Looking for my perfect size hobby mill....

[Mr Mike]

You will likely go through the same process of debating how far to go when buying all the "necessary" accessories. Recommended lists have been posted here by people that have long experience. They are good starting points. Buy as needed!

Good thinking I do need to start looking into this.

LOL I tried to click on the word " here " in your statement above " Recommended lists have been posted here " because I thought it was a link to an accessories thread I should look at... I'm clicking it and its not working, then it dawns on me you mean here in the forums... I was thinking there was a specific thread for it, I'm such a butt head.

Thanks, Mike.

 

[Larry$]

Check out David Best's forum posts for his recommendations on what to add to your lathe & mill.

 

[Mr Mike]

I looked at all kinds of diff brands online like Weiss & others, looked on offer up - craigslist, 1 person has a grizzly G0704 7x27 base model with no tooling near by asking $1400.00 - new there $1800.00, Id give him maybe $1200.00 then sell it cheap as an education loss after getting my feet wet, but don't want to insult him either... He is selling it to upgrade to a bigger mill. no idea of the state of the machine. -> Link to Offer Up G0704

I didn't find any mills that were within 250 miles of me @ 1000 lbs. or less, bunch of really nice looking Knee Mills @ 2k Lbs, but I have no way to move something that heavy myself...

Somewhat of an unproductive weekend, No rush ill keep looking..

 

[matthewsx]

I looked at all kinds of diff brands online like Weiss & others, looked on offer up - craigslist, 1 person has a grizzly G0704 7x27 base model with no tooling near by asking $1400.00 - new there $1800.00, Id give him maybe $1200.00 then sell it cheap as an education loss after getting my feet wet, but don't want to insult him either... He is selling it to upgrade to a bigger mill. no idea of the state of the machine. -> Link to Offer Up G0704

I didn't find any mills that were within 250 miles of me @ 1000 lbs. or less, bunch of really nice looking Knee Mills @ 2k Lbs, but I have no way to move something that heavy myself...

Somewhat of an unproductive weekend, No rush ill keep looking..

If you have the space for a knee mill you can figure out how to move it when the time comes. Honestly, it’s no easier to move a 600lb machine than one twice as heavy. You only have to move it once, you’ll be working with it for years so go with what is best for your needs and budget.

John

 

[Aukai]

How far is the driveway to placement?

 

[wachuko]

I looked at all kinds of diff brands online like Weiss & others, looked on offer up - craigslist, 1 person has a grizzly G0704 7x27 base model with no tooling near by asking $1400.00 - new there $1800.00, Id give him maybe $1200.00 then sell it cheap as an education loss after getting my feet wet, but don't want to insult him either... He is selling it to upgrade to a bigger mill. no idea of the state of the machine. -> Link to Offer Up G0704

I didn't find any mills that were within 250 miles of me @ 1000 lbs. or less, bunch of really nice looking Knee Mills @ 2k Lbs, but I have no way to move something that heavy myself...

Somewhat of an unproductive weekend, No rush ill keep looking..

Drop deck trailer and a pallet jack…. That is all that I used to bring the big machines home. I had never done this. I was so surprised how easily the pallet jack moved the 3,000+ lbs milling machine

 

[Mr Mike]

How far is the driveway to placement?

The driveway has a medium incline, so unloading is at street level... not far only like 50' to where it will sit - I don't have a bunch of friends to help push, no way I can pull 2k lbs. up the driveway by my self... had a hella time just getting the 1236T up the driveway with two people and a pallet jack...

we have a drop trailer & Pallet jacks at work I can use.... getting a mill to the foot of the driveway, not an issue, anything tall and narrow on a pallet jack would be scary going up the driveway, A 1200 lb. bench mill without stand tethered to a pallet is doable with 4 people.

No access to a fork lift, unless I rent one.

 

[Mr Mike]

lol going to go look at that 7x27 from "offer up " after work, I offered him 1,200, and he wants me to come see it... not my forever machine, if its in decent shape I can sell it after I get some knowledge and insight going.

 

[wrmiller]

I sold these, and a ton of high-quality accessories and metrology stuff to a retiring airline pilot when I got sick and didn't think I would make it to the end of the year. One of the stupidest things I have ever done, and I regret it to this day. Oh well, stuff happens.

The guy shows up for 3 days with a bunch of wood and makes 4x4 pallets and crating for the machines. I also gave him the 2T hoist that I bought/used when I bought the machines to get them on the pallets. He had a trucking company show up with a lifting gate truck and load up the machines.

Who knows, maybe you'll run across something like this in the near future.

Good luck in your search!

 

[Aaron_W]

lol going to go look at that 7x27 from "offer up " after work, I offered him 1,200, and he wants me to come see it... not my forever machine, if its in decent shape I can sell it after I get some knowledge and insight going.

Assuming it is in decent shape $1200 isn't a bad price, particularly if he includes any tooling. These are decent size garage mills, so if you are satisfied with the size that could push you towards the 728VT and save a bit of floor space. The 728 actually has a greater capacity than the PM25 or 704 despite being nominally the same size.

If you find the size limiting, then you know to go forward with the 833T or 932.

At $1200-1400 you shouldn't lose much if anything on resale. Something to look at is the drive, a conversion to belt drive is a common upgrade that would add value. Grizzly sells these with a DRO as the 759 adding about $1000 to the price.