Abstract: A mortising machine comprising a clamping means whereby the machine may be mounted upon a workpiece; a drive motor mounted such that its drive shaft is substantially perpendicular to the working face of the workpiece; a cutting head mounted to the end of the drive shaft adjacent the workface; and a support means to support the drive shaft between the drive motor and the cutting head. The support means also provides support for the drive motor, the drive shaft and the drive motor being slidably mounted to the support means to be movable perpendicular to the workface. There are feeding means between the support means and the motor such that the drive shaft can be fed through the support means; and a guide is mounted to the clamping means to which the support means is slidably mounted such that the support means together with the drive shaft are capable of movement on the guide perpendicular to that produced by the feed means.