Mortiser vs Drill Press: Best Way to Cut Mortises

Both machines can end up cutting a mortise, but they were built for different jobs. A hollow-chisel mortiser exists to cut clean square holes for mortise-and-tenon joinery, while a drill press is a general-purpose boring machine that can be pressed into mortising with an attachment or by squaring holes by hand. This page compares hole shape, speed, precision, and cost so you can pick the right tool. For full model roundups, see our best mortisers guide and best benchtop drill presses guide.

⚡ Quick Answer

A dedicated hollow-chisel mortiser cuts clean square mortises fast and is the right tool if you cut joinery often. A drill press with a mortising attachment is cheaper and okay for occasional use, but slower to set up and less precise. A drill press alone only bores round holes, which you then have to square up by hand with a chisel. Cut mortises regularly, buy a mortiser; cut a few a year, a drill press does the job.

At a Glance: Mortiser vs Drill Press

Here is how the two machines stack up on the factors that matter most for cutting mortises.

Factor	Hollow-Chisel Mortiser	Drill Press
Hole Shape	Square holes directly from a hollow chisel	Round holes; square by hand or add a mortising attachment
Speed	Fast for repeated mortises with hold-down and lever	Slower; extra chiseling or attachment setup per mortise
Precision	High; tall frame and fence keep chisel square and aligned	Lower for mortises; side loads and hand squaring add error
Cost	Single-purpose spend on a dedicated machine	One versatile machine you likely already own
Best For	Frequent mortise-and-tenon joinery	General drilling plus the occasional mortise

Two Machines to Consider

Both of these ship factory-direct from Grizzly Industrial, with full parts availability and U.S. support. Specs vary by production run, so tap through for current details and pricing.

Best for Mortises

Grizzly T33127 1/2 HP Benchtop Hollow-Chisel Mortiser

A dedicated benchtop mortiser with a hold-down and chisel lever built to plunge square holes for mortise-and-tenon joinery.

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Most Versatile

Grizzly T34608 15" Benchtop Drill Press

A 15-inch benchtop drill press with LED light and laser guide that bores accurate round holes and accepts a mortising attachment for occasional joinery.

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Choose a Mortiser If

You cut mortise-and-tenon joints regularly for doors, tables, chairs, or beds.
You want square holes with flat walls straight off the machine, no hand chiseling.
You value speed and repeatability across many identical mortises.
You need the hold-down, tall frame, and lever leverage built for chisel plunging force.
You do timber-frame or heavier joinery where large, deep mortises are common.

Choose a Drill Press If

You cut only a handful of mortises a year and cannot justify a single-purpose machine.
You want one versatile tool that bores accurate round holes for many different tasks.
You are willing to add a mortising attachment or square the corners by hand.
You are limited on bench space or budget and already own or plan to buy a drill press.
Your work is mostly general drilling, with mortising an occasional extra.

Ready to Buy a Mortiser?

See our full roundup of benchtop and floor-standing hollow-chisel mortisers, ranked by chisel capacity, stroke, and value.

Read the Best Mortisers Guide

As an Amazon Associate and Grizzly Industrial affiliate, WorkshopCalc earns from qualifying purchases. Our picks are based on published specifications and category research, not paid placement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. A drill press bores overlapping round holes to hog out most of the waste, and you then square the corners and clean the walls with a hand chisel. Adding a mortising attachment, which holds a hollow square chisel with a bit inside it, lets a drill press cut square holes directly, though the attachment adds setup and the machine is not designed for the side loads mortising creates.

A dedicated hollow-chisel mortiser is worth it if you cut mortises regularly, such as for doors, tables, chairs, or timber joinery. It has a taller frame, a hold-down, and a lever built for the downward force of a chisel, so it cuts square holes faster and more accurately than a drill press with an attachment. For a handful of mortises a year, a drill press or hand tools may be enough.

A hollow-chisel mortiser is a machine that drives a square hollow chisel with a drill bit spinning inside it. The bit removes the round center while the chisel shears the four corners, so each plunge leaves a clean square hole. Repeated overlapping plunges form a full mortise with flat walls and square ends, ready to accept a matching tenon.

No, they do different core jobs. A drill press bores accurate round holes and is the more versatile everyday machine, while a mortiser exists to cut square mortises. Many woodworkers own a drill press first and add a mortiser only when joinery volume justifies it. If you rarely cut mortises, a mortising attachment on the drill press can bridge the gap.