equip. suggestion request-surface grinder or mill/drill?

SDS

SDS

Joined
Oct 22, 2007
Messages
1,389
I'm getting my shop set up and trying to get some tools along the way as I can afford them. I have some cash set aside and I can currently afford one of the mill/drill/lathe setups from harbor freight or I can try to find a surface grinder. My question to other makers is which of these would be more used?

I'm making fixed blade knives. Mostly smaller blades (3-5 inch range). I could really use the mill to work on my guards but the surface grinder would sure clean up the flats on my knives too. I just figured I'd ask here to see what others think before I jump on either of these.

Thanks,
SDS
 
If it wasme,Iwould get the mill from grizzly,not the combo machine.You can use the mill for all sorts ofthings but will not use thew lathe much.HF has the mill for 899 and I think grizzly is a little higher but better quality.
 
A good mill/drill will see more use. In fixed blades a surface grinder is excellent for flattening your ricasso so you have a true base to start from, but you can get pretty darned close with the platen on your grinder.

If you plan to make folders the surface grinder can be a big help as well, but the mill/drill will be more important there too. You can buy precision ground stock easily enough, but drilling straight holes is something you have to do in your own shop.

-d
 
I'd have to agree with Deker. I use my mill constantly, the surface grinder has a dust cover...lol.

Monty
 
I purchased a really nice little Harig super 6x12 surface grinder before purchasing my 6x26 import knee mill. I am building slipjoints and would hate right now to be without either one but I think I agree and would purchase a mill/drill or small knee mill before a surface grinder. I finally found and purchased a used 12x37 import lathe but must admit I do not need it for knife making. I will use it for making fixtures and tools more than anything else.

Ken
 

Attachments

  • mill-1.jpg
    mill-1.jpg
    13.2 KB · Views: 45
Ken, would you tell me what the brand name on that mill is, or where you purchased it from, please? Thanks. :)
 
HI Mike,

Mine is a Harbor Freight. There are quite a few trade names put on this mill. Grizzly, Wholesale tool, for example. There is a Yahoo group devoted to this import knee mill. I had owned a mill/drill but I like the ability to raise and lower the table without loosing zero. When you raise and lower the head on a mill drill there is nothing to keep it from pivoting on the round column. They do make a gear head mill/drill with a square column that solves this problem. With this mill I also have the ability to tilt the head unlike a round column mill/drill.

Some will say that the Grizzly 6 x 26 mill drill is better in the quality department compared to the Harbor freight , this may be true. I have found mine to be fair quality and after putting an indicator on it , good accuracy. I think on sale , I was able to pick up and not pay any shipping , mine was about $1550 with state sales tax.

Ken

PS , if you would like more info on this mill, pm me and I can call or ?
 
Thanks for the info, Ken! I think my mind played a trick on me with the foto and I thought it was smaller than what it is. I keep wishing I could find a miniature knee mill between yours and my little Taig, and for a second I thought perhaps my dream had come true. I've looked longingly at that mill at Grizzly and Jet before, but, alas, my basement shop would never let me get it down there, let alone find room.

Thanks, again, for the response and the kind offer. It's appreciated.
 
Looks like the mill has the consensus. I was leaning that way a bit already and this settles it.

Now I just need to start shopping.

Thanks guys.

edit/add: Tommegow, I looked at that site you listed. They don't seem to think there is much difference in the mills and also state, as you said, they are all made in the same factory with interchangeable parts.

I wasn't going to ask but since I can't seem to figure it out on my own, what is a "knee mill"? Does that refer to a size range?

Thanks again
 
Thank you Ken, sometimes I feel like a bit of a stooge for asking.
 
I have a grizzly 1005 mill-drill, I also have the luxury of a harbor freight store 6 miles from my house, so I can look at their tools before potentially buying. generally I have found that Jet and Grizzly seem to be the same castings, Harbor freight is generally 1-2 grades lower quality
Grizzly and Jet seem to be aimed at the low end light industrial/self employed small time manufacturer market, Harbor freight stuff is typically homeowner/hobbyist junk. granted some of their tools do work, and occaisionally one of their tools works well, but I have had to make use of their return policy more than a couple of times. I know I'll probably cheese off the hoardes of folks who absolutely swear by HF, but as far as I am concerned, theyre a convenience store for disposable tools. I have found that if you want usable inexpensive tools that need a bit of tuning when you first get them, but generally give good service for the money, grizzly hasn't let me down, just don't buy belts or cutters from them. but if you want good solid accurate tools, buy industrial grade stuff, either from an industrial supply house, or at a going out of business auction of a machine shop

-page
 
I purchased a RongFu mill drill made in Taiwan. it works well and I have been satisfied with the purchase. I use it all of the time. I am currently looking for a surface grinder as well.
 
I have agonized over buying Asian import machine tools. Here are a few observations.

I have purchased a

Clausing 100 MK3 12 x 36 used lathe
A 14 x 40 Leblonde lathe used from Browning arms in Arnold Mo
a 12 speed Enco mill/drill used
a used Bridgeport 9 x 42 J head milling machine
New Harbor freight 6 x 26 knee mill
new 13 x 40 gear head gap bed lathe Enco
used 12 x 37 Grizzly belt drive gap bed lathe, Still to be set up
used Harig 6 x 12 surface grinder

All of the older American used equipment was much nicer finished and much better quality. However by the time this equipment was purchased 30 to 50 years after being new there is a certain amount of wear . All of my new Asian equipment was more accurate than my used American equipment . Thats not to say that with careful machining accurate work could not be done with my used American equipment. A used Clausing 6 x 26 mill will sell on Ebay for what a new Asian 6 x 26 mill sells for. I am sure that some very lightly used American machines have been purchased but from my observations most have been used with considerable wear in the ways, lead screws , spindle bushings etc. While not wanting to spark an Asian versus American machine tool controversy , It makes me sad that American home/hobby sized machine tools are no longer made in USA. South Bend still sells a small "tool room" lathe , go to there site and you will see that the starting price is well over 10 grand. I am also not sure that they are 100% American made from the casting to the finished lathe.

Well, thanks for letting me ramble on a sore subject for me! I much would rather buy American than Asian but pure economics have to play a part.

Ken
 
I would much rather buy American, I just simply cannot afford to.

I'll do some more comparison shopping before I decide which brand to go with.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top