Used mill inspection advice

[mmcmdl]

It looks clean and it looks to be temporarily wired to see/hear it run . While you are dealing with the owner , see if he would swap a Kurt vise instead of the BP vise . I think you would be happier .

 

[FTlatheworks]

I also wouldn't be too worried about checking runout. See if the spindle turns free and smooth. Of course if you can inspect under power listen to how it sounds, you'll know if the bearings are bad.

Looking at the machine in the picture, it has way covers, a hopeful sign the ways aren't too worn, but be sure to check them anyway.
It also looks pretty clean, but only a close up inspection will tell for sure.
There will probably be a fair amount of backlash as the machine has power feed so this shouldn't be a dealbreaker, especially if you plan to add DRO.

What about the price? That seems wild to me, but it appears to be clean from pictures. There is a YouTube video of the mill and it is one of the quietest I have ever heard running. I know a video is probably deceiving, but they engaged the power feed and it sounds very quiet.

 

[FTlatheworks]

Just my opinion and not sure if Kansas is a machine desert , but 7K seems like a lot for the machine . You could probably find a fully rebuilt BP from a good reputable company for that money .

It isn’t a desert per se, but it’s hard to find decent machines. I agree it seems wildly over priced. What would you counter?

 

[Eddyde]

What about the price? That seems wild to me, but it appears to be clean from pictures. There is a YouTube video of the mill and it is one of the quietest I have ever heard running. I know a video is probably deceiving, but they engaged the power feed and it sounds very quiet.

Yeah, the price seems very steep, about twice the high end of pricing for similar machines around here. Make an offer you think is fair, if they turn it down, wait till the they get more realistic, I doubt it will sell fast at that price.

 

[mmcmdl]

I've sold Bridgeports and clones anywhere from $2300-$3100 in the past . They all had lights , Kurts , power feeds and Accurite DROs , one shot , and mist systems . This was years ago . The lastest was a Chevalier mill with the above for $2500 last year .

 

[FTlatheworks]

I've sold Bridgeports and clones anywhere from $2300-$3100 in the past . They all had lights , Kurts , power feeds and Accurite DROs , one shot , and mist systems . This was years ago . The lastest was a Chevalier mill with the above for $2500 last year .

So if it was a lightly used mid 90s mill same as the one in these pictures what would you pay for it max?

 

[mmcmdl]

What would I pay for it ? Maybe 3K . You're going to have to install a DRO on it and you'll want to ditch the BP vise for a Kurt at a point . When I buy machines , I buy 4-5 at a time and get the discount rate .

 

[FTlatheworks]

What would I pay for it ? Maybe 3K . You're going to have to install a DRO on it and you'll want to ditch the BP vise for a Kurt at a point . When I buy machines , I buy 4-5 at a time and get the discount rate .

If you were the end buyer, what would you pay?

 

[mmcmdl]

If you were the end buyer, what would you pay?

3K . When it comes time for me to part with my BP , that's what I would sell it for .

 

[mmcmdl]

Also keep in mind , you're losing x axis travel being a 42" table and not a 48" . May not seem like much , but 6"s is 6"s !