![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif)
First I managed to win a FD250 horizontal mortiser at auction, 2004 machine and appears in good shape. This Felder machine can use an adapter to hold hollow chisels. Not sure if this will be the be all end all machine for mortising but it will be the one I rely upon until I can manage a swing chisel mortiser that I want for making double mortises. It will maintain some relevance at that point allowing for me to make square through tenons for pegs. Mortising I enjoy in a way but cutting square holes I truly dread doing so by hand in anything with any depth.
Next I bought a Minimax Elite S 16” jointer planer. This is a pretty hefty machine at 1400 lbs. it has shorter tables than a stand alone jointer but that is not necessarily a problem in my shop. They’re 86” long so biggest of the group. I had looked into the more basic machines but this one offered a large four knife tersa cutter block, heavy fence, single phase
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif)
I have a small space (by NJ standard) and likely will always be working around small spaces because I’m allergic to rent.
I appreciate the advice I have received, I think it was good to avoid machines not really suitable to heavy work and avoid machines such as the more hobby shop oriented 8" jointers, and flimsy mortisers.
I also appreciate the cutter block advice that Chris gave me, this was echoed by Sam Blasco. There is a shop local to me that does use a spiral head and from what I've gathered they do lament having it each time they have to turn the cutters rather than simply replacing with a new set of knives in a few minutes.