A Timber Frame Vlog #29: Jim vs. The Chain Mortiser...Part 1

I love my chain mortiser, it saves me a lot of time on this project but this time it ended up costing me some time and some cussing. All is not lost, there will be parts ordered for the machine and it will be good as new...I am posting this up to show some of the setbacks that you will encounter along the way. Hope you enjoy the show.

[@evergreenorganics]

That’s a kickass t shirt.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Hey buddy

[@toolsconsumables7055]

Dear Jim; you have faced tougher ones than that in the past. In the face of adversity; do as you always maintain, PATIENCE my friend. I am sure you'll win the day. Kind regards.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

+ToolsConsumables oh I won...

[@toolsconsumables7055]

Dear Jim, I am very glad you have. I had every confidence that you'll end up on top. Well done. Kind regards.

[@treetopflyersofva2]

It is because of you and what you said you paid for that one used in one of your other vlogs I went and ordered a 7104L from Amazon. I think you can almost get your money back if you take care of it if you sell it later. The wife raised hell until I made her watch me do a mortise by hand then with the chain mortiser. I love mine and have had no problems with it. If I did not live in Virginia and was closer I would let you use mine. I hope you can upgrade yours. They are great time saving tools. Keep the vlogs coming.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

+treetopflyersofva2 nothing like a chain mortiser for saving time. I just need to replace the clamping mechanism on it. It'll work out.

[@peershaunm]

+TheTradesmanChannel way to maintain your cool. I would've taken a claw hammer to the fucking thing. the anger management classes haven't been working for me.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

+peershaunm I was being good for the camera! Extreme cussing fit when the camera was off

[@silversurfer233]

treetopflyersofva2 Mine cost me £1,200 delivered..money very well spent..I prefer makita tools over dewalt sometimes.

[@silversurfer233]

peershaunm Spare the mortiser as even a broken one can be repaired and useful..take the claw hammer to a useless cat.

[@j.ericswede7084]

I ran one of these at North Country Folk School in Gran Marais, Minnesota. I was taking a timbered workbench class. I didn't like the inaccuracy of that machine, so I am going to get a 3/4 HP Powermatic Bench Mortiser. I only need it for small timbers so it will be far more accurate than the Chain Mortiser. Align the timber, lower mortiser, remove material, repeat. And it leaves you a squared edge with very little touch up.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

+J. Eric Lunden this machine wouldn't work for small stuff but does well for large mortices.

[@thanegrooms]

What model is that? Looks like it has only one clamping bar. 7104L has 2 bars.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

+Thane Grooms that is an older model 7103, when bought it it was listed as a 7104.

[@jefflabrozzi9592]

Equipment like technology are great when they work but extremely frustrating when they don't. Persevere.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

+Jeff LaBrozzi you are right...it could be much worse. Just takes a little longer by hand but the results are better.

[@robertk5886]

Do you have a video on how you have your post attached to the concrete, or are they free standing?

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

+robert k right now they are freestanding but I will be making steel brackets to secure them and I will show the process step by step.

[@robertk5886]

very cool cant wait, and thank you for answering back, my wife and are in the middle of purchasing a new home, and probably next year purchasing a saw mill to start building timber frame out buildings. I did a search on you tube and came across your video's and like what you do keep up the great work. I'll keep watching

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

+robert k thank you. If there's anything you d like to see let me know.

[@dougdunlap6638]

I am proud of you you didn't throw it! I have seen that done a few times in my life.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

+Doug Dunlap I have done that a few times in life.

[@Nrhat123]

Hey got a quick fix for your clamping arm, take it apart and use a file to clean up the worn part of the slot on the clamping arm then a small bushing slid over the pin to act as a roller when you clamp. shuld stop all the friction as you clamp it and should still let it go all the way down to lock it in place.. give it a try and see if it works till you get some new parts in to fix it properly.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

+jim stew great idea

[@Nrhat123]

Also you should add some real coarse sand paper to the clamping surfaces to keep them from slipping. if you do that then you will not need to try and force the clamping so much and still not mark the beam up.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

+jim stew the clamps kept getting loose because of the mechanism. When it works right it clamps down without issue, no slipping, no marks.

[@solarpall]

It would be better if you run the machine from the operator side. You can't read the ruler from the side your on.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

I run the machine from the operator side, I was having some issues with the clamping mechanism not working properly. Basically all of the linkages are worn out, this machine has some miles on her for sure. This is an older 7103 model converted to a 7104 base, it is not ideal.

[@thomasarussellsr]

May have to order some rod and some plate steel (hardened rod and annealed plate) and remanufacture the pin and lever. The slot in that clamp lever looks a bit worn too. If you can't order direct replacement parts, that is. "I (hate) it when a plan (doesn't) come together".

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

+Thomas Russell I was thinking the same thing. I'm going to see if the 7104L base will fit it. That would take care of it altogether. That machine has some miles on it.

[@NCSU4x4]

Do you know a machinist that could make you a new pin?

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

+NCSU4x4 I think we know the same one...but if he sees a squirrel you know what'll happen.

[@NCSU4x4]

TheTradesmanChannel 2017 if he sees a squirrel the cat will have kittens...

[@ozziebarton2374]

ha ha, i wouldnt have thrown that thing half way across the farm, you have more patieance than me

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

+ozzie barton the thought crossed my mind...but at $1,000.00 used, self control won the day.

[@idickenson]

Hope things turn around for you...I know how frustrating things can be.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

+Red Dickenson could be much worse. Just doing them with a drill and chisel now. Cleaner job of it anyway.

[@rkstewart9585]

Outstanding. I love those mortisers. Damn things aren't cheap though. Heck, a couple grand on top of that gets me the vertical mill to pattern a 1:1 copy though :D Yes, I'd rather drive around my 10 year old WRX and 20 year old Grand Cherokee then have payments so I can buy tooling. Whatever happen to working with what you got so you can further what you need? z Damn mindless consumers lol

[@donbeeler49]

I see the camera made you into a refined gentleman. Bwahahahahahahaha...

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

+DLB Knives pretty much. I can pitch a fit with the best of them.

[@mattfetrow1287]

So frustrating! Sorry.

[@SilverBack.]

Hi Jim the whole jig sounds dry as you tighten, I know this might sound like I am telling you how to suck eggs . the locking mech just does not look or sound right

[@aarondugas1653]

hey bud, been watching your series and a bunch of other videos on timber framing, nice work by the way. I stumble across the a video from Northford Timber Framers called Makita Chain Mortiser Fix. here the link for the video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYu9lXShnqeUZ5I....might be your problem, hope it helps

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Just made it in to the computer and had to approve your comment because of the link. I actually watched that one quite awhile back and did that fix hoping it would work. I just need to replace the linkage and it will be good as new. I'm hoping to get a complete 7104L clamping base and replace the base it has. That will make a huge difference.

[@cristomario9118]

makita mortiser is crap.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

The clamp is crap on this one for sure.