Which Milling Machine To Buy?

wrmiller19 said:
Here's a pic of my PM25 milling oiling galleys in the saddle of my 9x39 mill. This is the old model PM25 and near identical to the G0704. You can see the x-axis power feed on the left side of the table. Good little mill. :)

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That is a really nice mill. I am looking forward to getting mine!
 
Curtis said:
Thanks for the input Chuck. Yes, I am pretty much settled on the Grizzly or PM version of it. The hobby I am pursuing is making (or trying to make) Kozo Hiraoka's switchers (love the Shay!). One can do a remarkable amount of work on a 9 X 20 lathe, but a more capable "mill" than the Taig would be a real convenience. I really dislike the rotating column on the Taig which is so easily knocked out of tram, so there is another plus to the square (and fixed) column mill. I had considered one of those mini-mills such as you have, but it would not be much of a step up from the Taig in terms of size and work envelope. Glad you are happy with yours though! By the way; I am "a youngster" at age 61? Okay! You have me chuckling here.
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Curtis said:
Chuck, noting that your hobby is astronomy/making telescopes and that you are older than I am, I was wondering if you recall that (or were aware that) Edmund Scientific used to sell the do-it-yourself reflector telescope kits which included two round glass blanks for the mirror and an assortment of abrasive grits with which to grind the mirror? After doing this you had to send the finished blank somewhere to have it coated with aluminum or silver to make a parabolic mirror out of it. I was a kid back when they sold these kits and wasn't able to afford one of them back then. Sadly, no longer available after Edmund Scientific left Barrington, New Jersey.
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Oh yes, I not only remember poring over the 'ol Edmund catalogues as a kid, I have couple of Edmond telescopes and a slew of their rather excellent RKE eyepieces. I ground a 6" mirror which turned out OK but not great, as a kid I didn't have enough patience to be a glass pusher, still don't. My largest (diameter) scope is a 10" reflector but I have a corral of some 18 different beasts, not counting binoculars. My current favorite is my 4" f15 refractor that I built (and still refining) based on an fabulous early '60's Jaegers Optics lens.,
a great 'star splitter' (for double stars) and planetary scope.

Chuck the grumpy old guy
 
Curtis said:
Thanks for the input Chuck. Yes, I am pretty much settled on the Grizzly or PM version of it. The hobby I am pursuing is making (or trying to make) Kozo Hiraoka's switchers (love the Shay!). One can do a remarkable amount of work on a 9 X 20 lathe, but a more capable "mill" than the Taig would be a real convenience. I really dislike the rotating column on the Taig which is so easily knocked out of tram, so there is another plus to the square (and fixed) column mill. I had considered one of those mini-mills such as you have, but it would not be much of a step up from the Taig in terms of size and work envelope. Glad you are happy with yours though! By the way; I am "a youngster" at age 61? Okay! You have me chuckling here.
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I feel that anyone with less than 70 years under their belt, is a youngster. ;^)
Keep the swarf coming.

Chuck the grumpy old guy
 
ch2co said:
I have couple of Edmond telescopes and a slew of their rather excellent RKE eyepieces.
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Now that you mention it, I remember those in their catalogs- they had others as well, some quite expensive as I recall (the eyepieces, I mean).
 
Curtis said:
That is a really nice mill. I am looking forward to getting mine!
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So are you getting the G0704, or the PM25?

I would strongly recommend you go to the PM25. It has a belt drive instead of the gear head of the G0704 (which make the PM25 quieter and gives you a better cut quality), and a better spindle motor. Both are upgrades that G0704 owners often perform after the fact.

http://www.machinetoolonline.com/PM-MV-BenchMills.html

If you got some cash to spare once you buy, than a DRO makes the whole thing much more pleasant to use. I would buy a DRO before I buy a power need (although you mentioned some disability issues, so that might steer you to the power feed first).
 
It is going to have to be the Go704 for me, even though I admit that the PM25 is a better design (the belt drive). In my case, money is going to be the deciding factor. Yes, I am going for a power feed as well.. If need be, I could add a belt drive at a later time when more funds are available. I agree that a DRO is nearly a must as well (I have that on the Z axis of my Taig mill). I am retired and living on a fixed income, and the property taxes on my house are a real burden, along with all the other expenses that everyone else has, or I would jump on the PM25 with all the bells and whistles. Beside all this, the Grizzly facility is within relatively easy driving distance, whereas freight for the PM would add more expense. As to my disability, well, arthritis as well as rotator cuff surgery on BOTH shoulders has taken its toll- thus auto feed would be a real God send, but if I had to, I could manage without for a while if need be.
 
Curtis said:
It is going to have to be the Go704 for me, even though I admit that the PM25 is a better design (the belt drive). In my case, money is going to be the deciding factor
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Good choice. The PM25 style upgrades can be done as you need and can afford them. I think you will be happy with this mill as an upgrade over the Taig.

Here is a link to the guy who makes the belt drive kits:

http://benchtopprecision.com/g0704-belt-drive-kit/
 
This thread is very similar to my situation. I am clueless about milling. I want to get into the hobby and have about $3,000 to $5,000 to spend. I too will want to bring a mill into my basement. I love a good challenge and can hire some help to disassemble a Bridgeport and move it piece by piece into my basement if that is what I eventually end up with.

Do you think I would be thowing good money after bad buy starting out with a small hobby mill? Size is a slight concern but not a deal breaker. I love the fact that there are so many training videos for the Bridgeport. I just feel like I may want to end up with a Bridgeport so why mess around with a temporary mill if I can just start with a Bridgeport. Too aggressive? Should I start small with baby steps?

Is a Bridgeport too much mill for a rookie?

Thanks for the links to the many choices of mills in this thread and thanks for any guidance on my situation. Sorry to hijack the thread.

Andy
 
I just sold my Burke Millrite about 2/3 of a Bridgeport and stout for the size. like miny Bridgeport worth checking out.
my old Burke Millrite leaving this mourning, only negative is slowest speed 180 rpm no back gears and power down feed of quill. I believe it has 6 step pulley, some have handle for feeding quill and R8 some have B&S 120 volt some are 3 phase.
15s91nc.jpg
 
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