Small Mill

T

tim37a

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May 18, 2010
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I am planning to buy a small mill - don't have space or money for a full size mill. Most of the knives I make are hunters/skinners 8" - 10" in length. Mostly M390 mat'l. I don't know anything about machineing but it should be fun to learn. What do you guys recommend?
 
That littlemachineshop mill was recommended by quite a few people in another thread like this one. That's the one I'm going to get eventually.
 
I got this a few years ago and pretty happy, it is nice to have the lathe as well, it has it limitations but is much heavier than the mini-mills and can do more. You will need to work a little slower on a smaller mill.
 

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LMS 3960 is the way to go. square column, R8 spindle, and a pretty big table for a bench top mill. also upgradeable, DRO's and power feeds can be added later.
 
As Mr Night said, square column and R8 is where you wont to be....look at the Grizzly stuff, might be a bit more $$ but they stand behind there stuff...and they have a good selection...
 
I just bought a Grizzly G0704 and so far so good.

G0704.com for some good info on it.

Milt
 
can you use it freehand? No experience here, what I mean is, set up a jig for hollowing out a handle (Think Esee izula)...

Thanks!
 
Those types of handles (and blades) are usually waterjet or cnc cut, or hand filed/ground, I'll make an educated guess that the esee stuff is waterjet, like most.

Cutting complex asymetrical curvature on a mill is very difficult, and usually bad news for your cutters, which want consistency in feed. I've tried it, since I like totally skeletonized tangs, and personally have found it easier to rough with drills, or make a rough slot with the mill, and then finish with carbide burrs and hand files.

That's probably the easiest for one-off designs. A cnc mill would be the next option. For any reproduction, waterjet seems the most economical option. Don't expect to be doing it with a small mill like the ones discussed in this thread.
 
Does anyone know anything about Smithy combo mill/lathe? Found one on CraigsList for $700.
 
Don Hanson III said:
Like said, this is the one and likely the next machine I get.

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=3960&category=1387807683
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Don, have you managed to get around to picking one of these up? I've been struggling with the desire for a mill for too long, but have always balked at the size and expense of a good machine - especially as the only thing it'll likely ever be asked to do is mill a slot in a guard!!!!!

Would you bother with a DRO for it?
 
Just realized I addressed my post to Don - that wasn't exactly my intent. Anyone that's snagged one of these can chime in - I'm interested to hear feedback from folks with hands-on experience.
 
Matthew Gregory said:
Don, have you managed to get around to picking one of these up? I've been struggling with the desire for a mill for too long, but have always balked at the size and expense of a good machine - especially as the only thing it'll likely ever be asked to do is mill a slot in a guard!!!!!

Would you bother with a DRO for it?
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No, haven't got one yet, Matt. I'm still using the little Sherline to slot guards. The only reason I'm considering a larger mill is to cut nail nicks in slip joint blades. The Sherline does a fine jot of cutting slots in damacsus guards and any other small milling stuff that needs doing. But is just not enough mill to cut nail nicks with a fly cutter, even though I am doing just that with it...

I have done a lot of research though and the Little Machine Shop mill looks very good.
 
The LMS mill is almost identical to the one sold by grizzly/HF. I have the HF mini mill which was bought primarily for slotting guards. Once I read Karl Anderson's method (after breaking many mills as I had no milling knowledge), it is a great tool to have. Slots are no longer a headache. The investment was worth it to me instead of time spent drilling, hand sawing, filing, checking, repeat..."$*& the sides arent parallel" and have to start again
 
Matthew Gregory said:
Don, have you managed to get around to picking one of these up? I've been struggling with the desire for a mill for too long, but have always balked at the size and expense of a good machine - especially as the only thing it'll likely ever be asked to do is mill a slot in a guard!!!!!

Would you bother with a DRO for it?
Click to expand...

Don Hanson III said:
No, haven't got one yet, Matt. I'm still using the little Sherline to slot guards. The only reason I'm considering a larger mill is to cut nail nicks in slip joint blades. The Sherline does a fine jot of cutting slots in damacsus guards and any other small milling stuff that needs doing. But is just not enough mill to cut nail nicks with a fly cutter, even though I am doing just that with it...

I have done a lot of research though and the Little Machine Shop mill looks very good.
Click to expand...

Matt, I just ordered one of the LMS solid column mills this morning. I didn't get DRO for it yet. After using the tiny Sherline for over 15 years and searching for a full size old US mill and not finding one. I found the LMS to be the best in it's class...
 
have a mini mill beat the hell out of it and after years of abuse i broke the gears (man the belt drive is the upgradei wished i did years ago . now i also have a 32 inch bridgeport and wow can that sucker hog off steel (look for intergrals form me soon)
 
I have the Littlemachineshop mill and I'm happy with it. I think it's probably the best mini mill you can get. That said, it's still just a mini mill.
 
butcher_block said:
have a mini mill beat the hell out of it and after years of abuse i broke the gears (man the belt drive is the upgradei wished i did years ago . now i also have a 32 inch bridgeport and wow can that sucker hog off steel (look for intergrals form me soon)
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Butch, I move steel around with a hammer and hog with a grinder. I need a mill for small precise work. :)
But yes, if the right big mill came along, I'd get it...

raylaconico said:
I have the Littlemachineshop mill and I'm happy with it. I think it's probably the best mini mill you can get. That said, it's still just a mini mill.
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This mill is giant compared to the 29 lb Sherline. ;)

I just cut two more nail nicks today with a fly cutter on the Sherline. Anybody who's ever done this with a larger mill, would not believe it's possible. And to think, the Sherline wasn't designed to cut steel. :D
 
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