Everything is at a price point, but I would not buy a mill just because it is a special deal but you will quickly grow out of it. If you want a mill to just play around with occasionally that is fine, but do not expect a 2 speed variable speed mill with 1Hp to be boring large holes with it.
You also need to think beyond the speeds and what you are going to be putting on the table, i.e. travel/size. If you look at most purposely built variable speed mills and lathes, in many cases they are 2 or sometimes have 3 speed ranges, the motors are usually oversized to compensate for torque/Hp drop fall off across the operating range. If you are going to do just high speed work, then the PM727 variable speed would be a good choice, if you want/need low speed capability then you I would recommend looking into something like the PM-30MV, which has a 2Hp motor and a slightly bigger working envelope. The PM-930MV runs off of 220V, so you need to factor if that is available, but the difference in performance will be significant at a small increase in cost (about $250 over the PM-927M). Personally I feel 6 speeds is somewhat limiting getting the sweet spot for different materials, and you are limited by both the low and high speed range. Getting a fixed gear mill and adding variable speed will not be cost effective, you are limited by the Hp of the motor. Gear heads are also very noisy and there are other high speed limitations, most variable speed "conversions" entail a two speed belt drive and removing the gear drive.
This is a great reply with some clearly sage advice. I appreciate your input, and I agree with it although I have some limitations that make it so that I do have to make some compromises.
For one, your description of "you want a mill to just play around with occasionally that is fine" is exactly right, that is exactly my usage case. I'm no pro, just dick around with stuff in my garage. This is a toy for me. I do not expect to bore large holes. (a HUGE hole to me is 2")
We've been discussing the torque issue, my plan is to convert the mill myself and if I do, I can put a pretty stout motor on it. I'm glad you say that if I'm intending to mess around at high speed with aluminum that the 727 with variable speed is a good choice, bacuse that's my situation exactly.
I will enjoy being able to slow it down and slot a steel bar occasionally, but that's about as far as I'd go with steel. For me, the 727 represents quite a weight increase from "mini mills" and should handle my "hard metal" projects pretty well. If I really needed a "real" mill I'd buy one of these Craigslist Bridgeports with all the feeds and stuff for $5k.
I mean, milling for me right now means using the miserable milling attachment on my craptastic HF lathe, I did it one time and now I'm shopping mills. . .
However, I do understand and agree with the idea that a "deal" should not preclude buying the right machine.
The fact is, I'd probably be pretty happy with the home-converted 727m, I think, but some things you point out really get me thinking:
My needs/limitations are:
-I need to be able to move it myself, but PM 727 is 475 lbs. and PM30MV is 530 lbs, not a huge difference. Both will need a crane or disassembly for me to move.
-Don't wish to afford the space for knee mill. 30mv is about 7 inches wider, I could afford that.
-Want to work aluminum, and plus bascially everyone says get the variable speed.
So if it were apples to apples, the comparison would be:
PM727V (the upcoming variable speed model) at 1799 vs the PM30MV at 1899. Geez, 100 bucks is nothing here- obviously get the bigger mill!
And also, if you look at the ad copy, they state:
- More Information below under the DESCRIPTION Tab below – It is NOT just the same old model with just a belt drive upgrade – Be sure to compare carefully
Well, here's the thing- I might be wrong, but from the pics I've seen and from emails from PM the new PM727V
IS just the same mill as the M version, but with variable speed drive. I don't even think it gets belt conversion at all! (The pic shows the gearbox controls are still there. . .)
So maybe running a gearbox really really fast isn't a good idea, and it's noisy! I love quiet machines, and in my expereince, they get used and enjoyed more.
So now let me let the other shoe drop.
The original deal was that I called looking for the PM727M, and also inquired if any "discount" machines are available, and indeed, they had one 727M that was a return, and was partially disassembled. PM offered the mill as is, for a substantial discount.
It was what I wanted, and although the new PM727V was to come out this very week, it was over $600 more than my "discount" mill would be.
At that price, it was attractive to buy it, put it back together, and use the savings to put on better motor and controller than what the factory version offered. That was my plan. No warranty, though.
However, I'm starting to wonder if that deal will go through or if they've thought better of it.
Futher, if my suspicion is correct and the PM727V actually retains the gearbox and runs it fast, then maybe an even-faster conversion is unwise, and will surely make the kind of noise I hate. . .
So, if the cheap mill falls through or if I decide against it, then at full price, it's pretty obvious you go with the larger, belt driven mill.
More money, yes, but better, quieter, mill, with warranty, less assembly required= shorter route to making chips!
You Sir, may have just saved me from a grievous error. If the cheap mill is off the table, or even if it isn't, I'll probably be happier withthe larger mill.
Yes, more money- but when I buy, the pain of letting the cash go is temporary and quickly forgotten. The pain of spending all your scrill and not getting what you want is long lived, and will confront you every time you turn the machine on or even look at it, ask me how I know this. . .
Belt drive is a biggie
Already ran 240v for my Unisaw
Damn, I was really looking at using my savings to tool up, but this MKSJ character has me going back to the drawing board. . . off to really look close at PM30MV
Dude, if you're a PM shill you're a great one. . . heh heh!
