Grizzly Mill Lathe Combo vs. Mini Mill

Burchtree

Burchtree

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I've been wanting to get my hands on Grizzly's Mini-Mill for around 500 bucks and seen here:

http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.cfm?itemnumber=G8689

I was paging through their catalog and came across this:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...e_1-book-20/002-4369305-0828025?v=glance&s=hi

(couldn't find it on Grizzly's site.)

Would having the lather make it worth the extra dough, is is the milling operations sacrificed for the price on it? I'm pretty new to any milling machinery so any advice, thoughts, or comments would be appreciated.

Thanks.
 
Mike,
I have just read (not experienced) in a little machining book that the mill drill will do everything the mill will do.

Can't you check them both out right at the Grizzly there in town? There's got to be someone there who knows machining. Maybe they'd do a demo for you....

I swear - Springfield has got to be one of the best towns for a knifemaker. Great leather shops, a Harbor Freight and Grizzly show room within 5 minutes of each other, hedge flowing like milk and honey, an in town gun/knife show every month to set up a table at.... All you need is for admiral steel to move there....:) Why did I leave again...?

Tim :D
 
Michael, I'm going to put in my 0.02 worth and I hope everyone who has one understands that I am not taking shots at them. I'm just trying to give you the benefit of my mistakes over the years.

A mill and a lathe are very precise machines that must be able to withstand tremendous stress in the direction that most things are least able to stand it. Sideways. I have had small lathes and mills. I still have a small lathe that I built but my small lathe weighs 500 lbs. In some things there is no substitute for pure bulk.

I now have a full size mill and would rather have nothing, if I couldn't have a full size one.

A small mill can cut respectable slots in guards and things like that but why limit yourself. Take your $500.00 and put it away. Add a little as you can afford it and start looking for a used Bridgeport or something close. I know this isn't the answer you were looking for. Been there...did that....regretted it!
 
That looks really neat Michael. I've been lusting after one of these for a long time. I'm interested in the replies.

On a related note, one of the reasons I haven't gotten one is the 'hand made' issue. I hate slotting guards as much as the next guy, so the machine is tempting. But, is it still handmade if you use a milling machine?

Personally I feel strongly that using a CNC machine to turn out parts is not to be considered handmade. I draw the line there. But, a plain milling machine creates a grey area for me.

Steve
 
Oh, come on Peter -- let me off cheap. :D

That is something to consider -- I appreciate the honesty and want something I will be happy with.

Tim -- it is a great place! I actually live down the road from Grizzly, and the wood shop across the road from it.
 
"But, is it still handmade if you use a milling machine?"

Lol - I think there's a pandoras box here we'd rather keep closed.... Personally, I think you lose "handmade" when machine automation (note, just machine automation - not all machine usage) takes over - but that's way off the topic of this thread.

Mike,
Almost got the chance to be there right now. I'd like to get a grizz wheel grinder. The old man's there starting yet another business (he never sleeps...lol) and asked me to hold the fort here. I will get down there for turkey season though. In the meantime, catch a Lambert's roll for me. :D

Tim
 
Michael,

I'm with Peter on this one. The Mini-Mill is great, but a full-sized mill should definitely be in your future once you outgrow the mini. I have a full-sized mill, and I wouldn't be without one. I will concede, however that the mini-mills have their place. I use mine setup for only engine-turning - slick as a wink!
 
Tim, don't forget about all those nursing college students. Another great thing about Springfield is the 4 nursing colleges. If you can't find a girlfriend in Springfield, MO, you have a serious problem.
 
I have a little lathe-mill combo made by EMCO-Maier. It is the bigger brother of a Unimat, meant for model-makers work, like those guys that build small steam engines and such.


For knifemaking, I use it to slot guards, and the lathe to turn pommel bolts. While it works, it barely works for what I'd like, especially when using 416SS instead of brass or NiAg.

Having this little toy, I have long lusted after a real mill. The biggest thing you'll find about the combos is that the mill portion is a compromised add-on. I say this because there is always limited table travel, or a lathe chuck in the way, and you have to find work arounds and positioning that can become quite a PITA. And they just aren't near as rigid as the bigger brothers, which is everything in mill work

Mine was a gift from my dad many years ago. Having used it for twenty years, I can promise that every time it gets turned on, curse-words fly and I go up and b*tch to my wife tht I need a "real" mill. She says "buy it", but I can't bring myself to spend that much money to slot guards.

Michael, if you get one, you'll learn how to make do, but if you get to work with a "real" heavy unit, the small ones will never again meet your satisfaction.
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Oh man Danbo - you kickstarted the memories here. Freshmen year in college, a pre-nursing student from Peru named Michelle.... :) Also, I later found my wife in Springfield. Evangel (a Christian college) was rated number 4 for it's women by playboy...lol. We were kinda proud of it, but not sure what to think though being a Christian college and all.... ;)

Tim
 
Michael,

Most machinists will tell you that combo machines are a compromise you should only make if you have to. The mill works, but not as well as a dedicated mill and the lathe works but not as well as a dedicated lathe. Plus setup is supposedly tough when switching between modes. These are all things I've read and I don't have any practical (hands-on) knowledge of the combo machines (I've only used the dedicated machines). That being said, I've seen where many people get good use out of their combo machines but generally they all want to get to the dedicated machines (unless they don't have the space).

Just my .02.

Rob
 
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