Jet 708580 JBM-5 1/2 Horsepower Bench Mortiser

by Jet

Product Description

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

Product Description

Mortising has never been easier or more accurate. Model JBM-5 JET Benchtop Mortiser features include: powerful 1/2 HP TEFC 1725 RPM motor for solid performance and trouble free operation, heavy-duty cast iron and steel construction for durability and stability, three jaw drill chuck with extended chuck key for ease of positive grip on mortise drill bit. Rack and pinion head raising and lowering allows for positive drilling control. Two hinged side doors to allow for complete drill chuck access. Removable safety toggle switch for prevention of accidental turn on 1/2" max. mortise chisel capacity. 4-3/4" head stroke. Includes free 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" chisel and bit sets.

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 22 x 13 x 11 inches ; 52 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 52.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0000223M4
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 708580
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,522 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
  • #27 in Home Improvement > Power & Hand Tools > Power Tools > Drill Presses

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

103 of 103 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Value and Good Quality, April 15, 2002

By 

kevan d western (Keller, Texas USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jet 708580 JBM-5 1/2 Horsepower Bench Mortiser (Tools & Home Improvement)

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.

82 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars JET Benchtop Mortiser is Tops!, March 23, 2000

By 

Roy Brouwer (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jet 708580 JBM-5 1/2 Horsepower Bench Mortiser (Tools & Home Improvement)

After having used biscuit joiners, dowels, and hand-made mortise and tenon furniture, I decided to invest in a powered benchtop mortising machine. After seeing and using various brands, I found the JET JBM-5 to be the best designed and most precisely built of the lot. The machining, design, simplicity of use are the best available for the novice-to-advanced woodworker. The hold-down bracket is designed to clamp evenly and the depth stop is easily adjusted without tools, unlike the Delta model. Another useful feature is the unit can be reversed on its base, allowing mortising of long objects--I built a clamping devise on the back of my mortising stand and can accomodate 36" long material for end-mortises or wide stock. The 2 year warranty should be more than adequate, given the history of other JET tools I've used--all running prefectly as designed.

95 of 97 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love that mortiser, April 30, 2000

By 

Gerald B. Hatley (Southern Pines, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jet 708580 JBM-5 1/2 Horsepower Bench Mortiser (Tools & Home Improvement)

I have a Delta drill press and had used a mortising attachment for several years. It is quite difficult and time consuming to set up. I had wanted a dedicated mortiser and decided to try the Jet, and boy am I pleased. Basically, right out of the box you are ready to make great mortises. I attached it to an auxilliary table as described in the manual and began work. I am building an antique pie safe and am using very hard red oak lumber. The Jet tooled through the red oak like cutting through butter. I especially like the slow speed (1750 RPM) that the drill bit turns. You are assured that you will not burn the wood. The chisels are also incredibly sharp. I found it easy to set the work fence to center the work piece and properly setting the cutting depth adjustment is a breeze. All in all, a very fine tool. Very glad I bought it!