small milling machine

[rustyrazor]

I was thinking of buying a small milling machine to help me cut parts and whatnot, can anyone recommend a decent quality company or specific machine i should look into? if i can swing it i would love to get into a personal size CNC to give me a new hobby to aggravate myself, but i dont even know where to start looking.

cheers

Royce

[Don Hanson III]

I've been using a small Sherline mill (made in USA) for around 15 years. Check em out.

[Fred.Rowe]

I like the Sherline I have; its been in use ten years.

[gomipile]

The Sherlines are great. They can't do heavy work, but for precision work on small pieces they are excellent.

Stay away from the round column mill/drills. Round column machines are an absolute PITA to set up. If it turns out you need to go a little bit above or below the spindle travel, you're screwed because you have to re-center the whole set up when you move the head.

I wouldn't get the Harbor Freight/Grizzly mini mill that has a tilting square column either, since it lacks some stiffness, but it is better than a round column.

Also, I cannot recommend any lathe/mill combo machine for the same reasons.

Any of the square column mills are excellent once you give them a fluff & buff and get them trammed.

[Don Hanson III]

The Sherlines are great. They can't do heavy work, but for precision work on small pieces they are excellent.

Stay away from the round column mill/drills. Round column machines are an absolute PITA to set up. If it turns out you need to go a little bit above or below the spindle travel, you're screwed because you have to re-center the whole set up when you move the head.

I wouldn't get the Harbor Freight/Grizzly mini mill that has a tilting square column either, since it lacks some stiffness, but it is better than a round column.

Also, I cannot recommend any lathe/mill combo machine for the same reasons.

Any of the square column mills are excellent once you give them a fluff & buff and get them trammed.

Good advise. And I agree on the Sherline not for heavy work. But it will do anything I've ever needed to do for knife work. I use solid carbide cutters and run them at high speed and use the correct feed rates.

This one looks good for a person needing a heavier machine than a Sherline.

http://littlemachineshop.com/product...ProductID=3960

[TILLER]

I got the little machine shop solid column mini-mill. I'm pretty happy with it, it works pretty good as a more precise drill press and I've used it for milling the relief on titanium folder frames. It seems to work good, though I don't have any experience with larger mills. Now that I have it I kinda wish I saved up for a full CNC Taig mill.

[rustyrazor]

thanks guys... i'll give them a look

[Burton Harruff]

I have a Sherline as well and am very pleased with it for knifemaking. If you are looking to machine larger items go larger if you are looking for a mill for knifemaking the Sherlines are very nicely made. -Burton

[Matt Browning]

Is the Sherline sufficient for cutting nail nicks on slipjoints, even if you opt for cutting them with a flycutter over a dovetail cutter? Or would that overwork the machine?

I know a lot of slipjoint makers have really large mills, but it seems like some space could be saved on a smaller mill if you can use it for cutting nail nicks and relieving liners.

[Don Hanson III]

Is the Sherline sufficient for cutting nail nicks on slipjoints, even if you opt for cutting them with a flycutter over a dovetail cutter? Or would that overwork the machine?

I know a lot of slipjoint makers have really large mills, but it seems like some space could be saved on a smaller mill if you can use it for cutting nail nicks and relieving liners.

I'm cutting nail nicks with a fly cutter on the Sherline. I used to think it didn't have enough ass to do it, but it does it quite well. That said, a larger mill would be better for this kind of work.

[Splat]

A lot of guys looking at the Small Machine Shop ("SMS") and Sherlines that wound up buying the Grizzly G0704 based on others' suggestions are very happy they did so. Take a look at Grizzly's G0704. I went thru this whole "first mill, what to buy?" thing and my head almost popped from all the reading and comparing I did. BTW, I'm not associated with Grizzly in any way. I decided on the G0704 but literally the day before I was to go get it I found a small knee mill locally for sale on Ebay. I made the seller an offer and since then I've been very happy with my Johansson mill (precursor to Atlas 8520). The 704's only about $200 more than the SMS mill and I think you get more for your $.

