The chain mortiser is a powerful tool that can cut square holes into wood. It can be used for a wide range of applications, including making mortise and tenon joints and post and beam fittings.
Chain mortisers use a rotating chain (similar to the chain used in a chainsaw) with cutters. This is then successively plunged into the workpiece to create a strong mortise.
Power
A chain mortiser is a great tool for timber framing and log home building. It is an excellent choice for cutting large mortises in thick timber and will save you a lot of time on the job site.
A mortise and tenon joint is one of the most basic types of joinery in wood construction. The simple but effective design involves the cutting of a hole, which is used to receive a tenon and make a joint.
The traditional method of mortising timber is by hand using a chisel and hammer. However, due to the precision of fit required for a mortise and tenon joint, this can be a very difficult task.
A more advanced method of mortising timber uses a hollow square-sided chisel and an auger bit inside it. This helps to clear chips up the centre of the chisel and also makes it easier to square up the edges of the hole.
Size
The size of a chain mortiser is an important consideration for any timber framer. This type of tool is ideal for cutting mortises and tenon joints quickly and accurately, and it’s also very portable.
A chain mortiser uses a rotating chain with cutters to successively plunge into a piece of wood. The chain may be carbide-tipped for added durability and clean cuts, and it’s usually mounted around a bar with separate flanges to guide it through the wood.
Stationary chain mortisers are much larger and heavier than portable models, and they may feature a depth gauge to control how deep the machine cuts the wood. These machines are often used for large jobs, such as in the construction of timber frames.
The Makita 7104L 10.5 Amp Chain Mortiser is a powerful and accurate mortiser engineered for timber framing and log home building. It can cut mortises up to 5-1/8″ in length, and it features a pivoting head for fast and easy cutting.
Accuracy
A chain mortiser is an ideal tool for cutting larger mortises, particularly for timber framing or log home building. It uses a chain of cutters (similar to a chainsaw chain) that rotates around a frame clamped to the work.
It is the most accurate way to cut a mortise in thick timber, especially when the tenon joint is square in shape. The chain can be plunged into the work piece multiple times for a smooth, consistent cut.
If you’re in the market for a chain mortiser, Makita has an excellent option with their 7104L. It has a 10.5 Amp motor that produces 3,200 rpm, and can bore rectangular holes in heavy timber.
It also has a razor sharp chain for clean and precise cuts. It includes a chain, sharpening holder, wrench and chain oil. It weighs just 38.1 lbs, making it a lightweight power tool to carry on a job site.
Portability
A chain mortiser is a great way to create square holes in wood. They can remove material quite fast, and they can plunge deep into the wood to make very clean cuts.
The chain that runs around the bar is usually carbide tipped to improve durability and keep the machine sharp. Larger jobs often require a multiple chains to create a wider cutting tool.
Portable chain mortisers are lightweight and compact and can be taken on job sites or used in the workshop. They are generally easier to handle than stationary machines and can save time on smaller projects.
The Makita 7104L Chain Mortiser is engineered for power and accuracy, delivering 3,200 RPM to quickly cut notch and hole mortises in heavy timber stock. It also has a number of other features, including a very sharp chain and an adjustable vise. This makes it a great tool for timber framing and log home building, and is highly recommended by the team at Timber Frame HQ.
