New here, purchasing a used Mill. HELP!

GunsOfNavarone

GunsOfNavarone

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Hello guys and girls. I'm brand new here and have already found a ton of helpful info here. I need something from y'all...all y'all?? Anyway, what I really need is about 4 of you to come over and help me move this mill I'm buying into my garage, short of that I really need advice.
The mill. It's a circa 1979 JET-16 In literally BRAND NEW condition with after market DRO'S ON X, Y & Z. I'll post pictures...but I know very little in full on mills (I'm comfortable on drill presses. What am I looking for? Worn out what, wobble in what? Etc...
I REALLY APPRECIATE any advice! This is a fine deal as long as he still has it in 3 days when I can show up with a uhaul trailer, I have NO IDEA how I'm physically going to get it home or in my garage!
Thanks!
Sean (GON)
 
Sounds like a good machine. If the pictures I found on Google were the right model, it looks to be a bench top model. Probably around 500lbs... It shouldn't be too bad to move, particularly with an engine hoist available. Lower it down on a furniture dolly and roll it about. Both from harbor freight for under $150 if you don't have one or someone you can borrow one from.

Another option is to bolt it to a pallet and use a pallet jack.

If it's a ramp trailer, a come along should easily pull it up the ramp.

You've got it easy. Come move my Bridgeport, then we'll talk. :)
 
GunsOfNavarone said:
Hello guys and girls. I'm brand new here and have already found a ton of helpful info here. I need something from y'all...all y'all?? Anyway, what I really need is about 4 of you to come over and help me move this mill I'm buying into my garage, short of that I really need advice.
The mill. It's a circa 1979 JET-16 In literally BRAND NEW condition with after market DRO'S ON X, Y & Z. I'll post pictures...but I know very little in full on mills (I'm comfortable on drill presses. What am I looking for? Worn out what, wobble in what? Etc...
I REALLY APPRECIATE any advice! This is a fine deal as long as he still has it in 3 days when I can show up with a uhaul trailer, I have NO IDEA how I'm physically going to get it home or in my garage!
Thanks!
Sean (GON)
Click to expand...


If I looked at the same pics as @ttabbal, it will be heavy but a couple good strong guys should have no trouble moving it. As mentioned an engine hoist and four wheel dolly would be good. Without the engine hoist, 2 oak 4x4’s under the head and two guys to lift and one to steady the load, it will be front heavy, should be able to get it on a dolly. If it has a vise on the table that could come off to reduce weight, heck, you might even remove the table to further reduce the picking weight.
I’d be glad to help if I were in Colorado, I wish I was in Colorado, but I’m not.
Congrats on the find, looking forward to your pics of the move.
Good Luck
 
I just purchased an Enco 105. Similar machine to the Jet. I didn't have anyone to help so I used an engine hoist to lift it off the base, set in trailer and reverse procedure at my house. Worked perfectly. I used lifting straps I bought at Harbor Freight so as not to damage the machine. Tons and tons of information on these machines on the internet/YouTube etc... They are still made virtually unchanged and sold by multiple vendors.
 
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If you can remove the motor that will save some weight
Good time to invest in an engine hoist
Mark
 
Thanks everyone! I really need to know what to look for as far as worn out/damaged parts. What would YOU look for if you were buying a used mill?
P.s. It's 700 lbs. I will buy a shop crane (I have a Grizzly g0602 lathe coming soon as well)
 
What would I look for? Made in USA about 50 years ago! Seriously, I know that's simply not an option for a lot of us-
I would check the headstock and motor and check for excessive play, runout, noise, etc. in the spindle. Bearings can be expensive. Can the motor be wired for dual voltage? Is it a 3-phase machine? If so, add another 200$ or so for a VFD to run it.
Check the sliding surfaces for deep scores or wear patterns, also check for table travel: does it get tight at the ends of travel and loose in the middle? That's a good indication of wear.
Look for cracked cast iron parts- sometimes braze repairs are possible if all the parts are there but the price should be adjusted accordingly.
Good hunting
Mark
 
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I hear you about the American made. Sometime i search Craigslist or EBay for Vintage tools.....just love them. Coming across metal working tools like these, they are usually in BAD shape/not running and the weight is measured in tons (well, almost) when I buy new stuff, I have to make the decision of, would I like to have a lathe, mill & a butt load of tools for them, or one American made machine that I will be in debt for the next 4 years for....seriously.

Screenshot_2018-06-09-10-28-22_kindlephoto-225963490.png
 
That is the coolest lathe I've ever seen!

Sent from my Acer Chromebook R11 (CB5-132T / C738T) using Tapatalk
 
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