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).