More Mill Questions

The knee mills are easier to use, but that one in your third link looks pretty bad, Mike. Hate to say it, but I think the mill-drill in the second link would make a nicer cut. Its about mass and ridigity. All that solidness is there for soaking up vibrations. Manufacturers got around this by making machines that were driven via belts. The belts transmitted very little motor vibration to the spindle, therefore very nice finish cut to the work.

I've never used one, but I will admit I am dubious over the geared-head mills from China. You know you can buy a used Bridgeport for what you would spend on those new POSs, right, Grasshoppa?
 
Mike, the gear heads tend to break, and or shear the gears. they are expensive to fix. The 6x26, your third pic,is not all that bad a mill. the version by grizzly is much better finished, and very accurate, for our trade. there is a yahoo group forum for these machines. they are very popular, and much, much superior to the common mill drill. they are a real mill. I am sending you the link for the 6x26 mill forum http://groups.yahoo.com/group/6x26millingmachines/ The Grizzly site is www.grizzly.com. Hope this helps, Mike http://www.lovettknives.com/
 
thanks Guys i appreciate the links and info
yeah Higgy i know and i still have my eye out but another maker i know is looking for something smaller to throw in his shop to do little work with. lucky bastard has a used bridgeport on the way too. this is just something to throw in the cold shop.

so lets sum it up.
belt are better.
knee is better, but that one looks cheesy
 
Grizz just started carrying X3:
http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0463

www.mini-lathe.com has a review of it.

Next one from there would RF-45 clone (aka Square Column mill),
the top 2 you linked to in orig post. Grizz and numerous others also
sell it. Check out industrialhobbies.com for tons of info on it.

For a knife maker the X3 is probably the ideal mill, IMHO. I own
a mini-mill, which is plenty for knife making, but every now and then
I do have need for extra power, larger travel or longer spindle-to-table
distance.

No disrespect, but way too many of US machinists are attached to knee-type mills and don't understand the sheer capacity and power of RF45
 
not trying to hi-jack this thread but does anyone see any negatives with this mill? im mill igorant and would only like to buy one and yes i know its not a bridgeport haha but im not a seroius machisnt would use primarly for milling the bark and cans off various kinds of damascus and flatening blade steel and guards thanks bruce

http://www.grizzly.com/products/G3616
 
Bruce: For that money, you can get a nice, used Bridgeport and a nice vise for it, and still have money left over.
That'd be my pick.
 
i like bridgeport mills.they can handle about anything you can throw at them. i use a tabletop mill for all of my little things.actually i use it for almost any everything. i agree the mill in the third pic looks good,not a bad price either but i would still try to find a bridgeport. its easy to find parts.
 
Mike if your still looking, a friend of two of my students buys and sells machines. If you want I can get you his email address and see if he can help in the search.

Greg
 
Michael J. Spangler said:
havent found any i wouldn't need to get phase converters to run.
or one in my price range
Click to expand...

You are probably better off getting set up with a phase converter. Many of us trying to wring some cash for equipment out of our tight budgets are neglecting to see that sometimes the sum of the little parts create the whole. I mean things like phase converters, airlines, good lighting, heat or A/C, ventilation... all these are a part of turning out a good knife.

I myself have been so adamant about keeping 3-phase out of my shop that I feel like I have missed the big picture. Now I feel like a good rotary phase converter is to be a neccessary equipment item. Even a quality static converter - one for each machine, dedicated to that machine would be a good option.
 
kaliand: sounds good i'd love to fin anyone who can help me find a nice bridgeport.

higgy: i guess if it were the right price i might as well get a converter. easy enough to wire and get running

so guys what do you think about the new grizzly X3 that rashid posted?
would this be a nice happy compromise between the mini mill and the big knee mill? seems like a pretty nice machine
 
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