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Product Ranking

The HM-11 is numbered 18th among 26 Mortisers and 11th among 15 Bench-Top Mortisers. It is ranked seventh of 22 among Bridgewood products in our database.

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Locate more information on Bridgewood products here. For parts, manuals or other information visit the brand's site, www.wilkemachinery.com.

grade B
WHAT'S THIS?

Good Value for a Pretty Good Machine
Fine Woodworking Magazine, Volume 178, 2005-07

At only $189, this benchtop mortiser has the lowest price of the eight tested by Fine Woodworking in issue 178. They didn't have any major complaints about the machine. It has a horseshoe-shaped, cast hold-down that slides on a rod mounted to the fence. They liked this system, saying that it worked well even though it was not their favorite. It is capable of cutting longer or wider than normal workpieces because the vertical-support assembly can be unbolted to turn the top around and then reattached to the base. If you then unbolt the base from its platform, rotate and reattach it so the fence extends over the workbench, there is an unobstructed space under the chisel. Although it might take some effort to set this up, the ability could come in handy. It also has the second lowest runout.

grade C
WHAT'S THIS?

Good Performer, But Strictly Barebones
Wood Magazine, Volume 156, 2004-06

The reviewer liked the high-speed motor in comparison to most other slow-speed motors, and liked the choice of four handle positions for optimizing comfort. The reviewer didn't like the extra manual strength needed due to the short handle when cutting mortises 1/2" wide or wider. Other drawbacks were the short chuck key, which made bit changing difficult, the lack of chisels with purchase price, the requirement of a hexhead wrench to set the cutting-depth stop, and no place for keeping adjustment tools handy on the mortiser itself. In summary, this mortiser performed well, but compared to other mortisers it lacked some options.