Is a horizontal milling machine needed?

[wachuko]

Okay... just in case... I recently got a larger milling machine and lathe... Where I bought those machines they still have this Atlas MFC horizontal mill... Asking price is US$2,500.00

Knowing that I have no real specific use for any of these machines... I just want to learn and play with them... Is something like this needed? A must have? Or with what I have I should be happy and able to do anything that I want?

I guess the real question I should be asking, knowing that I have these machines:

• Grizzly G0704 with CNC conversion in progress
• HF 9"x20" Lathe
• Wells-Index 847 milling machine - that I have not made a single chip with... still going over it...
• Grizzly G0709 14"x40" lathe - yeah... still going over it as well...
• CUT50 Pilot Arc 50 Amp plasma cutter
• Hobart Handler 140 MIG Welder with gas shielding
• Eastwood 200 Amp DC TIG Welder (which can't do aluminum and still have not been used)
• Couple of drill presses - one benchtop and one floor mount
• Wen 3975T 4-7/8-inch x 5-inch Metal-Cutting Benchtop Band Saw with homemade table adapter - this has been an amazing purchase. Using it a lot.
• Angle grinder
• Metal cutting chop saw
• Several bench grinders with Norton aluminum oxide wheels, 3M deburring wheel, buffing wheels, etc. I still need to make a tool grinding post for one of them...
• HF 12 Ton H-Frame Floor Shop Press
• Air compressor

What is another must-have machine that I should be looking to get next? As far as tools, I have David's list (Machine Tooling Get Started List January2022) that is a great guide to what I am missing on that front... I am asking if I am missing a must-have machine?

 

[woodchucker]

no, it's not a must have. And that price is full price..
it's nice to have a horizontal, but that's a small unit, and not capable of what a horizontal can really do or is capable of.
That's just my opinion. If you have money to burn, sure.. if you're like the mere mortals you can spend you money better equipping the Wells.
Tooling being #1.

 

[wachuko]

no, it's not a must have. And that price is full price..
it's nice to have a horizontal, but that's a small unit, and not capable of what a horizontal can really do or is capable of.
That's just my opinion. If you have money to burn, sure.. if you're like the mere mortals you can spend you money better equipping the Wells.
Tooling being #1.

That was the feedback I was looking for. Thank you.

So as far as machines, I should be fine then.

 

[Aaron_W]

You have a lathe and a vertical mill, those are the must have tools. Shapers, horizontal mills, line boring machines etc are interesting and have some areas where they excel so a well equipped shop may desire to have some of these other machines but a lathe and vertical mill can pretty much do it all.

A horizontal mill tends to be more solid than a similarly sized vertical mill, but you have a very beefy vertical mill, so you would have to be looking at something in the 4000-6000lb range to see an improvement, not a 300lb Atlas. Horizontal mills are good for removing a lot of material, and can be better for cutting slots, keyways, making gears etc but a case of where it may be easier rather than things a vertical mill can't do.

$2500 is not unheard of for those Atlas mills but it is at the upper end of pricing. Atlas and Benchmaster demand far higher prices, but there are a lot of less well known small horizontal mills that can often be found pretty cheap (under $1000).
I have a slightly larger Diamond horizontal mill that I picked up for $700 with 3 Rubbermaid totes full of tooling. In my case I have a small vertical mill so the small horizontal mill complements it nicely.

In your case you may find some tasks where a small horizontal mill would be useful, but it would really just be a niche tool.

 

[wachuko]

Thanks @Aaron_W

 

[ErichKeane]

Based on your list, a surface grinder is probably a great addition/expansion of capabilities. You might consider a 6x12 or a 6x18 one along with some sort of hardening-kiln.

 

[ericc]

Not at that price. Aaron has some good advice above. Get an off-brand, or even a no-name. I have a Burke look alike, which is not quite a Burke. It is very similar, though, and matches the most closely to this well known brand. There is not a single bit of text anywhere on the mill. Doesn't matter. It is just great. The only things I miss are no vertical functionality and cheap cutters. Those horizontal cutters can become costly.

 

[cjtoombs]

You have a lathe and a vertical mill, those are the must have tools. Shapers, horizontal mills, line boring machines etc are interesting and have some areas where they excel so a well equipped shop may desire to have some of these other machines but a lathe and vertical mill can pretty much do it all.

A horizontal mill tends to be more solid than a similarly sized vertical mill, but you have a very beefy vertical mill, so you would have to be looking at something in the 4000-6000lb range to see an improvement, not a 300lb Atlas. Horizontal mills are good for removing a lot of material, and can be better for cutting slots, keyways, making gears etc but a case of where it may be easier rather than things a vertical mill can't do.

$2500 is not unheard of for those Atlas mills but it is at the upper end of pricing. Atlas and Benchmaster demand far higher prices, but there are a lot of less well known small horizontal mills that can often be found pretty cheap (under $1000).
I have a slightly larger Diamond horizontal mill that I picked up for $700 with 3 Rubbermaid totes full of tooling. In my case I have a small vertical mill so the small horizontal mill complements it nicely.

View attachment 400710


In your case you may find some tasks where a small horizontal mill would be useful, but it would really just be a niche tool.

Is that an M20? I just bought one and I'm going through it now. The first mill I bought was a Diamond B12, it was a learning experience as it was completely worn out and missing a lot of parts. I still have it, and I'm still thinking about rebuilding it, but it's not near the front of the list right now.

 

[Firebrick43]

Horizontals really shine (as far as manual machines) for removing large amounts of material fast and milling grooves. As the specialized spiral milling cutters are not in common and the cutters are getting to be high priced. Resharpening is also becoming a hassle.

 

[MikeInOr]

I wouldn't bite on that Atlas horizontal mill at $1250 and I am not sure I would even be tempted at $800.