Our picks provide an excellent example of the variety on offer, and we look at specifications and features in more detail in the following buying guide. Here at BestReviews, we’ve been researching all the latest models so we can help you with your decision.

While they all follow similar principles, there are important differences that you’ll want to consider as you shop. You’ll find plenty of choice, too, from lightweight models for the home shop to those for the full-time pro. If you’ve only got a few mortises to cut, then doing so with a chisel and mallet is far and away the cheapest way to do it, too! But if you cut mortises on a regular basis for furniture or construction, a good mortiser soon becomes invaluable.Ī mortiser is easy to learn how to use, it can be set up quickly, and a good one produces precise mortises time after time, all day long.

It’s possible to cut mortises by hand, and, in fact, doing so was once considered a test of a woodworking apprentice’s skill.

Shop made slot mortiser