Does anyone have a guess as to how many shops are still using these machines? I have just completed a frame for the first time in 11 years using chain morticers. Previously all mortices were done with a hand crank machine. With the exception of speed I see no advantage. For a comfortable mortice and tenon fit one still needs to clean the mortice up and check for square. This is working with rough stock not s4s timber. When building I like to think the structure will last for generations and so a few more minutes during construction does not bother me. Besides, Safety glasses fog up in the winter in a unheated shop and that is a bother let alone the chips in your nose and beard. I think it is impossible to get one of those beautiful half roung chips stuck in your nose or eye. How come more folks are not using these machines? They can be used for many years and have no break downs, and are easily repaired via the local machine shop. My favorite machine is a snell, I believe, I replaced the wooden frame with a 1/2" angle iron frame and a new base and after a few years changed the gears out from the 1:1 ratio to a 1:.75 or something like that, it turnes slower but has more power. The gears came out of a Ford 3rd member which broke while plowing snow. Any way I don't think I will be sucked into the power vacume any time soon. I recently purchased a Boss and am looking forward to its use. Tim
