Milling Machine Question for a Idiot

heatride

heatride

Joined
May 15, 2003
Messages
422
I make only folders as some of you know.Well I am about ready to buy a milling machine. I see one on Harbor Freights site that is a Micro Mill I think it will do all the task that I will require but not sure. The bottom line is im ignorant to this. I appreciate any information I can get.

Thanks Glen




Mill Machine
 
I'm in the same boat as you, know next to nothing about them and would really like to have one.
From reading past posts on this, I think everyone says that you should go for a (slightly) bigger machine.
There was a recent thread or two on them that should come up pretty easily under a search that would probably be useful to you.
 
This is the absolute best basic advise to your question I can give: Always get the heaviest mill you can budget and have space for. Harbor Freight offers two small bench top mills. One competes with the Grizzly mini-mill and others. These basically same mini-mills are sold by various vendors here in the U.S.. I have one. I like it very much. Mine is the Grizzly and still only weighs, just guessing, about 135 - 150 lb.. It is the heaviest (largest) I can provide space for. Harbor Freight's other small mill is probably the one you are asking about. Go the extra couple hundred bucks for the mini mill, or get one even larger if you can provide for it. With mills heavier is always better. Same with lathes.

Light = chatter
heavy = less chatter

EDIT: Also be prepared to spend money on tooling for your mill. Mills are more expensive to tool for than lathes are. There is a seemingly endless supply of tooling available. You will only need so much for your folders work but there will be a respectable amount that you will want. A mill is for you if you want to make folders.

Roger
 
The HF $299 Micromill isn't bad and it will do some small stuff such as scalloping relief areas in framelock folders, milling thumbramp grooves and cutting locks. I have been using Dremel reinforced cutoff discs and they work fine for slitting. However, I'm already wishing I had bought a bigger one since the depth and side to side movement of the table is limited. Also, the chatter issue is of some concern. Still, I'm glad I have it and it has worked well for the small stuff.
 
I also have the Micro-Mill from HF. The PC board just burnt out (It was my fault). But to replace the part they are telling me it is going to take 6 to 9 weeks. It work well for cutting slots in guards.
 
IG, how did you do that? I want to know so I don't screw mine up. Mine arrived with a broken wheel for the vertical crank. I'm still waiting for a replacement and it's been many weeks. Using vise grips for now but it's a pain.
 
I have a Grizzly mini mill and broke a gear in it. Grizzly said it would be 6 8 weeks for the part.
I tried www.littlemachineshop.com/ as suggested by someone on the forum and had my part in 3 days at half the price.
They carry parts for Harbor and Griz and many other small mills.
Take Care
TJ
 
Peter: I blew a fuse in it 2a@250v and the only thing I had in stock was a 3.5a. Now I get the Unnormal light on and nothing else.
TJ: I tried the Little Machine Shop and they will start to get parts in for it in about 90 days. It will likely be about the same time I get it from HF.:mad: :mad: :mad:
 
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