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milling machine $2000

Cambridge, ON

s-l640.webp
 
Looks like a nice machine. Pity about the bed. Although as stated it is a good spot to mount the vice!
 
Seller is out of town until Wednesday, asked him this morning to see the mill Thursday. any suggestions on what I should be looking for?
 
check for:

abnormal wear - like you can move the table against the gibs
Excessive back lash - over 0.050"
table can have "marks" but should not look like a golf ball - it has lots of drilling in the center area, that may not affect 6" vice or larger table milling
seller confesses some issues (quill spring, table etc) make sure that is the only issues
why selling? Is it "too worn out" may be an indication it is not a hobby machine but a restoration - PITA project
It is a clone - looks to have a 4" riser

If you can check spindle run out - might be a decent machine

Additional tooling???
 
Yes, so that is the research - how close is it to a BP clone? seems like it is very close? most bearings are standard - not very may totally obscure - I hear you @gmihovics - might be a pass - could be a good deal if seller drops price and thigs are more accessible??
 
I'll have to take a look for sure. the other nice thing about this deal is he is offering to load, transport and offload for $0.50/km. I live a little ways away but that's still less than I would pay to rent a trailer to transport it myself. That's probably the most tempting part haha.
 
gmihovics said:
Seller is out of town until Wednesday, asked him this morning to see the mill Thursday. any suggestions on what I should be looking for?
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I'd add the following to what @Brent H said.

Gibs and backlash can probably be fixed with big $. But I'd run away from worn out or damaged ways as fast as possible. Lift those way covers and have a boo under there.

Looks like a pulley Clone. Easier to install a VFD and VFD rated motor. Also very high probability of common parts with Bridgeport with lots of places selling parts. Worst issue I hit was the bull gear timing belt and gears. But even that got looked after from another supplier.

Devcon plastic steel can do wonders for a table with pecker marks on it.
 
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The ways will definitely be something I look into, thanks. The machine was already converted to 120v so luckily I don't have to worry about that right now.

I did a little googling this weekend the consensus is devcon plastic steel like you suggested so that will likely be how I go.
 
gmihovics said:
I'll have to take a look for sure. the other nice thing about this deal is he is offering to load, transport and offload for $0.50/km. I live a little ways away but that's still less than I would pay to rent a trailer to transport it myself. That's probably the most tempting part haha.
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50 cents/km is a GREAT Price. That's what government paid for mileage and depreciation 20 years ago.
 
gmihovics said:
ok great, that is all really useful. I am a little concerned that I can't find any information let alone parts for this mill other than what's on http://www.lathes.co.uk/rossi/. Makes me worry that I won't be able to repair some issues like the quill.
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Quill spring is not a difficult fix, if a Bridgeport one isn't a perfect fit I'm sure it could be easily adapted. They are a coil of flat spring steel and something one could make if you really had to (like if you have an excello that takes a larger/stronger spring than a Bridgeport haha).
 
Rauce said:
Quill spring is not a difficult fix, if a Bridgeport one isn't a perfect fit I'm sure it could be easily adapted. They are a coil of flat spring steel and something one could make if you really had to (like if you have an excello that takes a larger/stronger spring than a Bridgeport haha).
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Hey @gmihovics , maybe you know this already, but I didn't until I got my two mills.

The quill clock spring is not supposed to lift the quill like it does on a drill press or small mill. It is only supposed to balance the weight so the quill stays put when you let go of the handle.

As a total side note unrelated to your potential purchase, I hate the way that the weight of the tiny quill lock handle tends to lock the quill on its own. So I reversed mine which puts the handle at the back but it works great - lift to lock. Someday I'll make a Quill lock with a left hand thread that works from the front.
 
I went and took a look at the mill last week and it seemed like it was in great shape near as I could tell. I was in the middle of buying it when things on my end fell through. Seller had said a friend of his wanted to buy it but it might show up again on Kijiji.
 
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