If I wanted a Bridgeport..

[MetalMonkey]

Bridgeports command a premium because of the badge. You will get more for your money looking for some of the copies - many of which are more rigid or benefit from accept ISO taper tooling. Not just Taiwanese or Chinese clones (KRV etc) but many British or European ones such as Beaver, Elliott Sturdi or Millmor, Ajax, Anayak etc. However, be aware that most of these are also heavier and often larger than the Bridgeport which may be an issue if you are limited on space - the TOS ones are especially beefy.

 

[MetalMonkey]

the TOS FNK25 is around 7' tall and could have been mine for £300

For that price, I'd have raised the ceiling, super heavy duty machines - I'd love one!

 

[Rig Pig]

For that price, I'd have raised the ceiling, super heavy duty machines - I'd love one!

I considered digging up the floor! Unfortunately my workshop is a double garage but double length not width so a machine of that size just wasn't going to work no matter how many layouts I sketched!

 

[Milkybars]

I visited a gent who had built his shop around a bridgeport clone. It was basically a twin garage with a small pitched roof, the mill resided in the centre of the pitch against the back wall.

 

[R-D-R]

I’m similar, I haven’t found my mill yet but I did design the current mancaves ceiling joist arrangement so the top of a bridge port can poke through a hatch into the loft space

 

[Rig Pig]

I’m similar, I haven’t found my mill yet but I did design the current mancaves ceiling joist arrangement so the top of a bridge port can poke through a hatch into the loft space

Cunning!

 

[fizzy]

What's the average weight of a Bridgeport or a shaublin universal milling machine?

Bridgeport is around 900kg.

 

[Hopefuldave]

Ahh but then you are limited to 2600kg or so. A lot of the nice old machines are over 3 tons. Although of course as long as the trailer looks ok

Shhhhhh....

Dave H. (the other one)

 

[Memmeddu]

What's your

Bridgeport is around 900kg.

Ok if I will ever see one I'll leave it there

 

[Rig Pig]

Bridgeport is around 900kg.

I'm surprised it's that light, my mill is around that.

 

[Hopefuldave]

I'm surprised it's that light, my mill is around that.

They are a bit floppy, those Bridgeport big drill presses...

Dave H. (the other one)

 

[robwizard]

I have come across Goodwin Technology before actually. I used to work at a place where we had a couple of Bridgeports and they had supplied some spare parts for them. They also fitted one of their DRO's to a lathe and fitted a new electronic drive to one of the other mills. By all accounts a good company, but quite significantly beyond my budget unfortunately.

I think as I've used the Bridgeports before that's what I'll continue to look for. Also I like the aesthetic of them, as lame as that sounds. Ebay doesn't seem to have a great amount on offer at the moment, but I'll keep looking. I'll also check the other used machinery sites.

When I was younger I worked for a precision engineering firm and I always enjoyed using the Bridgeport and the guy who owned the place would often refer to it as a "glorified pillar drill" and would only really use the slotting head on it haha.

Thanks,

 

[fizzy]

They are a bit floppy, those Bridgeport big drill presses...

Dave H. (the other one)

Lol I wouldn't quite go that far but it is certainly a bit puny compared to my Elliott - for the home/hobby machinist though more than sufficient!

 

[robwizard]

Lol I wouldn't quite go that far but it is certainly a bit puny compared to my Elliott - for the home/hobby machinist though more than sufficient!

Yeah I reckon so. I don't have anything particularly demanding in mind.. hole placement, tube notching, making stuff flat..