Tips for repairing mortiser depth stop?

[Yelverton]

A few months ago I purchased a used benchtop mortiser from another member and two weeks after that we had a second son, so I'm just now getting around to working on it.

The only issue (so far) that I can't quite resolve is that the depth stop is bent and I can't quite figure out how to unbend it. This is a Steel City mortiser seemingly identical to the Grizzly and Delta options, so mortise depth is set with a bent rod with one side flattened for a hex screw to lock it in place. On this machine, the rod moves up and down to rest on the top of the column and set the max depth. As it sits, the rod is too bent to move through its channel without the use of a mallet.

I need to straighten it but it seems to have too much give to hammer it into place using my woodworking vise and I don't have a metal bench vise. Any guidance on getting it straight? Pic attached to show the S-curve I'm trying to fix.

 

[Bill Clemmons]

I've had two mortisers, and the depth on both was less than optimal. I finally resulted to scratching depth marks on my chisels and quit using the depth stops.

 

[Yelverton]

I've had two mortisers, and the depth on both was less than optimal. I finally resulted to scratching depth marks on my chisels and quit using the depth stops.

Marks on the chisels is a good idea. I'm not opposed to doing that if needed but I'd like to find a solution that doesn't leave so much opportunity for me to make errors by plunging too deep. Maybe it's just time for me to get a metal working vise and/or anvil and try to knock this thing straight.

 

[Michael Mathews]

Mitch, I'm in Chapel Hill and I've got a couple heavy vises that can probably straighten it as well, one of them has a small anvil area if hammering is necessary. I also have some reasonable steel hammers.

 

[chris_goris]

Im wondering why it has a point ?

 

[mquan01]

I don't think that's the original part.

 

[Yelverton]

I don't think that's the original part. View attachment 245445View attachment 245445

This is exactly what mine looks like, just bent.

 

[Yelverton]

Mitch, I'm in Chapel Hill and I've got a couple heavy vises that can probably straighten it as well, one of them has a small anvil area if hammering is necessary. I also have some reasonable steel hammers.

Thanks as always, Michael. I'll see if it's possible to get down there. We have two small kids, including a 2-month old, so getting a few hours away from the house is touch and go most of the time.