What type of Mill would compliment a SouthBend Lathe in a Home Workshop?

Nelson

Nelson

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If, for some reason (price, space, availability) you could not get a Bridgeport, would you go for the Grizzly G0619, the G0610, the G1007 or something else?

Also, what is the problem with "round-column" mills?

Thanks,



Nelson
 
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A lot can be done with a bench top but you will always be stretching its capabilities. I would go with a knee mill regardless if it is a cheap import or something top of the line. The versatility of knee mill will pay off in the long run.

Randy
 
I have the 1007 and happy with it so far. get the power feed with it, it's well worth it. would I like a knee mill, sure but shop is in the basement. Had to take the mill apart, carry it to basement and put back together. between my 1947 heavy 10 and this mill i'm satisfied for now. dro next project after the rifle rest
 
I am looking at the g0720r. I already have seperated the g0516 mill from my lathe and would love something larger.
But I may wait for a knee mill if I could only find one down here.
Or maybe the g0678?
 
One of those little Clausing knee mills would be my first choice behind a Bridgy. I looked one of them up, an 8520 is the basic type I would love to have. In fact, I am not so sure I would not prefer it to a Bridgport due to its smaller size, the ability to easily break it down for transport etc. Anyway, it would be near my top choice to be sure.

Another reason this machine would be high on my list of choices is the fact that it uses 2MT collets which the little Atlas I have already uses (less tooling to get started) plus, given my space issues here I could far easier accomodate a machine of that size than a Bridgeport. Not to mention the fact that in reality, I am a hobby shop guy and I could not justify the cost of a Bridgeport plus tooling simply for me to play around. I just have too many little obligations (3 in grade school) to allow for that at all. However, I might be able to unload enough of the toys, other tools or machines etc. to cover the expense of one of these machines.
 
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You may want to start checking your local Craigs lists. For less than the cost of a g0720r you can get a pretty decent knee mill. I got my Sharp 3/4 Bridgeport for $1000. I got a full size Bridgeport clone for $2200, with @a grand worth of tooling and a 2 axis DRO. The secret to CL deals is checking several time a day and acting. Good deals on CL usually only last a few hours.
 
randyjaco said:
You may want to start checking your local Craigs lists. For less than the cost of a g0720r you can get a pretty decent knee mill. I got my Sharp 3/4 Bridgeport for $1000. I got a full size Bridgeport clone for $2200, with @a grand worth of tooling and a 2 axis DRO. The secret to CL deals is checking several time a day and acting. Good deals on CL usually only last a few hours.
Click to expand...

Very true, every last word. In my area milling machines rarely show up but when they do they are almost always high dollar. Lathes, not so much. Every so often a decent home shop machine will show up for good money.
 
Houston is not the greatest place to get equipment, because buyers from Mexico buy up the good stuff very quickly. But look what turned up today http://galveston.craigslist.org/tls/2658994078.html
It won't last long but what it is a Select Mill for $1750. It is both a horizontal and vertical mill with a 6 month old Newall 3 axis DRO, So what you get is a free mill for the cost of a high end DRO. The deals are there, you just be diligent about finding them. I have furnished my whole shop totally of CL deals.

Randy
 
36" bridgeport would be my first choice.
brown&sharpe made a small 3/4 size mill with one piece base that weighed about 1000-1200lbs. odd collet system i believe..
Burke/Millrite..
Cincinnati also made a small mill, one of the toolmaster models i think..
Clausing 8520/8525/8530

people are proud of the 3/4 size vertical mills, you'll pay more for one of those than you would a full size vertical mill.


you need cash and be willing to travel.. i lucked out, i bought my mill 45minutes away from me.. i was going to end up having to drive to atlanta georgia, but a snow storm stopped me, then the local bridgeport fell in my lap...
 
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