- Joined
- Oct 28, 2024
- Messages
- 47
Hello Folks,
Well, I took the plunge. I was originally looking for something larger but I've spent the last month doing lots of research, and it turns out that my needs are now slightly different than my wants. Plus the available space in my tool room has decreased substantially (long story), plus other personal family matters have impinged on my ability to transport heavy machinery.
I know this is heresy to some, but I've decided that I'd rather start with smaller-scale equipment that I can more easily transport and fit, based on my existing limitations. This will allow me to get (and fit) both a mini-lathe and mini-mill and start making chips sooner, lol. I understand the limitations that this will place on what I can and cannot do, but fortunately my goals all along were always limited to automotive-related detail items such as bushings, brackets, wire/hose clamps, etc. Should the time come where I've determined I need something larger and heavier to accomplish those tasks, well, as my brother is fond of saying, I'll burn that bridge when I get to it.
Yesterday I stumbled upon a CL ad and contacted the seller, who I met with today. He is a very experienced elderly machinist and has a nice collection of machine tools filling his two-car garage. He had a MX-210 lathe and HiTorque 6500 Bench Mill for sale, both mounted securely to tool chest stands. He has owned them for three years and has extensively upgraded and modified both of them. They are both in excellent condition, and as @matthewsx commented in an earlier thread, he has done all of the hard work involved in bringing these machines up to snuff. Both machines are equipped with DROs. Plus, he has a ton of accessories and tooling that go with the machines. And he has a thumb drive database chock full of detailed descriptions of every modification and upgrade performed, and observations of operational characteristics of both machines, along with every bit of documentation that came with them, plus a bunch of Internet-sourced info pertraining to both of these machines. Plus his assurance that I can call him anytime I need any advice about running or adjusting these machines.
We spoke for a little over an hour and I agreed to purchase the complete package. We agreed on a package price of $2500, which I feel is fair based on everything involved. I may not need the bench stands, in which case I can turn them around for a couple hundred each. It may not be what some folks consider a smokin' deal, but I still think I got a lot of value for the money. I hope to have the machines in my garage by the beginning of next week.
MX-210 Lathe:
HiTorque 6500 Bench Mill:
Well, I took the plunge. I was originally looking for something larger but I've spent the last month doing lots of research, and it turns out that my needs are now slightly different than my wants. Plus the available space in my tool room has decreased substantially (long story), plus other personal family matters have impinged on my ability to transport heavy machinery.
I know this is heresy to some, but I've decided that I'd rather start with smaller-scale equipment that I can more easily transport and fit, based on my existing limitations. This will allow me to get (and fit) both a mini-lathe and mini-mill and start making chips sooner, lol. I understand the limitations that this will place on what I can and cannot do, but fortunately my goals all along were always limited to automotive-related detail items such as bushings, brackets, wire/hose clamps, etc. Should the time come where I've determined I need something larger and heavier to accomplish those tasks, well, as my brother is fond of saying, I'll burn that bridge when I get to it.
Yesterday I stumbled upon a CL ad and contacted the seller, who I met with today. He is a very experienced elderly machinist and has a nice collection of machine tools filling his two-car garage. He had a MX-210 lathe and HiTorque 6500 Bench Mill for sale, both mounted securely to tool chest stands. He has owned them for three years and has extensively upgraded and modified both of them. They are both in excellent condition, and as @matthewsx commented in an earlier thread, he has done all of the hard work involved in bringing these machines up to snuff. Both machines are equipped with DROs. Plus, he has a ton of accessories and tooling that go with the machines. And he has a thumb drive database chock full of detailed descriptions of every modification and upgrade performed, and observations of operational characteristics of both machines, along with every bit of documentation that came with them, plus a bunch of Internet-sourced info pertraining to both of these machines. Plus his assurance that I can call him anytime I need any advice about running or adjusting these machines.
We spoke for a little over an hour and I agreed to purchase the complete package. We agreed on a package price of $2500, which I feel is fair based on everything involved. I may not need the bench stands, in which case I can turn them around for a couple hundred each. It may not be what some folks consider a smokin' deal, but I still think I got a lot of value for the money. I hope to have the machines in my garage by the beginning of next week.
MX-210 Lathe:
HiTorque 6500 Bench Mill:
Attachments
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