Help me spend money!

scottickes

scottickes

Joined
Oct 27, 2005
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I'm ready to buy a milling/drilling machine. Help me determine the best one within my budget of $500 please. Any suggestions on the best machine in that price range. I'd like it to be a table top model, as floor space is a premium to me, and I have plenty of work bench space to put one.
 
I'd recommend a Taig mini-mill but they are a bit more than $500. Very rare to find a used one as well because they are such nice machines for small work. The various Chinese made mills are closer to $500 and here's a site with plenty of info to help you choose http://www.mini-lathe.com/Mini_mill/Main/mini-mill.htm

The manufacturers really should just give you the mill for free because they can make a killing on all the tooling you have to buy once you purchase the basic machine.

Ken
 
Hi Scott, with the economy the way it is, I would try to get a new/ barely used machine, that say was 1000.00 new, really get your $ worth. Deals like that are out there, especially in the city area you live in. A friend just bought a small lathe/mill /press combo 2600.00 new, $800.
 
If you have a Craftsman floor model drill press, you can get a milling table that fits the table on the drill press. I wasn't sure how to post the URL for the item, but the Sears item number is: # 00927593000. $220. I'm considering this one for myself since I already have the drill press. Hope this helps!
 
what do makers use milling machines for.....just curious....i don't even know what u do with them.....thanks for any info....ryan
 
ryan9977 said:
what do makers use milling machines for.....just curious....i don't even know what u do with them.....thanks for any info....ryan
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Ryan, we use them to mill guards, do some facing work, cut nail nicks, precision drilling, just whatever else you can figure out how to save some labor over the ole file.
 
Cummins has the same mini mill as HF for $399. I picked one up at one of their truck sales. You can call them @ 308-832-2070 to see when they will be in your area. Just make sure you call the sale location to make sure they have some left.
 
Edro20 said:
If you have a Craftsman floor model drill press, you can get a milling table that fits the table on the drill press. I wasn't sure how to post the URL for the item, but the Sears item number is: # 00927593000. $220. I'm considering this one for myself since I already have the drill press. Hope this helps!
Click to expand...

Be careful trying to use a drill press as a mill the chuck isn't really made to take the side loads and can come out unexpectedly (personal experience) but having a table with precise control is nice to have.

I ended up buying a HF mini mill which ended up costing $425 out the door from a local store with a 20% discount certificate that was floating around this forum.
 
frogfish said:
Be careful trying to use a drill press as a mill the chuck isn't really made to take the side loads and can come out unexpectedly (personal experience) but having a table with precise control is nice to have.

I ended up buying a HF mini mill which ended up costing $425 out the door from a local store with a 20% discount certificate that was floating around this forum.
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Since I'm a Timken bearing representative, I'm well aware of what happens when you put a radial load on a drill press bearing. The bearings in a drill press can take approximately 10% radial (side load) load as compared to the load they can handle in the axial (up and down) direction. Any more than that and the bearing will become damaged prematurely.

Just a little added education for those of you that are using your drill presses as milling machines. Can you do it? Yes. But if you do, you must be very light on your touch and go very slowly.

Some added information about bearing life.
  • Double the speed of a bearing and reduce the life by 1/2.
  • Double the load on a bearing and you reduce the life by a factor of 10!!! 1/10th the life.

This topic leads to other issues in the shop that loading can effect, such as belt tensions and force applied to a belt when grinding (especially slack belt grinding).
 
Hello Scott,

I too would recommend a mill like http://grizzly.com/products/Mill-Drill/G3358 . I've not been happy with smaller mills and this one really does the job. I purchased this same spec of mill (only Enco model) last week off Craigs List for $500. It included the $200+ stand as well as a full set of collets, end mills, vice, etc... Very lightly used. There are deals to be had out there. Go to Craigs List, do a search on what you want then click on the RSS feed button at the bottom of the page. As soon as someone posts an item that meets your search criteria, you get notified via e-mail. Early bird gets the worm...

Eric
 
Watch your local classified ads and craigslist. I was looking for a mill and was about to drop the hammer on the HF model but decided to hold off. I ended up finding a very nice JET model with stand, vise, and lots of tooling with a 1.5 hp motor for $1000. The same guy had a Bridgeport for $1500. No tooling or extras with the Bridgeport and I didn't have the room for it. The JET is an older model in excellent shape and I couldn't be happier.

Just try not to get in a hurry and while your looking keep stashing money back until the right thing comes along. I'm glad I waited.

SDS
 
B . Buxton said:
I've been thinking about the same thing for a while now and this is what was suggested to me.
http://www.sherlinedirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=19

Its a little more money, but remember you get what you pay for, better off to spend a touch more now then to have to do it again later.

Good luck with your decision,

Bill
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Bill,

I have one of those. I did a little research a couple of years back, and it seemed the best buy for the money (Not only that, but it is made in the U.S.A.)

I think that Don Hanson has used one for a number of years.

If you are going to use it for slotting guards, it does what it is supposed to....... however, if you are looking for accuracy, it is only "so-so".

I don't regret the purchase, however, I wish I had waited and saved a few more bucks to get a "REAL" mill.

My suggestion would be..... Sell a few knives, stash a little cash, and over time you will be able to afford an accurate piece of equipment.

My $.02 ........ Robert
 
scottickes said:
What are the thoughts on this HF machine?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44991
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Well. I went to Harbor Freight in Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR only to discover that this machine is no longer in stock but must be special ordered. I talked the store manager down from $496.99 to $449. Then just before placing the order, I asked him to check around and see if any of the other local stores still had one in stock from before. The Gresham, OR store still had their floor model display. The manager of that store stated he'd let me have it for $350. So, of course I went over and got it right away! It's in great shape, with only the little knob on the front slide wheel missing. I use the wheel to turn the front slide on a milling machine anyhow and the little knob just gets in the way.

I'm a very happy dude right now!!
 
Scott - u r da man ! :) Now onto spending another hundred or 2 or 3 on tooling :)
Drill bit set @ HF are an absolute bargain when they go on sale. HF's 6" digital caliper
is another must-to-have. A decent set of R8 collets (by 1/8" is a good set). Milling
vice. Clamping kit. Indicator to indicate the head true.
 
Scott, a few years back Jeff Higgins recommended a complete teardown of the machine for a good cleaning and re-lube in order to get the best accuracy out of that mill. After that his comment was, "Not too bad!". This from a guy who was used to bigger, fancier equipment.

Here is another place to buy mini-mill and machining stuff. They have a good quality of imports. Little Machine Shop

Something Rashid didn't mention was that he changed his plastic gears over to a belt drive after encountering some problems, IIRC. LMS has that kit.

Enjoy your new tool.
 
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