Due to problems getting U.L. listings Makita U.S.A. cannot import several great tools: chain mortisers, groove cutters, dovetail/housing machines, and finish circular saws. A few of these tools have buttons which when depressed keep the tool running, and some have 100v motors. The best bet for obtaining these tools is to connect with someone in the Japanese carpentry circle.
Good Luck

Sorry, I ment to say chisel mortiser, not chain

Joel, A good place to look for tools such as these is WWW.Timberwolftools.com. Hope this helps. George

This may be old news,but I'm posting it anyway. I apprenticing a few years ago (Timber Framing) and where using a 35mm Makita chisel mortiser. It clamps right to the timber. It uses these realy accurate dials to put the chisel exactly where you want it.
I will contact the old crew (if I can)to see how they orderd them. I know they had to get them strait from Japan, and had to have the power converted to U.S.110 bla bla bla.(I'm not an electrician).It cost around $2500.00 in 1999. I do know it is one very slick machine.
I will try to get ahold of those guys this week and let you know the details (cross your fingers).

Quiethouse...

Thank you for thinking of me!

I bought a used Makita chisel mortiser. It sounds like it is a bit different than the one you described. It does not have dials for placing the chisel. I'd be very interested in what you find out.

Joel