for J. Higgins and other mill users: Taig question...

[anvilring]

Ok, so I'm ready to punch the button and get the Harbor Freight 444991 but, I called Al at Riverside Machine Shop and now I'm thinking about his Taig. He uses his own motor on it with a speed control, (1hp or there'bouts) comes with a few collets and some sorta vise. Is this, aside from the variable speed, a much better machine than the Harbor Freight one??

http://www.riversidemachine.net/item14553.ctlg


regards, mitch

[jhiggins]

My honest opinion is that the Taig is twice the price and half the machine.

The HF machine has more capacity than the Taig, and although not as accurate, a knifemaker will never need that extra accuracy. The travel on both axis is longer on the HF machine, and you get variable speed to boot. Mitch, the HF machine is a darn good machine to learn on, and when you are ready... get a bridgeport. Nothing else will do.

The money you waste on the Taig can better be spent on a decent milling vise and endmills. Oh, and with a a sine plate (adjustable angle plate), you can fly-cut the taper on your tangs so fine it'll make you cry. I don't think the Taig can handle a sine-plate.

[anvilring]

I'll order the HF... where do I get a decent sein plate???

regards, mitch

[Sando]

Mitch,

I don't think I like you anymore

Now I'm looking at mini mils............. Then Jeff goes and mentions tapering tangs..........

The whole time I was slotting a guard this weekend I was dreaming of a milling machine........

Dang this forum isn't healthy.
Steve

[Sando]

BTW Jeff. Isn't a cutter for that kinda work about $300?

Steve

[Trick]

The taig is bada$$, but small. If you are looking between Taig and Sherline, the Taig is waaay cheaper than the Sherline. Sherline has more accessories. But that is apples and apples to oranges. You won't be happy with the taig because of the small size. I have a taig lathe and love it to pieces but it is for small stuff only. With carbide inserts my taig does not like steel at all. It does it but super slow is the best I can say about it.
Jeff is right of course, I just wanted to point out that Sherlines are way higher than Taig stuff and that is what gets all the questions when modelers ask questions about the two. God bless America and I buy American any time I can but there just are no mills made the size of the Chinese stuff.

If I can give any advice at all I would say just jump. Why? Because even if you are not happy with the HF and get something bigger you can always sell it and it WILL bring most of your money back. Look at completed auctions on ebay. Small (benchtop), wore out Mill/Drills always bring good money and I laugh. Some people will not research and only buy used stuff to save a dime.

Homier is having a bunch of mobile tool sales right now and I know you would save a couple hundred if you went to a sale and bought the exact same machine as the HF. You just sign up at homier and go to your account and they will list sales in however many mile radius around you that you pick. The mill I think you are looking at is $399 at those mobile tool sales and I have seen them before for $339. You have to pay sales tax though.

[jhiggins]

Originally Posted by Sando

BTW Jeff. Isn't a cutter for that kinda work about $300?

The kind of cutter you are referring to is called an "indexable milling cutter", which is merely an arbor shell that holds several indexable carbide bits and a shank adapter to suit your machine. Try MSC Part #82845496. You'll get a nice 2" cutter (import) with inserts, an R-8 shank for about $140. Not bad considering the price of the big name brands.

Btw, I would try to stay no bigger than 2" diameter on any style of flycutter for this little mill.

[peter nap]

I hate to ruin your day Mitch but the store had 33686 on sale for $395.00 last week.

[anvilring]

ops! wrong thread...