Which HF Mini Mill ??????

DanielPrentice

DanielPrentice

Joined
Oct 19, 2004
Messages
145
Hello all,

Looking to purchase a mini mill.... guess the best price if at HF. And it is local.... Other than the more hp, I do not see alot of difference... but I am looking on the web and not in person....

Can anyone advise me on this? Thanks....

Daniel Prentice
 
DanielPrentice said:
Looking to purchase a mini mill.... guess the best price if at HF. And it is local.... Other than the more hp, I do not see alot of difference... but I am looking on the web and not in person....
Click to expand...

You may find this useful Mini-mill comparison Checking shipping prices as well as tool prices is important.

Dan Pierson
 
since it's going to be a while till I can afford one anyway...might as well share the wealth...


You can get the Homier Mill for $599 on ebay. The item number is 7528023053. The shipping will probably be $150-200. But even at $799, you're still less than both Grizzly and Harbor Freight, on sale......and this will be delivered right to your door.

Anyway, I have come || this close to getting it (has been listed a few times already)....my wallet keeps holding me back. I know I'll regret not having bought it...dang.

I've had my eye on one at HF for some time now (20 min. down the street). These are much larger/heavier than the Micro Mills. Pretty dang nice for the money, imho.


[edited to add link to comparable HF model = http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=33686 ]
 
For you lucky SOBs that have HF is driveable proximity: Get one.

1. Tear it completely apart
2. clean with mineral spirits or kerosene.
3. clean/sand/deburr everything.
4. hand-lap the ways with SC compound.
5. Reassemble with quality grease, replacing screws and fasteners with good-quality.

Do this, and you will have a decent machine for not a lot of money. :thumbup:
 
okay Kim..... LOL>...... I am looking at overkill here..... I know you understand being prior SF..... LOL......

I just want the most out of my money. I am curious if the 500 dollar one can be converted to CNC down the road... HF does not have much info on it....

The only difference that I seen between the two is the weight, the size of motor, and that the larger one can do 45 degree angles... so far, I don't see the advantage of another 200 dollars...

Daniel
 
Fox said:
You can buy this mill and save yourself a whole lot of time and worry.
Click to expand...

Is that a Taig, or is it actually made at Riverside machine? The HF mini-mill has R-8 spindle, which will allow you to use just about any tool you want up to 1". The little mill at Uncle Al's wont do that. Two different animals, really.
 
jhiggins said:
Is that a Taig, or is it actually made at Riverside machine? The HF mini-mill has R-8 spindle, which will allow you to use just about any tool you want up to 1". The little mill at Uncle Al's wont do that. Two different animals, really.
Click to expand...

I have a Taig that I converted to CNC and It is a great Mill. I was looking at the HF mill and it wasnt very impresive. I didnt think to rip it apart and clean it so i defer to Mr. Higgins on which is a better deal. I have adapters that fit in the taig that let me use any cutter that i want. I have one for 3/8" shafts and 1/2" shafts. It also has collets in 8 sizes soI have not been limited yet as far as tooling goes.

I have a line on a used Bridgeport for $400 with a DRO so i may be getting rid of the Taig in a few months
 
Thanks all....

I am getting the HF mill... was 450 last week, and the manager is selling me that at that price and to include a 10% discount, the new store just opened.... LOL... good timing.... So I get it cheaper....

I will be in Fort Bragg, NC on December 19th. We are looking for a house up there, Wife to pick out the house with one stipulation...... I need my workshop!!!!!!! Might have to wrap the shop into one of those portable barns and make a partial enclosure for the 25# LG and Forge.

For what I need it for I think it will suit my needs.... Going for the bigger HF mill... Why not.....More Power!!!!! RaRaRaRA.....

Daniel
 
which one are you getting for $450?

(link to HF site)
 
That's the one. Incidenatlly, all these little mills are made by the Seig company in China.

Good little machine when it is reworked properly. The was an outfit on ebay - not sure if they are still around - that would totally rebuild these machines with US-made bearings, ballscrews, and CNC them. You could get the whole bloody mess all set to go for about $2500. Not too shabby. So I guess what I am trying to say is that this machine is like a Jeep vs a Hummer. The Hummer obviously is the superior offroad vehicle, but the Jeep will do all you ask of it for less than half the price of the Hummer. With the Jeep, and the HF Mill, the world is your oyster. There are so many aftermarket parts and mods readily available at reasonable prices.

In the end, if you beat the snot out of the Jeep, you won't feel such a loss as you would the Hummer. Same goes with the Seig.
 
that is too funny....

Especially since I do not care for Hummers...... Military thing I guess,

I am not getting ready to start making folders, I had more success with a lock back than I did the liner lock. So far, I only made two. My first my father has and it is tight and functional little lock back... The liner lock... well, it became a paper weight... Learned alot from it.. but I used scrap parts to make that one...... So I will tear it apart and throw that damascus into another billet.... Never a waste....

I am going to use this mill to surface grind folder parts after I cut them out... with a cone.... will work as I am told with small parts.....

I have been holding off after nursing school ended to prepare for folders.. through nursing school, I did not have much patience with much of anything....

Thanks..... Now, I just need to slow down and take my time more.... At least that is what Kim Breed keeps telling me....LOL....

Daniel
 
what would I need to use this mill as a surface grinder for small parts? I heard about face milling? is this the same as x and y axis milling with basic mills.... ????

thanks...

Daniel
 
DanielPrentice said:
what would I need to use this mill as a surface grinder for small parts? I heard about face milling? is this the same as x and y axis milling with basic mills.... ????

thanks...

Daniel
Click to expand...

I dont think the HF mini-mill is rated to handle any face-milling above 1", however It would probably handle a 2" is you kept the revs high, the cut-depth very shallow and the feed rate slow. If you buy a "high-shear" you will have splendid results:

Face Mill

These will not provide as good a finish as a surface grinder, but will definitely put you within a few sandpaper strokes of a nice flat finish.
 
I cannot thank you enough..... I am looking at some magnetic bases, but the ones made for surface grinders would seem overkill for folder parts......

I was looking at some magnetic parrallels..... may work... what do you think...... Or better to keep it in a vise?

Thanks....

Daniel
 
DanielPrentice said:
I cannot thank you enough..... I am looking at some magnetic bases, but the ones made for surface grinders would seem overkill for folder parts......

I was looking at some magnetic parrallels..... may work... what do you think...... Or better to keep it in a vise?
Click to expand...

Daniel, I would say that if your intention is to surface-grind with a cupped wheel then your best (and safest) bet would be to get a mag chuck. You can usually find the smaller ones on ebay. Keep us posted on how well this works. It may wind up becoming a good technique for those without a surface grinder. :)
 
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