Tom Senior vs Bridgeport milling machine

[Mintums]

Hey folks,

What would you recommend between a Tom Senior M1 (£700 ono) or a Bridgeport (£500 on ebay but with 6 days to go)?

The Tom senior is a horizontal machine and I've only really ever seen the vertical ones in action. It is more local to me though and is 240v rather than 3 phase.

It's to go alongside an old Southbend 13 lathe and will have an easy life being used on the odd weekend to make parts for tractors, cars and (don't tell the missis) for fun.

Is there a clear winner out of the two, or will either probably be fit for purpose?

Thanks

Rich.

p.s. I'll try and add links to them, but I'm at work and can't get on the right websites)

 

[lchris21]

Chalk and cheese.......Both equally capable machines, but in reality no comparison, if you've go the room, the Bridgeport (arguably the most used machine or derivatives of it worldwide for a reason), if not the Senior, but its limited in a Horizontal configuration.

 

[Spark plug]

If the condition of both machines are on par the Bridgeport will Win hands down every time especially as there's no vertical head with the M1.

 

[Burdekin]

Bridgeport and they don't need as much space as you might think.

 

[Newlands]

The M1 can be fitted with a vertical spindle, either a simple one or the S type. Have a look on the lathes.co.uk site for the details. Having said that, it might be difficult to find one (especially the S type which is more useful as it has a quill feed). The Bridgeport is probably a heavier machine, with a slightly more useful R8 taper (I think the Senior vertical heads have a Morse no 2). But you don't say which model Bridgeport it is, so it's difficult to pass any comments -"again, look on the lathes site for the detailed information for the actual model being,sold. With 5'days to go it will only go up in price if its any good - some of the traders put them up for 3k and more.
Apart from all these details, there is a big difference between a vertical and a horizontal mill, the vertical is much more versatile in a small workshop to be honest. I wouldn't waste the space on a horizontal unless I could be fairly certain of also buying a vertical spindle for it.

 

[ronan]

I have a Tom Senior, but would have a Bridgeport too if i had the space. The problem with vertical milling on the TS using the knuckle head is you have very little room under the tool, not much travel in the z-axis. I might get pulled up on this, but horizontal milling is like using a shaper, consigned to history. Get the BP if you can.

 

[ronan]

You can of course have a marriage between Tom Senior and Miss Bridgeport

http://www.anf.nildram.co.uk/workshop/major/major.html

 

[brightspark]

horizontal not a lot of use unless it has the vertical attachment with it getting one will be expensive . height is limited so is the speed and theres no quill feed with them

 

[addjunkie]

Bridgeport wins hands down.....a horizontal mill is very very limited and the vertical head will be daft money as said, if you can find one.

 

[Shox Dr]

BP, every day. And I have 3 TS. And two of them are for sale

 

[Mintums]

Thanks for all the information, the Bridgeport in case no one guessed is here.. http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/191872924680

Doc Shox, I'll drop you a message if that's okay if you have a couple up for grabs.

Rich

 

[Maker]

Bridgeport. I've got a horizontal (Not a TS but similar) with a knuckle head and I has about 8 inches between the table and the spindle.

 

[tinman123]

same as everyone else, id take the bridgeport all day long unless i had a specfic purpose for the TS.

 

[Geoffm]

I had a TS with the vertical head. I sold it as it didn't have enough daylight under the spindle. I actually preferred my last father in laws RF30 round column drill mill. I also had an old Denbiegh horizontal flat belt drive machine which I still have.
I now have a Chinese made horizontal/ vertical mill (similar to http://czjyjc.en.made-in-china.com/...l-and-Vertical-Milling-Machine-ZX6350ZA-.html).
I actually use the horizontal a bit. It is good for drilling the side of blocks or boring. hell I could get by without the horizontal spindle, it is nice to have and worth looking soomething with both in a home shop.
I would get the Bridgeport any day instead of the TS if you can move it and have the space.

 

[ronan]

Bridgeport. I've got a horizontal (Not a TS but similar) with a knuckle head and I has about 8 inches between the table and the spindle.

With the tom seniors, people make up a spacer that fits under the body of the machine, it gives more travel in the z-axis.

 

[Newlands]

Two days to go and still quite a low price on that Bridgeport. Looks as though it will clean up pretty well, though it amazes me why people don't at least clean the chips off these things before they take the photos! Good luck if you're bidding on it.

 

[ronan]

Buying a machine tool is like buying a car etc online, you really want to give it a good looking over before parting with cash.

 

[Shox Dr]

Thanks for all the information, the Bridgeport in case no one guessed is here.. http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/191872924680

Doc Shox, I'll drop you a message if that's okay if you have a couple up for grabs.

Rich

No problem.

 

[tinman123]

Thanks for all the information, the Bridgeport in case no one guessed is here.. http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/191872924680

Doc Shox, I'll drop you a message if that's okay if you have a couple up for grabs.

Rich

the one thing it ill have gong for it is it wont end up too dear but if it wasnt far from you id have a look at it before id buy, just in case.

it depends on how precise you want to get with it re your planned work.
the ways will be worn on it and there will be play, you will be able to reduce that play somewhat but you wont knock it all out of it all the same.
same with the lead screws, they will have backlash, how much there is in them you would want to get the feel of it, again the backlash can be reduced but you wont eliminate it totally unless you replace the brass nuts.
and then there is the qull/spindle and if there is any play in that, and what it sounds like when its running.
that mill will be a good age and will have seen a lot of work in its time, id be slightly suspicious of the swarf on the table as it looks like to me that there is a lot of marks/mistakes on it, the swarf can cover up a lot of mistakes.
she is the earlier version with the changeable belts where as the later one has a variable drive, of course they get a lot dearer with that option so your not going to get one of them unless its horrid tired for the same kind of money.

bear in mind any parts for that girl arent cheap, a pair of spindle bearings will run into hundreds (many) alone but if your happy enough not to be getting too precise and the fact its not too far away then it might suit your needs.