Mill question

Brock Cutlery

Brock Cutlery

Joined
Jan 10, 2015
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After reading about the wonders of a milling machine I've started looking at them with a little more seriousness.
That said, I don't know at this point what I might do with one other than drill my holes and possibly profile my knives.
I am sure there will probably be a hundred things I may do some day, but for now, I am planning on getting my feet wet and learning about the mill.

So my question is this: Would this mill pictured here be a good starter? It's an old Bench Master. I like the old American tools of course. But perhaps I don't understand the serious limitations?

B-Mill1.jpg


Should I go with a Rong Fu type bench mill instead?
I'm just not ready for the full knee mill at this point. Maybe when I retire and set up my final shop.

Thoughts greatly appreciated.

Edit> Added pic of Rong Fu I was looking at as well.
RongFu-40-1.jpg
 
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the benchmaster wouldnt work for a drill press, the rong fu appears to have a round column which kind of stinks for milling. of the two i would buy the rong fu though. just take smaller cuts. i think your best bet would be to hold out for something else.
 
mike-E said:
the benchmaster wouldnt work for a drill press, the rong fu appears to have a round column which kind of stinks for milling. of the two i would buy the rong fu though. just take smaller cuts. i think your best bet would be to hold out for something else.
Click to expand...

The Bench master will drill, right? It's just going to be slow as molasses cranking the table up/down. I think....? I'm kind of ok with that for now if that's the only drawback, as I have a drill press as well.
I've read about round column mills a bit, so I get what you are saying on the Rong Fu.
What would I hold out for instead? Is there a smaller type of bench top mill that would be better?
 
If the price is right, don't be too put off about round column mills. The drawback of a round column only comes into play if and when you have raise the head to retool. Good planning at the start of a project can often eliminate that issue.
 
Bridgeports and clones come up frequently here in Ohio. You can get them for really good prices if you look in the right places. With something like a mill I would take my time and hold out for the right one. Research while you wait it may affect your decision (you may have done this, I'm speaking generally). I've also been eyeing the little machine shop mill, Don Hanson has mentioned it a couple of times. I'm trying to find a place with a shop and like mini tools so getting it and learning then picking up a bridgeport style down the road may be in my cards. Either that or a forge press. Difficult decisions...

In terms of use, I know its not necessary but I really want a mill to start working on folders.

-Clint
 
I had a round column mill for a while- it worked OK, but the column got to me after a while.
I now have a full size knee mill, and find that I greatly prefer it for many things. Being able to stay located on a part while changing height is very handy. Details like table locks, R8 collet compatibility, power feed, are nice to have as well and many times are not found on bench mills. Well, R8 is pretty common.
You can get a big old mil for the price of a new little mill; to me that's a no-brainer if the space is available. Be careful that you don't buy something super worn out, though.
 
This is all good advice. I think the thing is I just don't know all the benefit of having a knee mill.
What are the main things you use it for related to knife making? I don't do folders, and don't know that I ever will...
 
:thumbup: :thumbup:

Jonathans said:
If the price is right, don't be too put off about round column mills. The drawback of a round column only comes into play if and when you have raise the head to retool. Good planning at the start of a project can often eliminate that issue.
Click to expand...
 
I don't know if profiling the knives on a hand controlled mill would be a wise idea...
The mill offers thousands of possibility but just for drilling i would choose a good drill press.
 
Purchasing the Mill is the Tip of the Iceberg so to speak and there are so many good used mills out there looking for a good home. I see you are in Cali which has some serious manufacturing facilities (Aerospace for sure) and you can usually locate good used equipment that has been put out to pasture. The used Bridgeport "J" heads were/are a popular machine that won't break the bank and are rock solid machines and unless you plan to expand your knife making to factory production levels would be a great starter machine that if you ever decide to upgrade to bigger CNC controlled equipment you will get your investment back. Here is a company that deals in new and used refurbished machines (there are in east L.A. sorry not closer to you but you could go kick the tires and ask a bunch of questions at the showroom)....http://www.sterlingmachinery.com/mills.php

