Used Milling Machine Worth It?

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SLC_Blades

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Aug 20, 2018
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Hello everyone! I’ve recently struck a deal on a buying/selling app with a local guy selling a benchtop Grizzly vertical mill. This item retails for $900 and the seller was asking $595 (talked him down to $525). The machine appears to be in great shape and the seller has cited no issues; this price includes some tooling and a vise. Seems like a sweet deal to me, but I don’t know if the machine itself is worth my time.

I do mostly full tang fixed blades with the occasional hidden tang here and there. I know that this machine is rather underpowered and most likely won’t be making folders anytime soon (correct me if I’m wrong). As a new maker on a relative budget (already have a 2x72 and a home-build HT oven), I feel like this tool wouldn’t be of great benefit to me, despite the fact that I’d love to have it

Can anyone think of any uses that would warrant me spending the money? Thanks!
 
If you would like to buy it for the pure joy of buying tools ( which I completely understand ) then it might be worth your money.
Otherwise, I would wait until I developed a need for a mill, and then go about shopping for one to meet that need.
Don't buy a tool now and then look for some way to use it.
It would be a shame to spend that amount on this mill only to find you need a larger one once the actual need for a mill arises.
If you are new at this you may find you get more mileage out of something else, such as a good drill press or bandsaw.​
 
Joker66 said:
If you would like to buy it for the pure joy of buying tools ( which I completely understand ) then it might be worth your money.
Otherwise, I would wait until I developed a need for a mill, and then go about shopping for one to meet that need.
Don't buy a tool now and then look for some way to use it.
It would be a shame to spend that amount on this mill only to find you need a larger one once the actual need for a mill arises.
If you are new at this you may find you get more mileage out of something else, such as a good drill press or bandsaw.​
Click to expand...
Good things to ponder, thanks for the reply
 
I'd say go for it. That's a good price and a killing machine is a great (and fun) thing to have. I use my milling machine and lathe mainly for making pens, but I do mill an occasional fuller or weird groove.
 
SLC_Blades said:
Hello everyone! I’ve recently struck a deal on a buying/selling app with a local guy selling a benchtop Grizzly vertical mill. This item retails for $900 and the seller was asking $595 (talked him down to $525). The machine appears to be in great shape and the seller has cited no issues; this price includes some tooling and a vise. Seems like a sweet deal to me, but I don’t know if the machine itself is worth my time.

I do mostly full tang fixed blades with the occasional hidden tang here and there. I know that this machine is rather underpowered and most likely won’t be making folders anytime soon (correct me if I’m wrong). As a new maker on a relative budget (already have a 2x72 and a home-build HT oven), I feel like this tool wouldn’t be of great benefit to me, despite the fact that I’d love to have it

Can anyone think of any uses that would warrant me spending the money? Thanks!
Click to expand...

It sounds like a worthwhile purchase for starting out using milling to shape pieces. it will give you an opportunity refine your skills with milling, figuring cutting speeds, feed speeds, suitable cutters, mills etc. I think you will continue to find more and more uses for it as time passes. I have wanted one for a long time just to be able to slot guards. It can also shape guards as well. it can make for tight fit up of the guards over sawing/filing guard slots. There may be times you may find yourself in a need for a flat surface on a guard or butt cap that being able to mill can provide. You will always be able to resell it in the future when your in a position to upgrade.
 
Grizzly machines, you get what you pay for..
Said that, they can be a great hobby size machine.
Underpowered is somewhat relative, if its bogging down, you can always back off on its feed... :)
I would look it over good and check it for run-out before buying.
 
Thanks for the replies! Definitely lots of help. I’ll most likely go through with it, but let’s see how I feel by the end of the day
 
Joker66 said:
If you would like to buy it for the pure joy of buying tools ( which I completely understand ) then it might be worth your money.
Otherwise, I would wait until I developed a need for a mill, and then go about shopping for one to meet that need.
Don't buy a tool now and then look for some way to use it.
It would be a shame to spend that amount on this mill only to find you need a larger one once the actual need for a mill arises.
If you are new at this you may find you get more mileage out of something else, such as a good drill press or bandsaw.​
Click to expand...

There you go, I fixed your post. I could not read it’s the text was white.
 
A small vertical mill is always a good thing to have.
I have one of the smallest ones made, and I use it for one specific purpose-milling the underside of automatic button-side scales.
 
I ended up buying a full sized knee mill, and it's easily one of the (if not THE) most used tools in my shop. I use it for far more than knife making though, and I couldn't imagine not having one now.

Now, I can't say I'd have nearly as much use for a smaller mill, though if I could only have a small mill or no mill, I'd definitely take the smaller mill. You may be surprise at how useful you find a mill, and you may even end up wanting a bigger one once you start using it more.
 
While it's smaller than I'd want, at that price you'll never regret buying the mill. While it's under powered and under sized, that only means you'll be taking smaller and slower cuts, but you can still make the cuts. For folders and guards, I suspect the small mill will work just as good as a large mill. They make a GREAT drill press - just put a chuck in the quill rather than the collets. BTW, it does have R8 quill?
 
I have a smaller “mill/drill” I ditched the pully speed control and belt drive it witha 1hp high rpm motor and vfd. Motor is rated up to 6,000rpm. It’s nicehaving a small mill that I can really crank to 11 with small endmills.
 
keep the cuts .035 or less and you won't have any issues using carbide. I've made quite a few folders with a Grizzly and still going....
 
JTknives said:
I have a smaller “mill/drill” I ditched the pully speed control and belt drive it witha 1hp high rpm motor and vfd. Motor is rated up to 6,000rpm. It’s nicehaving a small mill that I can really crank to 11 with small endmills.
Click to expand...
got lucky when i found my bridgeport and its a high speed head top speed is 5600 rpm i believe like you said little cutters and carbide endmills love speed
 
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