[J. Oeser]

Good advise. And I agree on the Sherline not for heavy work. But it will do anything I've ever needed to do for knife work. I use solid carbide cutters and run them at high speed and use the correct feed rates.

This one looks good for a person needing a heavier machine than a Sherline.

http://littlemachineshop.com/product...ProductID=3960

I have this LMS version but in the tilting column. For making slip joints and whatever else I need it to do I have not had any problems. I also use a fly cutter for my nail nicks and a slitting saw for my long pulls with out any problem. I have contemplated getting the solid column conversion but in reality the mill does everything I need without any issues as is. I also put away my drill press and use this exclusively for drilling as well. Keeps things nice and accurate.


BTW, if Don has used a Sherline for that long I would say that is as good an endorsement as any.

[Don Hanson III]

I have this LMS version but in the tilting column. For making slip joints and whatever else I need it to do I have not had any problems. I also use a fly cutter for my nail nicks and a slitting saw for my long pulls with out any problem. I have contemplated getting the solid column conversion but in reality the mill does everything I need without any issues as is. I also put away my drill press and use this exclusively for drilling as well. Keeps things nice and accurate.


BTW, if Don has used a Sherline for that long I would say that is as good an endorsement as any.

Thanks Jared, the Sherline has served me well, very well. But I feel the need for a heavier mill sometimes. Been thinking of getting one of the LMS w/solid column. I do like the tilting head on the Sherline, but don't think I'd want a tilting column?

BTW, you're making some good lookin folders!

[J. Oeser]

I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for something heavier but not a big old knee mill. I have absolutely no problem milling out integral bolsters and even doing some machining on jigs and little helper tools for the shop. I can say I have never tilted the column, ever. If the solid column had been out when I was looking I would have bought it. I may still buy the conversion kit one day.

And thank you! That means a lot coming from a seasoned craftsman like yourself.

Thanks Jared, the Sherline has served me well, very well. But I feel the need for a heavier mill sometimes. Been thinking of getting one of the LMS w/solid column. I do like the tilting head on the Sherline, but don't think I'd want a tilting column?

BTW, you're making some good lookin folders!

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

Will smaller mills like the Sherline cut fullers? I consider getting one eventually for folders and such. One day it wold be great to pour a slab for a bigger mill as well.

[Don Hanson III]

Will smaller mills like the Sherline cut fullers? I consider getting one eventually for folders and such. One day it wold be great to pour a slab for a bigger mill as well.

Yes, the Sherline will cut fullers just fine. But not sword length.

[Don Hanson III]

I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for something heavier but not a big old knee mill. I have absolutely no problem milling out integral bolsters and even doing some machining on jigs and little helper tools for the shop. I can say I have never tilted the column, ever. If the solid column had been out when I was looking I would have bought it. I may still buy the conversion kit one day.

And thank you! That means a lot coming from a seasoned craftsman like yourself.

Thanks for the info. I really don't want a big old knee mill and have ruled out a mill/drill w/round column. One of these might just do it for me.

[crimsonfalcon07]

Yes, the Sherline will cut fullers just fine. But not sword length.

That's a bummer. After all, I'm cutting my fullers with an angle grinder right now and as a consequence, have found this thread very interesting. What if you cut in the fuller to the length of the table, and then just reclamp the blade in a different position and cut in the rest? Would that work? I have never used a milling machine before, so pardon the noob question. I'm just full of those today.

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

Thanks Don!

[Don Hanson III]

That's a bummer. After all, I'm cutting my fullers with an angle grinder right now and as a consequence, have found this thread very interesting. What if you cut in the fuller to the length of the table, and then just reclamp the blade in a different position and cut in the rest? Would that work? I have never used a milling machine before, so pardon the noob question. I'm just full of those today.

I have never been good at "reclamping' on the mill. And no, the Sherline is just too small for sword fullers.

Need larger mill for this type of work.