Good Luck
Mike
 
Busto said:
Purchasing the Mill is the Tip of the Iceberg so to speak and there are so many good used mills out there looking for a good home. I see you are in Cali which has some serious manufacturing facilities (Aerospace for sure) and you can usually locate good used equipment that has been put out to pasture. The used Bridgeport "J" heads were/are a popular machine that won't break the bank and are rock solid machines and unless you plan to expand your knife making to factory production levels would be a great starter machine that if you ever decide to upgrade to bigger CNC controlled equipment you will get your investment back. Here is a company that deals in new and used refurbished machines (there are in east L.A. sorry not closer to you but you could go kick the tires and ask a bunch of questions at the showroom)....http://www.sterlingmachinery.com/mills.php


Good Luck
Mike
Click to expand...


Thanks for the tips and link Mike. I'm a bit overwhelmed with all the Mill information I know I need to absorb. I think I am going to take it slow and just read and watch a lot of video until I feel a lot more comfortable.
I don't think I'll ever be in the fast paced production knife making business. I like the art of it more than the money.
 
Some uses for the mill in my shop:
Thickness sizing stock, such as G10.
Truing stock flat after ripping, such as handle scales.
Freehand milling out tang pockets in scales.
Milling guard slots.
Cutting liner and frame locks with a slitting saw.
Drilling and reaming precise pivot holes for folders.
Removing excess material when fabricating fittings.
Milling fullers.
A lot of fabrication work for other knifemaking equipment.
 
have had a mini mill in the shop for about 10 years 2 years ago i got a bridgeport (both are R8 tooling ) night and day in there use but i have no plan on getting rid of my mini mill as its jsut so handy at small fast work (it also id the only drill press i have )
the BP is total loss oiling so now and then oil dripps out of the spindle (less its a wood working model) i use the mini mill to flycut every block i use square and flat as it just makes fitting things up so much easier
 
There is another BenchMaster for sale on the same site, up in BellGardens for a little less money. Just in case you wanted to know.

-Ron
 
Thanks for listing those items out Salem. It would probably help me most in the handle / bolster department now.

Ron, I did see that other bench master. I do want to use the mill as a drill press too, and I think that model is just not ideal, as was called out earlier.
I am kind of leaning toward a Rong Fu or similar just because it's smaller than many of the mills. Still haven't made up my mind yet though....
But I know that I am retiring before too many years, and will probably get a Bridgeport when I make that move.
 
stezann said:
The mill offers thousands of possibility but just for drilling i would choose a good drill press.
Click to expand...

If someone gave me a really nice drill press, I would probably drag it down to the woods, tip it over into the creek and cover it up with leaves.

A crappy, clapped out, poorly made and out-of-adjustment mill will drill steel 10X better than a good drill press. Drill presses are for fab shops and perhaps stirring paint.

Get a mill.
 
Brock,
If space is a concern (as it is with myself), you might want to keep your eyes open for a Burke Millrite Mill. They are a knee mill that is substantively smaller than Bridgeports, and still come with a R8 spindle. I've been looking for a good one in my neck of the woods for a while.
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
If someone gave me a really nice drill press, I would probably drag it down to the woods, tip it over into the creek and cover it up with leaves.

A crappy, clapped out, poorly made and out-of-adjustment mill will drill steel 10X better than a good drill press. Drill presses are for fab shops and perhaps stirring paint.

Get a mill.
Click to expand...

You said this on another thread Nathan, and it's haunted me ever since. Especially when I drilled my first bolsters and they didn't match up exactly. I love my old craftsman drill press, but much less now.
I am beginning to see the light.
 
Jonathans said:
Brock,
If space is a concern (as it is with myself), you might want to keep your eyes open for a Burke Millrite Mill. They are a knee mill that is substantively smaller than Bridgeports, and still come with a R8 spindle. I've been looking for a good one in my neck of the woods for a while.
Click to expand...

I am scanning CL several times a day waiting for that perfect mill to pop up now. Thanks Jonathan.
 
I've been nothing but happy with my G0704 mini mill. I sort of would like to have a 2nd smaller mill so I can as Nathan said take my drill press out to the woods and "set it free". Even a round column mill would make an awesome drill press.
 
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