Pondering a starter bench mill to start on.

[casca92]

starting my search for a decent entry level bench mill.
any Ideas of a good model to start looking for and possible tooling I will need to have at start up.


criteria to start with;
120 volt not to complicated to work on or find parts for.
able to find instructions for

 

[David S]

What types of things are you planning on working on, so we can better help with size.

David

 

[DAT510]

In addition to the type of work you want to do. Do you have Budget Range?

 

[Doodle]

https://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=3990

There is the link to the one that I would buy. I don't see a need for a tilting column. This one has a bolted on ridged column. With R8 collets and igaging digital readout added later, this one will do work you would be amazed at.

 

[ferlum]

https://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=3990

There is the link to the one that I would buy. I don't see a need for a tilting column. This one has a bolted on ridged column. With R8 collets and igaging digital readout added later, this one will do work you would be amazed at.

I have the HF version but wish I had bought this one. Agree the tilting column is unnecessary (and impractical). Angle blocks are much easier. I stiffened my column in a way that eliminated the tilting option and have never missed it once. I've also done the belt drive conversion and added DROs. The extra XY travel on the LMS version is significant, along with the better motor. I would have been farther ahead starting out with that one.

I'm not a master machinist but I've made hundreds, if not thousands, of parts with mine that are precise enough for the work I do. Mostly because of the DROs, but the the other upgrades were pretty much mandatory as well.

 

[crazypj]

I've got the small HF version but haven't used it in years (sent control board and all ancillary parts to 'Uncle Rabid few months before his heart attack so still missing a few bits) Bought the HF mill drill as I couldn't afford anything bigger or better. Filled lower end of small mill with hydraulic cement as it doesn't shrink when curing (or cured) May not have been the best stuff to fill with but I had some laying around after some 'underground' repairs. Also fitted 1/2" thick plate instead of the large washer on column. It was quite handy for very small parts but also very limiting for a lot of what I wanted to do

 

[mksj]

Depending on what you want to do (size), level of precision, features and budget will dictate mills available. These offer 120V operation, variable speed, R8 spindle, a decent speed range and travel for their size. Parts should be readily available, the first two are more mainstream/common and manuals/parts are listed.

http://www.precisionmatthews.com/shop/pm-727v/
http://www.precisionmatthews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PM-727M-12-2016-v2.indd_.pdf

http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0704
http://cdn0.grizzly.com/manuals/g0704_m.pdf

https://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=5500&category=1387807683

 

[casca92]

What types of things are you planning on working on, so we can better help with size.

David

gun parts- 3 wheeler parts nothing large with a starter mill.
Really would like to keep $1200 to $ 1400.
thanx

 

[casca92]

I have the HF version but wish I had bought this one. Agree the tilting column is unnecessary (and impractical). Angle blocks are much easier. I stiffened my column in a way that eliminated the tilting option and have never missed it once. I've also done the belt drive conversion and added DROs. The extra XY travel on the LMS version is significant, along with the better motor. I would have been farther ahead starting out with that one.

I'm not a master machinist but I've made hundreds, if not thousands, of parts with mine that are precise enough for the work I do. Mostly because of the DROs, but the the other upgrades were pretty much mandatory as well.

I like that Little machine shop high torque and price is extreme PLUS
thanx

 

[casca92]

https://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=3990

There is the link to the one that I would buy. I don't see a need for a tilting column. This one has a bolted on ridged column. With R8 collets and igaging digital readout added later, this one will do work you would be amazed at.

That is a good lead and it goes to TOP OF THE LIST.