👍

[ellisreeves]

Scott all the comments on the SS web site trash the mortising attachment as junk. Claim as you demonstrated that it won't cut into the wood. I have always contended that SS needs a longer handle as part of the set. Look at the length of the handle on your Powermatic. After seeing your demonstration I think I will buy the mortising kit along with the longer handle kit from Mr. Beasley. Hope I got his name write.

[MrMarkpeggy]

Wow, that is a complicated tool Scott! Thanks for teaching us about it.

[daveschmitt]

I thought I was doing something wrong, because I couldn't cut a mortise in oak. Looks like I'm not the only one. I think before I buy a longer handle, I will put the second handle from my second Shopsmith on and try it with both hands. That will have to wait till after surgery and recovery, but you might try it on the cheap shots to see if it works. I can get a handle for a lot less than the purple one. Great instruction on sharpening, mine is rusty (I inherited it that way) haven't figured out how to sharpen it. I will sharpen it and try it, though, I'll probably purchase the new style mortise and tenon bits in the future. Keep up the good information.

[williamk]

Wonderful video. I enjoy seeing videos on the not so common tools of Shopsmith. I would enjoy your take on all the accessories Shopsmith has available.

[sincerelyyours]

I've had my SS mortising kit since about 1992 but I could never get the chisels to enter the wood. Even soft woods were impossible. Didn't want to bend or break something so I just gave up. Why SS never sharpened their chisels (including lathe chisels) always bothered me. Watching you practically ream your chisel with your diamond cone convinced me that I haven't been sharpening mine properly. Will try this again when I get the chance. One idea - would waxing or applying soap to the chisels help them enter the wood more easily? The amount of effort required, even with sharp chisels and your big honking handles, suggest that the chisels could use all the help they can get.

[roberthiday]

Just watched it again, now that I have purchased the kit from the mothership. This is very helpful. Going to go dig some holes now.... thanks Scott.

[johnrice]

Absolutely well done. No doubt you’ve noticed the light.
The information within this video is very good.
You know some time ago I purchased (I don’t know why) a telescoping leg for a 500 table system. Shopsmith has them available, I decided (I guess) I needed another leg....
Anyway, the clamp is slotted - the leg can be positioned anywhere along the 510/520 saw table. So one leg does it all.
Most excellent video. Keep ‘em coming. 👍👍

[stewwolfe]

Scott, this demonstrates why you have a 24" or so handle on a dedicated hollow chisel mortising machine. Don't really want to admit it, but I have a pipe I put around a spare handle. I've been using it for over 30 years without any issues. Great videos!

[andymilligan]

1) On my very first Shopsmith I purchased in 1981 (a 500), I used a 2x4 between the table and the floor to give it stability. Worked like a charm. 2) I first heard about the dime spacing from a video by Nick Engler on how to set up the mortise (and is what I use) and I have heard other folks talk about a nickel spacing on other mortice machines and my comment is that I have a 5 cents difference with my setup.

[bobwebberkc]

Thanks Scott! I always thought I was just a weakling! Now I know more leverage is the answer!

[eddie]

Hi thanks for your videos, I personally like a slot chisel mortice bits, much easier and better looking

[Johnjvenn]

Scott, you did it again with another fantastic instructional video. I am not interested in mortising with my Shopsmith, but I am interested in how to best stablize the machine when using it in drill press mode. Your tips for doing this were excellent, and I will be using them the next time I use the drill press. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with us.

[roberthiday]

I have always wondered about this SS accessory, but now I know. excellent. thanks.

[jvmiller]

I want that handle. I always use two standard handles together though. Defiantly want to get the Japanese style mortise bit. Thanks for the upload

[rfguy]

Another great video Scott. Great tip on the spacer support block for the carriage; I'll bet that works better than the support leg (555627) Shopsmith sells for this. It has been a few years since I used my hollow chisel mortiser on my Mark V. I used it quite a bit before but didn't enjoy it. Wished I thought to look for aftermarket chisels like you show here. It could have made all the difference in the world in how mine performed. I finally gave up and bought a Domino. Had I seen your video first I might have persisted with my Shopsmith Mortiser. Also those long handles from Geoffrey Baker sure would have made it a lot easier as well!!!

[PhilNPrice]

I just bought an old shop smith (500) and it came with a box of bits and bobs. I had no idea what some of them are…but now I know! Mortising kit (minus the chisels). Honestly it looks like a pain to set up, and I think I’m more likely to use a router to cut the mortises (finishing them with a chisel) but maybe this is a case of “don’t knock it till you’ve tried it”. Anyway thanks for the video, super helpful.

[arthurmccutchan]

Thanks again i trying to get info to restore my dads mark 5

[brucepeter]

Thanks for another informative video Scott. I will be using your PVC hack on more than just the mortising chisel(s). Have a couple questions. 1) Does the sleeve you used around 15:30 come with the mortising package or is it something extra you purchased? 2) will you be showing the set up for the older style in the mid-week "Stumped? Q & A" ?

[johnoerter]

Decades ago on the 500/510 I cut a 2x4 to comfortable drilling height, angled the ends to rest flat on the floor and underneath, front, of the table and it nestled into the arch in the center of the leg giving me no flex.