My son recently bought a used mortiser, as he will be building several railings for his log home. The seller told him not to leave the machine running when not actually cutting mortises, as it WILL heat up. Also, we noticed a bit of a squeal when the bit is turning in the chisel. So, a question for all you woodworkers with experience in using these machines.... Should there be some kind of lube applied to the chisel/bit? And if so, what is safe to use that will not interfere with the finish?

John

Shouldn't be a squeal, John.  Sumpin taint right. 

Thanks, Gene. I'll see if anything is "over-torqued"!

John

Mine squealed until I bought a high end set of mortising bits. Now it’s quiet.

Mine never squealed using the stock Delts bits. Hope it's as easy to remedy as just a new set of bits. 

Try some Tri-Flow.  I found it at Ace Hardware.  LINK

 

 

Per Stick it doesn't affect finish and stays with the metal a long time.  I have used it on the TS trunnions to keep them lubed so they don't squeak.  Apply when it even starts to hint at squeaking, usually 3-4 months.  A little goes a long way.  If the noise goes away it is in the bits.  If not other issues in the mortise.

Topic moved to tools and machine forum.

Hope you get it solved Haro, when I had my Jet mortising machine, it squealed a little, it's not supposed to squeal ever as far as I know, something is misaligned. Check the runout on your chuck, I did mine and it was out a tad.

I called Jet customer service, they told me to pull the chuck, and reinstall, and it did fix the issue.

If you have some paste wax that you use to wax the top of your table saw or bandsaw, you could try that on the bit.  If it quietens, then like others said, it is a bit problem. The wax won't transfer or interfere on finish.  Just something that may be in your stock to try.