Milling machines

[chris-law]

Hi all

Iv have been looking at milling machines on the net to go into my workshop to compliment my lathe , i dont want to spend big money or have something that takes half the garage , bridgeport would be good but look quite big and i dont really want to spend that much , the harrison /aew viceroys and the like look a bit smaller and can be had for less money , only problem is there is no fine feed quill on them , how important is that on a mill.
I could likely stretch to a new sieg x3 but looking at youtube they dont look overley powerfull to me and not so rigid , im not looking to do any heavy engineering with it but it would be nice to have something with a bit of sturdyness behind it .
Any other options i should look at

 

[brightspark]

unless your in to model making gunsmithing or precision engineering its no great hardship not having one .just dont get heavy handed with the dials

 

[chris-law]

unless your in to model making gunsmithing or precision engineering its no great hardship not having one .just dont get heavy handed with the dials

Thanks for the reply
No model making for me , and as much as I'd love to make an ar15 I don't want to do time for it

 

[hareng]

As long as the slides are good along the length, no tolerance you should get away without a fine downfeed.
What will happen is if set height it will move when locked up.
Also be a miracle if come across a minter with no wear.

The chinese looking at are very spindly no rigidity and will actually see the flex in upright column with menial work. You may get by with it but have to learn its traits.

 

[chris-law]

Something like this

 

[hareng]

That will be more rigid with slides not locked up than any chinese.

Need to check the slides for wear, dont buy anything like that blind.

 

[chris-law]

Looking at some of the Chinese jobs I'd be as well fitting my Kerry drill out to mill on lol

 

[MrFluffy]

Thats a "universal" mill, see the long section slid back on top? that slides forward and that arbour at the end bolts on the front and supports a horizontal arbour. 2 for the price of 1, and you can do a few jobs easier on a horizontal (gear cutting, mass slab milling, hollowing out crankcases etc).
I have no quill on my universal and Ive got on fine without it for years, I use drills in a jacobs chuck arbour, and the only difficulty Ive had is breaking taps power tapping when I bumped the knee control too hard as downfeed, but now I have a bristol tapping head which lets the tap float up and down once its started.
The only other thing that is awkward is you can tilt a quill head and feed at a angle, but you have to use a sine table to hold the workpiece tilted instead to do the same job on a non quill feed equipped head.

Heres my arno, it has bt40 taper head and horizontal arbour, pumped oiling system for all the leadscrews and slides, suds with integral tank etc. Ill be tossing up later between putting the horizontal arbor setup on to make some vee blocks or using the shaper instead

If your picking up that mill, can I come and liberate the press?

 

[gerry3]

I have a sieg x3 super mill which has a dro for the fine down feed for the quill. This,for me, is a must.
The machine its self is very solid and though the mill head takes some effort to raise ( due to its weight) I am quite pleased with it in all respects.
I must also add that I have also the "X" feed motor fited, thus saving my having to constantly turn the handle.

 

[abfa9358]

Have a look at the Optimum range of mills. The BF30 is a capable machine.

 

[Shox Dr]

I ve a Tom Senior light vertical. Don't come up for sale very often, but are a very capable mill. I've just rebuilt mine, and was mulling over selling it and buying a Bridgeport. But....

I've just put a 15"car rim on the table to get a snapped bolt out, and was pleasantly surprised not only does it easily fit on but I can hit every bolt hole without moving the rim. And for a mill that size that is some going.

 

[chris-law]

I was looking at those too , they fetch good money too , i called an old pal of mine this afternoon who has his fingers in many pies , told him i was looking for a mill , he gave his away a few weeks ago as nobody wanted it and he didnt want to scrap it

I ve a Tom Senior light vertical. Don't come up for sale very often, but are a very capable mill. I've just rebuilt mine, and was mulling over selling it and buying a Bridgeport. But....

I've just put a 15"car rim on the table to get a snapped bolt out, and was pleasantly surprised not only does it easily fit on but I can hit every bolt hole without moving the rim. And for a mill that size that is some going.

 

[Keith 66]

You could do worse than look for an Arboga, Swedish quality, I have a U2508, technically its a Mill/Drill but is a very capable Mill all the same. Extremely well made, robust & very small floor footprint. Table is a useful 22" x 10".

 

[Wedg1e]

Have a look at the Optimum range of mills. The BF30 is a capable machine.

Have we another vested interest here, chaps?

 

[Wedg1e]

I (and Brightspark!) use a Bridgeport, but the 1ES, not the big one.

The 1ES is primarily a horizontal mill but can be fitted with a vertical head to give added versatility... if I can ever find one - had my 1ES for almost ten years and I can count on the thumbs of one foot how many vertical heads I've seen for sale, so if you go for a 1ES, well don't unless it has the vertical head with it

 

[chris-law]

Have we another vested interest here, chaps?

Its 3 grand too so out of my budget

 

[chris-law]

I (and Brightspark!) use a Bridgeport, but the 1ES, not the big one.

The 1ES is primarily a horizontal mill but can be fitted with a vertical head to give added versatility... if I can ever find one - had my 1ES for almost ten years and I can count on the thumbs of one foot how many vertical heads I've seen for sale, so if you go for a 1ES, well don't unless it has the vertical head with it

You mean this one , hand operated

 

[hareng]

More like 'no hands' spares or repair?
Wheres the hand wheels, leadscrew, mountings with bearings and gib strip.

 

[ronan]

I bought a tom senior about 6 months ago , i am just getting around to getting it set up now , but they are very well made and are sturdy. Primarily a horizontal machine , mine came with the vertical head. It cost less than some lump of chinese s***e.
Don't forget you need a fair few accessories with a mill, a good vice , rotary table , dividing head, parallels , collet chuck , boring head etc if you want to get the full use out of the machine.

 

[nodeward]

good point tooling costs an absolute fortune also it sounds stupid but they take up alot more space than you would think when you take into account the table travel etc as well as enough space to get around everything