Setting Up the Morticer
10
The old rule of thumb for chisel auger clearance was
known as “the one penny width”. This was achieved by
introducing a penny between the locating shoulder of the
chisel and the adaptor face, with the auger locked in place
and with the chisel pulled hard down on the auger. The
penny was then removed and the chisel pushed up to the
adaptor face and, locked in place, this established the “one
penny width” between the chisel and the auger, which for
general timbers and mortice sizes is quite adequate, see
figs 13-14.
Initial Setup
Introduce the chisel into the adaptor collar, press the
auger bit up into the chuck and tighten the chuck, see
fig 11, withdraw the chuck key. Gently pinch the chisel in
place by nipping tight the grub screw, see fig 12.
Fig 11-12
Setting the Chisel Auger Clearance
Traditional morticers normally had a cross pin in the
auger mounting mandrel, to prevent the auger being
pushed back up into the chisel. The mounting method
on the newer morticers is a chuck.
It is well worth taking the extra time and care to prepare
your augers to give the correct ‘reach’ when ‘bottomed’
out in the chuck. This will prevent the auger being pushed
back towards the chisel and altering the clearance setting,
see fig B.
Fig 13-14
Penny
NOTE: Select the correct bush adaptor (F) for the shank
of the required chisel and introduce it into the underside
of chisel head stock. Push the bush up as far as it will go,
at the same time lining up the hole in the side of the bush
and screwing in the grub screw, far enough to prevent the
bush from falling out, see fig A.
Fig A
Bush adaptor
Grub screw hole
F
