The term “mortise chains” is often used as a synonymous for set, the complete tool made of a chain, guide bar and sprocket for the production of slots of different dimensions in the wood.
The set is mounted on mortising machines, which may be stationary or portable.
The stationary machines are generally of Italian and German manufacture, and have a guide-sprocket centre of 150 mm.
The portable machines are generally of German and Japanese manufacture, and have a centre of 70 mm.
However, many other mortising machines with different centre are also in operation.

THE MORTISE

The mortise is identified by three dimensions as shown in the figure at your right side:

• Mortise width (W),
• Mortise length (L),
• Mortise depth (D).

THE CHAIN PITCHES

The pitch is the distance between one pin in a link and the third successive one, as shown in the figure. Utensilegno chains are produced in the following three pitches:

• “A” pitch (22,6 mm or .89") for mortises of 36 links that produce slots long 40, 50 mm or more, wide from 6 to 50 mm, and deep from 100 to 250 mm or more. Used for routine carpentry work.
• “B” pitch (15,75 mm or .62") for mortises of 48 links that produce slots long 30 and 35 mm, wide from 4 to 30 mm, and deep from 75 to 140 mm. Used for work requiring high levels of accuracy and precision.
• “C” pitch (13,7 mm or .54") for mortises of 54 links that produce slots long 20 and 25 mm, wide from 4 to 25 mm, and deep from 75 to 140 mm. Used for extremely precise work.

Since 1945 Utensilegno has been manufacturing mortising chains:

• for all standards,
• normal and CHROMIUM PLATED (NOVA) for greater cutting performance and longer duration
• in decimal and Imperial size
• for any type of application and mortising machine.