The Shop Fox W1671 Mortising Machine is a benchtop hollow chisel mortiser built for woodworkers who need accurate, repeatable joinery without fighting a light-duty machine. This is a mortising machine designed for cutting straight, square-sided mortises in woodworking stock. Model Number: W1671. If you build doors, tables, chairs, frames, or cabinet parts, this machine is made to speed up mortise-and-tenon work while giving you better control than drilling and cleaning up by hand.

At the center of the machine is a 3/4 HP, 110V motor paired with a 1/2 inch keyed chuck on a Jacobs Taper #2 spindle. In practical terms, that means it is built to drive mortising bits with enough authority for serious shop work, not just occasional hobby use. The 1/2 inch chuck is also a real advantage because it avoids the hassle of modifying chisels and bits just to get them to fit.

Where this machine separates itself is control. The heavy fence and hold-down are there for a reason: they reduce workpiece movement and help prevent the sticking chisel problem that frustrates a lot of users on cheaper mortisers. Add in the micro-adjustable fence and adjustable depth-stop rod, and you get a setup that is easier to dial in for repeat cuts when you are making matching parts.

The Shop Fox W1671 Mortising Machine is also built around a stout frame. Heavy cast-iron construction, double support columns, and hardened-and-ground column surfaces all point to the same thing: better rigidity during the cut. That matters on a mortiser because any flex shows up directly in the finished joint. A solid machine tracks straighter, cuts cleaner, and makes setup less of a fight.

For day-to-day use, the long handle and softer return system make a difference. The extra-long 22 inch quick-set handle gives you more leverage, which helps when you are plunging into dense wood. The hydraulic cylinder is there to soften releases, so the machine feels more controlled coming back up instead of snapping back and beating you up over a long run of parts.

The capacity is what makes this a serious shop tool instead of a compact novelty. It can mortise to the center of an 8 inch wide board and handle stock up to 7-3/8 inches thick. That opens it up to larger furniture parts, entryway components, and other workpieces that smaller benchtop units struggle with. The swiveling base adds flexibility for off-the-bench operations and custom mortise locations when the workpiece shape does not cooperate with a standard setup.

Shop practicality is baked in too. Two-door chuck access makes bit changes easier, and the built-in 8-piece tool holder keeps commonly used chisels and accessories close to the machine. This is still a corded benchtop woodworking machine, so it is best suited to a fixed shop or dedicated bench rather than jobsite hopping, but that is exactly where a mortiser like this belongs.

If you are a furniture builder, cabinetmaker, finish carpenter with a serious shop, or a dedicated DIY woodworker moving into stronger joinery, this is the kind of mortiser worth buying once instead of replacing later. It is for users who want cleaner mortises, faster setup, and a machine with enough mass and adjustment to stay accurate over time.

A real step up from entry-level mortisers

The Shop Fox W1671 Mortising Machine makes sense for woodworkers who are done fighting flexy, fussy machines and want cleaner joinery with less setup drama.

• Who it's for: Furniture builders, cabinet shops, and serious hobby woodworkers who cut enough mortises to justify a dedicated machine.
• Why it stands out: The heavy cast-iron build, micro-adjustable fence, long handle, and swiveling base give it the kind of control and versatility that matter in real shop use.
• Worth knowing: This is a benchtop corded machine with real weight to it, so plan on giving it a stable home in the shop rather than moving it around all the time.

• What kind of tool is this? It is a benchtop mortising machine for cutting square-sided mortises in woodworking stock.
• What size chuck does it use? It uses a 1/2 inch keyed chuck on a Jacobs Taper #2 spindle.
• How thick a workpiece can it handle? Product data states it can mortise lumber up to 7-3/8 inches thick.
• Can it reach the center of wider boards? Yes. It is rated to mortise to the center of an 8 inch wide board.