Fisch BTM99-44252 3/4 Horsepower Bench Mortiser

by Fisch

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

BTM99-44252 Bench Top Mortiser-3/4 hp motor, most powerful in class-for more stability, machine has double column construction-head rides on 4 brass bushings (2 on each column) for smoother vertical motion. Compression spring aids in extracting bit from mortised wood. Micro-adjustable fence allows you to fine tune the fence to an exact parallel to the mortise chisel. Special lock down brings fence to parallel after each readjustment. Depth is controlled by a positive stop on a flat on the column. A top stop is included to limit the vertical head movement to the depth of cut in the wood. The arm is adjustable for each operator's comfort. Four brass cap screws in the head can be adjusted to keep an exact perpendicular even after years of use. Three high quality chisels and bits (1/4", 3/8", 1/2") are included with each purchase, a $40.00 extra value. 2 Year Warranty

Product Details

• Item Weight: 68 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 216 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000051WSJ
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: BTM99-44252
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #503,137 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fisch Bench Top Mortiser, December 13, 2000

By 

Ronnie L Warman (Topeka, KS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fisch BTM99-44252 3/4 Horsepower Bench Mortiser (Tools & Home Improvement)

I have used a drill press type mortiser for years. I am getting calls for Mission style furniture and the hastle of putting all the pieces of the mortiser on the drill press made me want a dedicated moritser. I have tried two of the top name mortisers and did not like either one so I returned them, eating the return postage. I now own a Fisch mortiser and it is almost a pleasure to use. The hard part of using a mortiser is not drilling the hole, it is pulling the chisel out of the hole. This machine has a spring to help here. It also means the handle returns to the top of the stroke each time but I made a little block to fit in the space between the twin colums to limit the return position closer to the work. The machine also has an adjustable fence. Because of the length of the chisel bit combination the mortiser is limited to a depth of under 4 inches. If you need to make a through mortise on a large piece you can adjust the fence so you drill 1/2 way, then turn the work over and drill the rest of the way on the other side. This machine is a keeper for me. Don't let the made in China fool you this is one quality machine.

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Less than expected, February 27, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Fisch BTM99-44252 3/4 Horsepower Bench Mortiser (Tools & Home Improvement)

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.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not worth it, August 26, 2001

By 

Jeff Mackay "A woodworking geek" (Waukesha, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fisch BTM99-44252 3/4 Horsepower Bench Mortiser (Tools & Home Improvement)

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