Tinbasherdan
Bodger in chief
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There's a shaping attachment sat on the Bridgeport at college that never gets used. I'm genuinely unsure if anyone actually knows how to use it 
- Thread starter Spark plug
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brightspark
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I saw a good one go at ruffoth last year 175 quid and it was mintBridgeport slotting heads have stayed at the circa £750 mark for years. That's what I paid back in the late 1980's for one - well slightly less as I negotiated, but still a fair wad of cash. If they are much less than that then either they are a true bargain or utterly knackered
Spark plug
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So you keep taunting me with that, I don't get there mutch these days, seems like I always miss the bargins.
brightspark
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its been pretty crap lately .machinery seems to be drying up
now and then a real bargain crops up but ebay has killed a lot off
julianthegypsy
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Ahem. Some of us have one of these....Doesn't get used much, but when it does, it's a bit useful!
Wallace
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That's a wee beastie!
Lots of walking to do the full stroke though.
julianthegypsy
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Did I mention we have an Elliot shaper too? As well as the browne and sharpe omnimill of course!
And it's not my bedroom! I have a corner of it in return for favours and supplies of tea and coffee, flapdiscs and cutting discs and an occasional wedge when I sell something. It suits us all very well!
Screwdriver
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Is the gearing/mechanical advantage that much different on an arbor press compared to a Flypress? A quarter turn on my old Norton probably only moves the head about 5mm with virtually a metre of stroke on the handle. You don't have to use the inertia to bang a broach through.
Hood
I am obsessed.
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Very busy at the moment but should really try and have to have a look and see what it is like.
Spark plug
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Not with mine, I used to broach with it at the company I bought it from. the fly weights about 1cwt just a gentile force applied dose it.
Hood
I am obsessed.
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Hauled it off the shelf and almost caused myself a hernia, forgot how heavy they were LOL.
Surprised that it is actually pretty good considering. Paint has flaked off a lot, some rust on the clapper box and mount etc but the ram itself is pretty good and moves freely, well does after I removed the motor, it seems to be seized.
Some pics
Will give it a good clean up when I get a chance and have a look at the motor as well and see if it is just sticking at the bearings or maybe even the fan.
And a vid of it moving by hand.
Surprised that it is actually pretty good considering. Paint has flaked off a lot, some rust on the clapper box and mount etc but the ram itself is pretty good and moves freely, well does after I removed the motor, it seems to be seized.
Some pics
Will give it a good clean up when I get a chance and have a look at the motor as well and see if it is just sticking at the bearings or maybe even the fan.
And a vid of it moving by hand.
Spark plug
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Doesn't look in bad nick at all.
Hood
I am obsessed.
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Bridgeport stuff was always well engineered just the mills were a bit on the flimsy side when compared to some others but they do what they are meant to, so suppose that is why lots like them.
Actually surprised me, was expecting it to look a lot worse. Having said that it was like new when I put it in there
Spark plug
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There biggest weakness is there biggest advantage, they are so versitile, they are capable of doing so many things, this compromised strength. To get a better heavier machine to do everything a Bridgeport can do you would need 3 or 4 separate machines.
They are overrated people talk about them as if the are the be all and end all of millers but in reality they are a compromise.
Hood
I am obsessed.
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There are other mills which are as versatile and more rigid, even Bridgeport themselves eventually did one, the Series 2.
Personally if I was going for a manual knee mill I would either be looking for a decent Series 2 or more likely a Tos FNK or similar.
Having said that there is nothing wrong with a decent series 1 as long as you know the limitations, especially of the R8, just as you say they are overrated.
indy4x
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What's rufforth?
