Recommend me a mill plz

[Piero]

HI guys

Looking for advice on which mill to buy.

I am limited to single phase

Also limited on space .

Don't have the space for a full size brideport.

Do brideport do anything smaller????

Got about 4 to 5 foot square area spare to fit this mill.
High is no issue.

 

[Piero]

O and a budget of around 1200

 

[addjunkie]

If your very very lucky you may find an aceira f3 or a deckel f1.

Or your into bench mill drills. Square colum is the way to go. Not as bad as the bridgeport afficianardos make out, but as with all machine tools there is compromise.

Harrison and boxford also did smaller mills, tom senior too. Tooling is as expensive as the machine, so try to tet as much as you can with the machine.

 

[rikrobson]

Single phase should not be a game changer. you can get VFDs now. I got one for my Boxford for £80 delivered. 1.5KW

Something like this:
http://www.chesterhobbystore.com/eagle-30-mill--drill-3995-p.asp

or you are looking at getting something 2nd hand of ebay or gumtree.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

This is my Kunming mill, its Chinese made but don't let that put you off because the quality is excellent.

I paid just under £800 and it came with 4 horizontal arbours, a full set of collets and a universal tilting table as in this picture:

It has powered XYZ and is all gear driven.

 

[Piero]

I got a mill drill at the moment.
It's a little on the hobby side.

What I am after is a more precise quality mill but on the smaller size than normal.

Something size wise as the warco turret mills

 

[Burdekin]

I really like my Harrison universal but you'd need to convert to single phase or generate 3 phase. It is a really well made machine, you'd pay an arm and leg for such quality these days.

We use to have a lovely smaller turret type when I was an apprentice years ago but for the life of me can't remember the brand.

 

[Piero]

That kunming is about the max size wise as I can get away with.

Did you buy it new

 

[Wendelspanswick]

That kunming is about the max size wise as I can get away with.

Did you buy it new

Second hand, it is compact but with all the accessories it weighs 1300kg!
I run it off of a 13amp plug via a cheap Chinese 3KW VFD (£80).

 

[Piero]

Looks good . I like it

 

[ford34/2]

Just up the road from me, Contact Malcolm

For Sale: harrison milling machine
Tue 9th Feb '16
Advert ID: 25733
Tools
See all ads from Mal Mbb
Details:
Harrison metric milling machine vertical and horizontal with makers vertical head, Forward and reverse power feeds to table has a clutch. Complete with Clarkson collet chuck with full set of metric and imperial collets. Horizontal arbour and spacers. runs off 240 volts. Good mechanically. last owner bought from a school then painted it badly so paintwork poor. there is a suds pump but not fitted. will try to get pictures but viewing welcome. Can put onto a trailer or pallet for transport
Terms:
Price: £750.00
Collection Only
Contact:
Mal Mbb
ashington
ne63
UK
01670 818237

Stan

 

[Piero]

Should av said (but thanks for the link)
I would rather a imperial mill.

 

[addjunkie]

Should av said (but thanks for the link)
I would rather a imperial mill.

Fit a cheap dro, then you can work in what ever units you like. If its one of these itll be worth the trip oooop north.http://www.bedetools.com/page21.html

 

[penfold]

Have a look through what's on offer on Home Workshop etc, then look them up in the mills section on lathes.co.uk to see if you have room for them. I have a swedish Arboga which is nicely compact, not much more floor space than a pillar drill and quite versatile; with the budget you have you should be able to get a good quality mill with tooling if you are prepared to wait for the right one to go on sale.

 

[addjunkie]

Did you see these, the first 3 are remarkably similar
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Warco-Ver...554503?hash=item25b6328687:g:HlMAAOSwL7VWtiA-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Myford-VM...526021?hash=item4d3f107945:g:TxgAAOSwKtlWqTYa

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOOLCO-VM...531745?hash=item3d02e47561:g:lJsAAOSwFnFV8CL1

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Adcock-Sh...753516?hash=item4d3e8a9dac:g:vMwAAOSwT~9Wl-LF

 

[Piero]

I really like them arboga mills.

My only gripe is were I need to put it (in my workshop ) I can't be doing with reaching around the back for the handles

 

[Piero]

Re the ebay links

Yes seem all but the last one.

First ebay link. Asked to veiw before I bid. Didn't hear back.

Second on is a little over my budget

Third is the exact size I am looking for
Only the quality is APPARENTLY not top notch

 

[Wedg1e]

Re the ebay links

Yes seem all but the last one.

First ebay link. Asked to veiw before I bid. Didn't hear back.

Second on is a little over my budget

Third is the exact size I am looking for
Only the quality is APPARENTLY not top notch

I have reservations about the claim made of the last one (the A&S 1ES) that the vertical head was fitted as a factory modification; in the 12 years or so I've had my 1980 model I've come across a couple of websites showing people modifying their own 1ES's in this way with varying degrees of professionalism, so it's entirely feasible that this is one of those machines. However I've never seen any official pictures from A&S or Bridgeport to support it being OEM.
Also, the machine is an A&S but the head is badged as a Bridgeport; when BP acquired A&S they were all part of Textron and were labelled as such; the head and machine would be unlikely to bear different badges (and this one doesn't have Textron on either so is pre-1980 at least).
The seller says the 'horizontal drive motor is missing' - as this also drives the table feeds you're going to be winding the handles like a crazy man to get any work done
On balance it could be useful but seems to need a lot of expense and work to get full functionality back. I'd guess it's also likely to be an Imperial machine but if you like that sort of thing then not a problem.
Put it this way, if I could sell my 'pukka' 1ES with its proper vertical head, Metric dials, coolant, 1-ph conversion and tooling for £1400 I would be laughing all the way to a bigger mill

 

[Piero]

Your points are TOTALLY noted.

This is why a novice MIGHT prefer to buy new. Like the warco type.

I really am no expert. Could easily buy the wrong thing.

I can't afford to make that mistake

 

[squazy84]

I believe the warcos are shiny mistakes, the older heavy non chinese stuff is much better but at this stage all the monkeys have had their way and been bodging away so be aware that you may have to do some referb work but its worth it in the end compared to being stuck with the chinese tat that will never be right no matter what referb, be aware that unless you make watches only you will always want more head room,more travel ect especially if you get a rotary table,all of the above was said to me when I was looking myself and I bought an old harrison,I wasn't disappointed,I'd have it in my bedroom if i the wife would let me lol also I could see how a round colum would get annoying fast