Which mill to buy?

[Tiggy_dorset]

Second hand, but those cavities didn't grow in the casting and the marks are all original tooling - there's no wear on the machine anywhere which is no surprise since the base is twisted and the Y-slide either binds like crazy or wobbles.

They look like they have been attacked with a grinder

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

If you are tight on space the Swedish Arboga machines are very good quality, actually a combined mill & drill they nevertheless do a fine job of milling.

Looking at some pictures, some of them look quite tidy. None on ebay though. Do you know of any suppliers for Arboga machines?

 

[Shox Dr]

I may come across as being picky and choosy, I am sorry, but I can assure I do value everyones input so far. I am trying to weigh up so many variables.
Thanks again.

Not at all. It's a big purchase for a lot of people, and something you can easily get wrong.

However you have turned a corner by forgetting the R.O.C. rubbish. Just remember it's not a race. there's no prize for buying the first thing that you see.

 

[ronan]

Are the quills in the Senior's and Harrison's stationary or can they be used for drilling as on a standard vertical? Im not too familiar with the horizontal machines.

The quill can be raised and lowered on the tom senior in the ebay link, on mine it cannot, but then i have a nice progress drill for drilling holes. Look around and see whats out there , there are always few small mills on fleabay.

 

[Pete.]

They look like they have been attacked with a grinder

Yes, they have. Gib adjuster slots cut with a hacksaw too so the gib can move which means it's sloppy one way and binds solid the other.

 

[stormin]

I think you'll find the Chester 626 machine is basically a Chinese clone of the Elliot omnimill I linked to earlier but without the horizontal facility.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Elliott-OO-Omnimill-vertical-and-horizontal-milling-machine-home-workshop-/190832505130?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c6e80f12a

If I didnt have a milling machine already I would be considering that Elliot strongly. Near Bridgeport versatility, with a much smaller over all size. Head tilts and over-arm swivels in plan. Quill feed on a handle. Table x axis power feed. It's also got the proper horizontal spindle facility.

http://www.lathes.co.uk/elliottmillers/page2.html

http://www.lathes.co.uk/elliottmillers/page6.html

Yes you'll need an inverter or phase converter to run it, but three phase machines run smoother and give a better finish. Inverter drive will give you a far greater range of usable speeds without the hassle of changing belt position on the pulleys Single phase motors dont take kindly to a starting and stopping as you would when machining items. You could end up needing a ready supply of capacitors.

 

[stormin]

The Harrison has a fixed spindle - I think there was a vertical head made with quill feed, but that'll be a ''saved search' on eBay.....

You'll find one right next to the rocking horse poo and the hens teeth! If one does come up you'll pay more than you did for the mill itself.

I've seen few frankenstein creations with a bridgeport or clone head grafted onto the end of the overarm.

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

Hmmm the Elliot looks a solid bit of kit. That would be a complete PITA to get into my workshop. I would also have to rip out a large chunk of my workshop for it to fit. If it came in at a good price though, it just might be worth the tears and pain in getting it into place.

I am keeping my eye on it for sure.
Cheers

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

Anyone have any thoughts to the quality of these machines and whats a worthwhile bid, roughly?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300897169460&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123

 

[hareng]

Variable Tiggy whether good or not, they have gone out of fashion lately due to the round column but that has its advantages.
If can live with round column and find a good one they will be much better than the dearer VM16, 18 and quiet too. That Alpine is probably an 80's machine as they changed the badging in 91.

Loads of places have been rebadging those Alpine for decades. Alpine, Clarke, Warco, Chester all same machines just naming a few.

I have a Clarke one kept as a backup last 9 years for when current chinese mill packs up. In saying that some of my best work has been done using the Clarke far more accurate than current Super Lux.

 

[ronan]

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/classifieds/view_ad.asp?ad=7500

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/classifieds/view_ad.asp?ad=7500

Thanks. Its probably been snapped up but I have emailed the seller to see.

 

[Pete.]

Anyone have any thoughts to the quality of these machines and whats a worthwhile bid, roughly?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300897169460&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123

That could be the twin brother of my old Warco, with added DROs. It's even the same colour - puke!

 

[Wallace]

Second hand, but those cavities didn't grow in the casting and the marks are all original tooling - there's no wear on the machine anywhere which is no surprise since the base is twisted and the Y-slide either binds like crazy or wobbles.

That really is awful, maybe we should have a thread for Warco walking war wounds! I found the Y axis gib on my Amadeal mill was in back to front and looks hand made like yours. I might scan the supplied accuracy report and post it on here for a giggle.

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

Looks like I bought myself a mill

 

[scottmk1]

What did you get? I have an Axminster round column one and the next will definitely be a dovetail column.

 

[brightspark]

What did you get? I have an Axminster round column one and the next will definitely be a dovetail column.

the problem with round column u cant lower the table and keep the same settings without loosing them

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

This one. One that Stormin spotted. Hopefully it wont be a lot to get it up and running.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Beaver-Mi...EXNsTeUj79MTsAUc8e3yI%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

[astro_al]

Blimey, 400?, for a few tenners more you could have my bridgeport... And I can load it for you.

Am I helping? Good luck with it anyway. Al.

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

A bridgeport would have been my first choice if I had the space for one, and I would have never needed to start this thread. Space is my limitation, unfortunately. The beaver looks to be the perfect size for my workshop (until i get there and its twice the size of a house).

Hopefully it is a better deal than my first intention of spending £1200 on a chinese machine.