Scored a powermatic/burke millright

woodtickgreg

woodtickgreg

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I am a truck driver for a roll forming company here in Michigan. The job takes me to many shops. One shop that I go to frequently had a powermatic/burke millright knee mill. I inquired about it and the shop foreman said it might be for sale and it hasn't been plugged in for many years as they had a Bridgeport in the shop as well. This was about 2 years ago, I made an offer and never heard anything. About 4 months ago the foreman approached me and said the owners were still wanting to sell the machine and would I still be interested in it, I said yes. 4 months goes buy and I still don't hear anything. One day I was at the shop making a delivery and the foreman was out sick, another employee and his helper took care of me. The older employee knew I had inquired about the mill again and asked if I had heard anything. I said no and told him my story and the history. His helper, a young kid, said hang on a minute and I'll be right back. He returned with a nice dressed man and said this is the owner and my dad. The owner knew me and the company that I work for. He asked if I was still interested in the mill, I said my offer would still stand, he accepted it and asked when I wanted to pick it up. My offer was $350.00. Well the rest is history and I now own the mill. It's in pretty good shape, table has a couple of small cutter marks but overall really nice shape. The knee won't go up or down but I can see the screw turning, so I don't think it is anything major.
This is how she looked as she sat in the shop unused for years.
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Loaded on my work truck to take back to my shop.
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We loaded it with a hi-lo and straps, I unloaded it with a crane at my companys shop. It is still at my work, I will take it apart to bring it home. I am going to see if a few guys can move the base if it is stripped, if we can then maybe we can get it into my basement shop.

20141209_104024.jpg 20141210_141700.jpg 20141210_141716.jpg 20141210_141814.jpg
 
That is quite a score, I have been looking for a mill for about a year 1/2 and looked at an old burke, which I really liked and thought I had a deal with the owner but it fell through, then it was a M-head bridgeport , which I was steered away from here ,Then a Lagun ...too much money. But now ...if you will deliver that for $400 I'd be real happy and you would make $50.....Nahh I actually found a nice J-head which a friend of mine is selling and with a little TLC it will be a fine addition to my shop. My biggest concern is moving it and I don't relish the idea.....I hope that you will post some more pictures after you have it set up. Santa was very good to you this Christmas ....
 
How has your Millrite working? I recently aquired one as well (I had to pay a bit more though!). It's a little older Burke model and I need to try to figure out how the horizontal attachment mounts.
 
Wow Greg, that's a score and a half!!!!

:man:

she's real pretty:drool:

please post sexy pic's(of the machine:jester:) when you get her home, i love machine porn!!!!
 
woodtickgreg said:
I am a truck driver for a roll forming company here in Michigan. The job takes me to many shops. One shop that I go to frequently had a powermatic/burke millright knee mill. I inquired about it and the shop foreman said it might be for sale and it hasn't been plugged in for many years as they had a Bridgeport in the shop as well. This was about 2 years ago, I made an offer and never heard anything. About 4 months ago the foreman approached me and said the owners were still wanting to sell the machine and would I still be interested in it, I said yes. 4 months goes buy and I still don't hear anything. One day I was at the shop making a delivery and the foreman was out sick, another employee and his helper took care of me. The older employee knew I had inquired about the mill again and asked if I had heard anything. I said no and told him my story and the history. His helper, a young kid, said hang on a minute and I'll be right back. He returned with a nice dressed man and said this is the owner and my dad. The owner knew me and the company that I work for. He asked if I was still interested in the mill, I said my offer would still stand, he accepted it and asked when I wanted to pick it up. My offer was $350.00. Well the rest is history and I now own the mill. It's in pretty good shape, table has a couple of small cutter marks but overall really nice shape. The knee won't go up or down but I can see the screw turning, so I don't think it is anything major.
This is how she looked as she sat in the shop unused for years.
View attachment 90217
Loaded on my work truck to take back to my shop.
View attachment 90218

View attachment 90219

View attachment 90220
We loaded it with a hi-lo and straps, I unloaded it with a crane at my companys shop. It is still at my work, I will take it apart to bring it home. I am going to see if a few guys can move the base if it is stripped, if we can then maybe we can get it into my basement shop.
Click to expand...

If the screw isn't turning might have a sheared key. Do you have a garage or basement shop? At least you have a heavy truck to haul it home.
 
Bill, the screw is turning when I crank the handle but it does not go up or down. I have not had time to mess with it, it is still at the shop where I work. I will have to take it apart to get it home and I will probably find out what the issue with the knee is at that time. I have a basement shop and this thing needs to go down there somehow. I'll get it in one way or another, and when I die someone else can figure out how to get it out! LOL.
 
Wow, I just checked the date on this thread. It has been 2 years since I purchased the mill, went through a bunch of crap in my life that got in the way of things. Divorced, had to move my shop and all of the equipment, etc. But the dust has settled from all of that, now I am in a new home and building my shops again. The cool thing is now my wood shop is separated from the metal shop. Both are in the basement, new basement has a toilet! The last piece of equipment to go down is the millright.
So how does one get a 1,500 lb. Ish machine into a basement by themselves? Stay tuned, more pics coming.........
 
4gsr said:
Hire your ex wife to help?

BTW- Welcome back!
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Ha Ha! Funny. No cuz she would be nagging, *****ing, and complaining the whole time!
I have been here, never really went away just lurked a little more. But I am getting real close to making chips again! And I have a much better shop too!
 
woodtickgreg said:
So how does one get a 1,500 lb. Ish machine into a basement by themselves? Stay tuned, more pics coming.........
Click to expand...

Gravity is on your side here. But stay out from below the machine, just in case gravity decides to take over.

I'd take it apart, since you are going to do that anyway to get it fixed and lubed and operating. The head comes off pretty easily, the table, the knee. You still have that heavy base casting, but less heavy than as a whole and not quite as top heavy. Lay some kind of flat surface over the steps or other protrusions, and skid each section down gently.

I've used skids, pipes, a come-along, and an engine hoist, and done ok. But never had to deal with steps into a basement.

Good luck, and take pictures.
 
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