Grizzly mini mill

v-6

v-6

Joined
Nov 24, 2007
Messages
952
Anyone using the g 8689 mini mill, if so how does it do and any problem with the plastic gear in it.
where do you get your mill bits?
thanks vern
 
I don't have that mill Vern, but besides knives (I assume) is there anything else you'd like to do with it? It really comes down to what you wanna do with the mill. If you may want to do bigger jobs down the road you'll need a bigger mill. The smallest I would look at is Grizzly's G0704 which has gotten very good reviews. I almost bought the G0704 but I found a Johansson small knee mill locally in very good condition that I couldn't pass up. I found it on Fleabay literally the day before I was to go to Grizzly and get the G0704. If you intend on doing small jobs than the 8689 might be ok. From what I gathered those mini mills are ok for really small jobs. Here's an excellent site on mini mills. You'll wind up spending more in tooling than on the mill anyway. I get my end mills from either Dewitt Brothers, Penn Tool, or Bauer Supply... all here in NJ.
 
You can get metalworking tools for cheap at Enco. Let me rephrase that.... you can get cheap metalworking tools at Enco.

MSC has a better selection for a little more money
 
I have one. Bought it for $300 used with trashed gears and put the belt conversion kit, http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=2560 and the gas strut conversion kit http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=2258&category=1687114045
$300 mill $200 in conversion parts then $600 more in tooling. It requires light cuts to minimize chatter and tool breakage. I'm honestly going to upgrade to a Bridgeport as soon as I find a "deal" on one. It's okay for what it is. The gears WILL break. So factor the $150 belt kit into your cost.
 
I'm not impressed with the Griz mini mill. I do have other Grizzly stuff that's pretty good.

I use a Sherline mini mill, made in the USA. It is small, but has done everything I've needed in knife making for around 15 years. Slotting guards, autos, liner locks and slip joints. That said, I would like a larger mill. :)

I get all my carbide end mills from MSC.
 
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