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first mill??

MooseMeat

MooseMeat

Active Member
I have been contemplating a mill, I am almost completely lost on what mill to look for. I just want quality at an affordable price if that's even possible, I have found some real monsters on different forums but I'm not running a machine shop and have limited space.

Accuracy is key I'm thinking, I've looked at the Precision Mathews stuff but it's overpriced in my opinion, Is there a non China option out there, used is fine, I just don't want junk I have to make a million parts for to be 1/2 decent.

Can someone point me in the right direction?
Cheers...
 
Depending on where you’re located, the used market can turn up some real gems.
Helps to know what class of mill you’re looking at. Bench mill of knee mill?
 
David said:
Depending on where you’re located, the used market can turn up some real gems.
Helps to know what class of mill you’re looking at. Bench mill of knee mill?
Click to expand...
Hello there,
I'm located on Vancouver Island, I did see a used 2 ton monster of a mill for the same price some of the new foreign junk, and I mean junk.
Accurate, quiet and smooth, I really don't cake if it takes me 4 passes to do the same as 1 pass on a giant machine shop mill, I just want reasonable quality to make some "tight" parts.
 
whats your definition of accuracy ? are you talking 10 tho, 1 tho or 1/2 tho ?

what is a monster to you ? a bridgeport is 2000lbs, and thats considered an entry level knee mill

unless you are going old, everything in the realm of reality as it comes to affordability is asian sourced, including precision matthews
 
Never fear rust. There can be diamonds in the rough to be had for very good prices. Before looking for a mill decide on where it’s gonna go, can you move it.
 
MooseMeat said:
Hello there,
I'm located on Vancouver Island, I did see a used 2 ton monster of a mill for the same price some of the new foreign junk, and I mean junk.
Accurate, quiet and smooth, I really don't cake if it takes me 4 passes to do the same as 1 pass on a giant machine shop mill, I just want reasonable quality to make some "tight" parts.
Click to expand...
Hey where on the island? There’s a fair number of islanders here :)
 
phaxtris said:
whats your definition of accuracy ? are you talking 10 tho, 1 tho or 1/2 tho ?

what is a monster to you ? a bridgeport is 2000lbs, and thats considered an entry level knee mill

unless you are going old, everything in the realm of reality as it comes to affordability is asian sourced, including precision matthews
Click to expand...
yup that's a monster, saw one on FB marketplace for 3k, must have been 2000lbs, I'm just not in the know, it took me a while to find a nice lathe. I guess I'm asking, what would you buy that you could live with until the kids inherit all your stuff?
 
djberta said:
Never fear rust. There can be diamonds in the rough to be had for very good prices. Before looking for a mill decide on where it’s gonna go, can you move it.
Click to expand...
totally agree on the rust, my space 4ft wide, depth is more or less the same, I'll toss shit to make the room. ;)
 
Start out looking at the table size. It shoots out both sides. That will give you an idea of how much floor space it takes up. Bridgeports and the clones are handy but take up twice as much what most hobbists use. Of course the dream machine is a knee mill like a Bridgeport except they are only 3/4 size. And of course they are only available new .

I settled on a used dovetail column mill/drill , a Rong Fu 45.
 
Downwindtracker2 said:
Start out looking at the table size. It shoots out both sides. That will give you an idea of how much floor space it takes up. Bridgeports and the clones are handy but take up twice as much what most hobbists use. Of course the dream machine is a knee mill like a Bridgeport except they are only 3/4 size. And of course they are only available new .

I settled on a used dovetail column mill/drill , a Rong Fu 45.
Click to expand...
I just looked, foot print looks good too.
 
MooseMeat said:
yup that's a monster, saw one on FB marketplace for 3k, must have been 2000lbs, I'm just not in the know, it took me a while to find a nice lathe. I guess I'm asking, what would you buy that you could live with until the kids inherit all your stuff?
Click to expand...

bridgeport for 3k on the island...better start the car

if you dont have the room next up would be an rf45, if you cant find one of those a round column works with some planning (Z height issues)
 
phaxtris said:
bridgeport for 3k on the island...better start the car

if you dont have the room next up would be an rf45, if you cant find one of those a round column works with some planning (Z height issues)
Click to expand...
I didn't look at the make, it was huge, I was scared.........:)
 
For a first mill, a First is a good choice. :D

OK, couldn’t help myself on that one but seriously, a First LC 1 - 1/2 (Bridgeport pattern/“clone” is what I landed on after contemplating the cost of any new mini-mill/bench top and the capability a full size knee mill gives you for the same price or lower.

An aside here, around here “we” talk about Bridgeport clones, that means a machine, usually from Taiwan or, later China that was reverse engineered from a genuine Bridgeport. Some parts may even be interchangeable but if you know how to run a BP then you’ll find all the levers in the same place.

Point 2 is that the resale of a pre-owned full size mill should be about what you paid for it vs taking the depreciation on anything you buy new and grow out of. In my market not much comes up used so there were no options for bench tops etc. either.

For me it was a no brainer when my First showed up on kijiji and I have no regrets.

Keep tossing out the questions, the inhabitants of this place will be happy to help you spend your $ and give you enough good info to make a good choice!

D :cool:
 
Downwindtracker2 said:
And the ram shoots out the back on a Bridgeport.

The Canadian made Excello bridgeport clone is a gem.
Click to expand...
I just looked, a bit too big for my little shop,
MooseMeat said:
whatever comes up, I actually would like to make a fishing reel in the future, but really I just like learning and making things.
Click to expand...
I like the P Mathews, size wise it looks good, "Blondi Hacks" just ended up with one in her latest video, with a power feed, it's the right size but the US dollar for this I really have issues with being a good deal, throw in shipping and exchange and now it's rather ridiculous in cost.
 
Tecnico said:
For a first mill, a First is a good choice. :D

OK, couldn’t help myself on that one but seriously, a First LC 1 - 1/2 (Bridgeport pattern/“clone” is what I landed on after contemplating the cost of any new mini-mill/bench top and the capability a full size knee mill gives you for the same price or lower.

An aside here, around here “we” talk about Bridgeport clones, that means a machine, usually from Taiwan or, later China that was reverse engineered from a genuine Bridgeport. Some parts may even be interchangeable but if you know how to run a BP then you’ll find all the levers in the same place.

Point 2 is that the resale of a pre-owned full size mill should be about what you paid for it vs taking the depreciation on anything you buy new and grow out of. In my market not much comes up used so there were no options for bench tops etc. either.

For me it was a no brainer when my First showed up on kijiji and I have no regrets.

Keep tossing out the questions, the inhabitants of this place will be happy to help you spend your $ and give you enough good info to make a good choice!

D :cool:
Click to expand...
Hey thank you,
I found a nice Taiwan lathe after 2 + years of searching and it was local, I'll just keep looking and asking questions, something will happen sooner or later.

Cheers
 
MooseMeat said:
Hey thank you,
I found a nice Taiwan lathe after 2 + years of searching and it was local, I'll just keep looking and asking questions, something will happen sooner or later.

Cheers
Click to expand...

That’s the thing, something will turn up when you’ve had the time to think it through and you’ill be able to jump on it.

Good hunting!

D :cool:
 
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