Pick a mill

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NORSEWOLF

Joined
Sep 8, 2013
Messages
38
So I have a little extra cash and would like a mill for guards.
I will want to do some folders at some point.
Space is an issue like most of us.
I have never sold a blade I have made. I give them away to friends and family.
I have good feed back on performance and will want to clean them up a bit and start sell some to fund more equipment. I have been blessed as I don't have to depend on this for income. I just love to do it.
I looking for a recommendation for a mill in $1000 to $1500 range.

Norsewolf
 
The Grizzly is the 1 I was looking at.
Have you been using it long?
Can it handle 3/4" thick brass or stainless.
The side to side is not sloppy?

Norsewolf
 
Check out Precision Matthews mills. coming from same factories that the Grizzly, Jet etc make and models are, but they ship em to the USA, give em a few better parts, offer better warranties and customer service.
 
NORSEWOLF said:
The Grizzly is the 1 I was looking at.
Have you been using it long?
Can it handle 3/4" thick brass or stainless.
The side to side is not sloppy?

Norsewolf
Click to expand...
The "Slop" you refer to is called "Backlash" ,and every machine that operates on a "Lead Screw" will have a certain amount of backlash. There are adjustments made to the table to eliminate excessive backlash. I suggest you join a Group like "Practical Machinist" so you can research and learn how to properly use a Mill.
 
i have had the GO781 for about 4 years. i use 3/8" thick guard materials, brass, nickel and 416 stainless. i only take off 5 or 10 thousandths at a time when cutting a slot, making many passes. if you adjust the ways properly it will not slop side to side. but the tighter the ways, the harder it is to hand crank, so you would have to adjust it so it works best for you.
 
been using my HF mini mill for years light cuts and small cutters are the key and i did the belt drive upgrade and its soo much smoother and lower noiise to boot
got a bridgeport a few years ago and thats one hell of an upgrade. i still use my mini for most all my drilling and also to fly cut wood blocks square/flat.
 
I always recommend buying the absolute biggest mill you can afford. At the end of the day, a full sized knee mill doesn't take up that much more room than a mini-mill when you include bench space that the mini-mill sits on, vertical space that goes unused for most people above their mini mill anyway, etc...

Granted, most things for a full size machine will be a little bit more expensive on the average, and you're gonna spend a few dollars to get it moved to your shop, but the extra capability is well worth the investment IMO.

All that said, just about any "off the shelf" mill is going to be able to slot brass well enough for making knives. It just takes longer. Also, depending on what kind of tolerances you're looking for, many of the import mills will benefit from a "fluff and buff" and one or two relatively minor modifications.
 
The Best Upgrade to control tolerance accuracy are "DRO's" you NEED to know how close you are holding tolerance and the Dial graduations at the hand wheels are not as quick to show "Minute" deviations.
 
This forum is such a great source of info.
ALL DO TO THE GREAT GUY'S WILLING TO SHARE THERE KNOWLEDGE!

Thank you everyone.
Due to quick availability and price.I will most likely order the Grizzzly #G0781.
I will keep looking thru the holidays. I'm also looking at used.
Looks like I have a lot to study up on.

Norsewolf
 
NORSEWOLF said:
Looks like I have a lot to study up on.
Click to expand...
This is a Smart approach know what you are looking at and what it's capabilities are before purchase because there are a lot of extra expenses on Tooling you will need before making your first Cut. Practical Machinist and Youtube videos should be on your study list.
 
Busto said:
This is a Smart approach know what you are looking at and what it's capabilities are before purchase because there are a lot of extra expenses on Tooling you will need before making your first Cut. Practical Machinist and Youtube videos should be on your study list.
Click to expand...

If you Join there, read don't post.

Otherwise you will be banned in very short order.

Try other hobby forums like Chaski
 
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I have the precision matthew PM727V and its been amazing. Belt driven VFD powered with a very wide speed range. I use it to mill titanium, stainless, brass, just about anything I need.

Factor in a couple hundred for collets and endmills. I have easily over 1k alone in tooling. Another couple hundred for a decent vise/workholding. It all adds up quick.
 
little machine shop is a great place for starter kits. CDCO tools carrys alot of import stuff as well good way to get started then upgrade as you feel th eneed for better
 
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