Concerns about using Makita Chain Mortiser

Do I need to know about any glitches about my new Makita Chain Mortiser? I will be using it for the first time. The Depth gauge on it looks kind of delicate. What are the best things to do to keep it maintained? What are things to watch for while doing the plunge cuts? Should I buy a spare chain?

Be careful when doing Through mortises, The chain can catch when you break through to the other side. When this happens the mortiser head will slam down on the depth stop, if it hits hard enough the casting may break. Just be aware and be careful when you break through.

I use chain saw bar oil on the chain, just a squirt every couple of mortises, WD40 on the posts and head pivot. Use a metal detector and you won't need a spare chain. I sharpen the chain on the machine using a chain saw file. This is a rip chain so file straight across.

Score the end lines of mortises with a chisel to avoid tear out. To keep the sides square I plunge the sides first and then clean up the middle last. The mortiser bar will flex into a void ( path of least resistance ). It will cut the best if both sides of the chain are doing an equal amount of work.

Let me know how things go Cedar. I am courious to know how the Makita tool works.

Thane

I have used the Makita Mortiser for a few frames now and am pretty happy with it. One thing that I have noticed is that the chain becomes lose over time, so just keep an eye on that. Could be a dangerous situation if it got to lose. Overall it is a good machine!