Mill vs Bench drill

[CEJM]

Last year my garage burned down due to an electrical fault. 95% of the contents was lost and they have just started rebuilding.

Once the new garage is up I would like to buy a milling machine and a lathe. Previously I had a Warco bench drill which covered most of my needs. Unfortunately, to buy the same machine it now costs £350 more. Which made me think, if I could also drill with the mill.

It is only used for personal projects, so even if it all takes a bit longer it makes no real difference. Hole sizes vary from predominantly 10/13mm to 25mm or 34mm with a hole saw.
The material used is all mild steel or aluminium. For the larges sizes I was using blacksmith drills but the mill will also take mag drill cutters.

Would a mill be able to meet my needs?

 

[addjunkie]

It would, but watch the nose to table distance, your run out of space quickly, with vice, and tool length

 

[CEJM]

It would, but watch the nose to table distance, your run out of space quickly, with vice, and tool length

Thank you addjunkie. I will keep that in mind.

 

[BrokenBiker]

the other killer for a mill is having to use a drill chuck...that eats a lot of space...you can of course use collets but if you are drilling a lot of holes that need a pilot then you are changing collet every time you chage drill size too.

that said, a mill can generally do what a drill can, but a drill cant do what a mill can.

im trying to figure out how i can fit a mill into my shed

 

[dieselsamurai]

This is the mill/drill I have a RF30 it goes up a lot higher than this if I didnt have 4 other pillar drills i could definitely use it just as a drill for most jobs , its quite compact compared to most mills but does require a much bigger footprint as the table moves left to right an extra foot or more each way.


I was going to sell it on when I got a Bridgeport but its so hand to have it set up when multiple operations needed on one part

 

[northwest]

im trying to figure out how i can fit a mill into my shed

That's easy, just stand outside when you are there working and let the Mill take up the new space.

 

[BrokenBiker]

That's easy, just stand outside when you are there working and let the Mill take up the new space.

it may actually have to come that if i keep buying stuff...just teach the spiders how to weld and run the lathe and it'll be fine

 

[dieselsamurai]

That's easy, just stand outside when you are there working and let the Mill take up the new space.

I dont really have room for a second Lathe but thats way down on the requirements list, where theres a will theres a way

 

[BrokenBiker]

I dont really have room for a second Lathe but thats way down on the requirements list, where theres a will theres a way

i didnt have space for my chinese one...so i bought one 5 times the size and 10 times as heavy

 

[addjunkie]

Some of the bigger mill drills will do what you-are after

 

[CEJM]

Thank you all for your input.

Space is the main consideration for me. At the moment I could do with a mill to make a couple of key ways into an axle. Something which I can most likely also do with the lathe. (Mill bit in chuck and workpiece clamped against tool post)

If the above would work, then for the time being I have no other jobs for the mill. However, a good bench/pillar drill is not cheap either. So it may be worthwhile investing a bit more and buying a mill that can do everything I need.

Happy to buy second hand but it needs to be 240v. We are on overhead power lines and the cost to bring 3 phase to the house is over £15k. (2019) Or I end up putting a vdf on it.

I wish that space and money were no consideration.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Mill bit in a collet chuck and workpiece clamped against tool post

Fixed that for you

 

[dieselsamurai]

Thank you all for your input.

Space is the main consideration for me. At the moment I could do with a mill to make a couple of key ways into an axle. Something which I can most likely also do with the lathe. (Mill bit in chuck and workpiece clamped against tool post)

If the above would work, then for the time being I have no other jobs for the mill. However, a good bench/pillar drill is not cheap either. So it may be worthwhile investing a bit more and buying a mill that can do everything I need.

Happy to buy second hand but it needs to be 240v. We are on overhead power lines and the cost to bring 3 phase to the house is over £15k. (2019) Or I end up putting a vdf on it.

I wish that space and money were no consideration.

Nowadays always better to have a three phase motor on a mill or lathe gives much more control over speed and allows usefull features like jog and slow start etc , plus the finish is meant to be better due to the two extra phases (i have seen this mentioned in a lot of forums)

 

[CEJM]

Thank you all for your comments and messages. It is very much appreciated.

It seems that the operation I would like a mill for (cutting key ways), can also be done on the lathe. It may not be the perfect finish that a mill achieves, but for my application it is good enough.

For normal drilling operations, a magnetic drill and a pillar drill should cover all that I need. I will make a stand for the mag drill so that it can be used with a drill vice.

The money saved on the mill can be used for a half decent lathe.