UPDATE:
I went and saw the mills in posts #36 and #41.
Post #41 (Enco): I've decided, after seeing one in person, that an RF-31 is just too big. I took a look at it and thought, "I'm not really ever going to need that much table." The whole machine is also bigger than I thought it would be. The column is 4 5/8" in diameter, which confirmed for me that it was the bigger one. The Z-axis downfeed was underwhelming to me. The large bolts that are tightened to keep the head from rotating are not original, so the heads are a bit smaller and require you to wedge a screwdriver in there to keep them from rotating as you turn the bolt. The rotating vise is actually a compound slide off a lathe. Otherwise it was a nice machine. The seller was asking $925, I offered $800 and he didn't counter except to say he was firm, didn't really need to sell it and had a few others coming to look. He posted it awhile ago for $1,100 and got no takers, so he lowered the price and his getting more bites.
Post #36: what a mess! The seller has this at a friend's house. The seller took the motor, switch cover and switch lever off. He had them all on a plastic box, but his buddy lost the nuts for the motor bolts, the nuts for the bolts that are tightened to keep the head from rotating, and the top belt cover. The garage it was in was a total mess, so we had a hard time finding everything. He told me he took one of the lead-screws off. Not sure why he did this, but everything worked when I tested it. The machine was filthy; it was covered with a thick grime. The seller was using steel wool to get it off. The motor runs fine (it was wired, just not mounted on the machine), the main spindle bearing appears to be ok, but the middle pully bearing runs a little rough. This whole machine badly needs lubing. The handles on the tables looked melted. The rest of the handles were missing or had a bolt only. The spindle lock handle and downfeed handles were gone. These didn't appear to be similar to what I've usually seen on these mills so I'm wondering if it's "aftermarket" or a replacement. The downfeed axle was chewed up bad, so attaching another downfeed handle assembly will be an issue. A y-axis lock bolt on the side of the table was missing.
The label reads "Samson", so I'm not sure what this is equivalent to. The machine is painted green. The column was 4" in diameter which leads me to believe this is a smaller machine. It was on the ground, though, so maybe my perspective was off. It seemed much smaller than the bigger one. I think I may take another look at the next size down.
I told him I'd think about it. He was asking $750. I'm thinking of offering way less, given the condition. I'm thinking I could maybe get a new/used downfeed mechanism and spindle lock. I'd have to take the machine apart and clean and lube it. The top cover I could leave off. How hard is it to disassemble these machines? Are used parts even available? Or, I'll keep looking.
Thoughts?
It's less of a "rule" and more of a guide. There's a few sellers trying to sell lean, used mills for $1400 and up. They are priced way too high based on what I've seen sell over the past few weeks. Anything priced below $900 gets sold quickly. Theirs have been sitting for at least 5 weeks. That tells me that my guide is about right, since a new mill is about $1800-$2000. I think sellers on CL pad their prices, expecting people to offer less. We all want to think we are getting a good deal, so I assume they are padding it and offer less. I have nothing to lose; they can counter and I can accept or reject. I suppose it would be different if I lived outside a major metro area.
