I've hankering for a mill, advice please.

[Wedg1e]

.
expensive though

You're not wrong! I know that Boxford kit is often highly-prized (like Myford) amongst the model engineering fraternity but it really isn't anything special; as others have said they tend to be under-used but they also tend to be limiting once you want to make anything bigger than a 00-scale loco wheel You only have to look at the X and Y-axis traverse distances to realise how small a part you can mill...

 

[Maker]

I nearly had that Omnimill but now I've bought the 181 horizontal mill, I'll tell you what it's like in a few days.
Factor into your budget the cost of getting it home, I'm expecting to pay around £120 for a van with a tail lift. Also, as Wedg1e pointed out in my thread, you can expect to pay the cost of the machine again in tooling.

 

[zzr1200]

Well if there's a real need for a mill/lathe then factor price in the hiring of a box van and diesel.

You'll find its the only possible way of aquiring one,I mean you can always stop at services there and back and will be home at the end of the day with enough time to drop the van back at the depot.

I already have a lathe (Harrison L5) and the means to transport a Mill (Range Rover and 2.6 ton goods trailer), plus the lifting gear without a problem on my own, its the cost of the fuel/time involved in collecting it plus any electrical conversion required to make it work...

 

[Maker]

I already have a lathe (Harrison L5) and the means to transport a Mill (Range Rover and 2.6 ton goods trailer), plus the lifting gear without a problem on my own, its the cost of the fuel/time involved in collecting it plus any electrical conversion required to make it work...

I suppose that depends how you value your time and if you don't have time to collect and convert it then do you have time to use it?

 

[Maker]

Might be a bit far but : Tom Senior in Shropshire.

 

[zzr1200]

Might be a bit far but : Tom Senior in Shropshire.

Already on the watch list but again it the amount of floor space required to locate/operate the mill safely I've only got a small workshop area...

 

[ukracer]

Well if there's a real need for a mill/lathe then factor price in the hiring of a box van and diesel.

You'll find its the only possible way of aquiring one,I mean you can always stop at services there and back and will be home at the end of the day with enough time to drop the van back at the depot.

I guess you are replying to me Daniel? I have a Nissan Navara that should be ok to move a mill I can afford. My point is the fuel cost can add £150 onto the purchase and I dont "need" a mill its just a nice to have now I have the time..... If I really needed things shifting I could get a lot of vehicles to do the job as my mate has plant and a 3 axle low bed trailer I could use but as I dont need one I will wait till one comes up close enough for me to bother lol

 

[ukracer]

Might be a bit far but : Tom Senior in Shropshire.

Seen that one mate. Its just down the road from me. I dont think they have a very large travel on the bed. I want one like Double Boost but not sure what he has lol I only want to add the extension

 

[Maker]

Seen that one mate. Its just down the road from me. I dont think they have a very large travel on the bed. I want one like Double Boost but not sure what he has lol I only want to add the extension

Do you mean that silver bit about 4 inches long atop of the column?

@doubleboost , What is your mill?

 

[doubleboost]

This is a oldish video of my mill

 

[ukracer]

Do you mean that silver bit about 4 inches long atop of the column?

@doubleboost , What is your mill?

yep thats an extension to the mill...

This is a oldish video of my mill

Now I know how to wake the Old bugga up?? lol

 

[doubleboost]

Less the Old

 

[ukracer]

I already have a lathe (Harrison L5) and the means to transport a Mill (Range Rover and 2.6 ton goods trailer), plus the lifting gear without a problem on my own, its the cost of the fuel/time involved in collecting it plus any electrical conversion required to make it work...

Have you seen this one if the others are too large?? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/milling-machine-/141455837384?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item20ef6cc8c8

 

[zzr1200]

Have you seen this one if the others are too large?? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/milling-machine-/141455837384?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item20ef6cc8c8

I've seen that one, I'm thinking that a VM30 sized machine is probably the size I need, but I'm also toying with this Harrison, being as its only 40 inches from front to back.

 

[Maker]

I've seen that one, I'm thinking that a VM30 sized machine is probably the size I need, but I'm also toying with this Harrison, being as its only 40 inches from front to back.

The Harrison makes the Sieg look like a toy.

 

[ukracer]

This is a oldish video of my mill

Hes made them popular now

I've seen that one, I'm thinking that a VM30 sized machine is probably the size I need, but I'm also toying with this Harrison, being as its only 40 inches from front to back.

I cant remember a bridgeport being that deep!

 

[doubleboost]

The Harrison is a proper machine 240 volt as well
Only drawback is no quill feed
I would certainly be able to "acomidate" it lol

 

[ukracer]

The Harrison makes the Sieg look like a toy.

It is but loosing half your garage is not easy. The reason I am selling my Raglan 5 inch is because I have a Colchester Master 2500 with DRO and while the Raglan is better than a Myford its nothing compared to the colchester. I was happy to fit it in my garage but I can tell you its damn hard to store much else in there on the opposite side

. lol

 

[zzr1200]

The Harrison is a proper machine 240 volt as well
Only drawback is no quill feed
I would certainly be able to "acomidate" it lol

Quill feeds not a problem being as I have Progress 2G floor drill.

I'll have to make some enquires.

 

[ukracer]

The Harrison is a proper machine 240 volt as well
Only drawback is no quill feed
I would certainly be able to "accommodate" it lol

Ironic I was going to see that one friday but ran out of time I am only 6 miles from it currently. Its not for me though for two reasons one its got a premium price as its 240 volts and two it has no quill feed and I need to use it as a large drill.