Gunsmithing Affordable mill

[Micdalen]

I am trying to locate an economical mill. Everything I see is in the 2k plus range. Any recommendations or leads to suppliers? I am trying to keep it under 1k. I have been trying to use the drill press with a 2 axis vice, but just not getting the job done accurately enough. I know my price range may be a little unrealistic, but worth a try.

I have hit the local craigslist within 250 miles of me, and the few I have went and looked at would be better off in the scrap heap for what they are asking.

Any leads on reputable suppliers would be appreciated.

 

[turbo54]

Re: Affordable mill

You'll have to keep your eyes peeled, and get lucky.

A solid Bridgeport in totally decent (but certainly not "great") running shape oughtta fetch $1500+, and is worth every penny.

 

[Sidk]

Re: Affordable mill

I bought one of these. Very happy with it.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Drill-Mill-with-Stand/G0704

 

[BillyGoatMachine]

Re: Affordable mill

Check out Little Machine Shop.

http://littlemachineshop.com/3900

 

[RWSGunsmithing]

Re: Affordable mill

Your gonna have a hard time finding a full size mill for under 1K and not all beat to hell or needing some major work. Look for a mill/drill combo. There gonna be the cheapest option out there.


Harbor freight has this one.

It's the cheapest I could find.

I would go with the grizzly though. I've had excellent luck with there machinery. Plus there a sponsor/vendor here on the hide.

Grizzly with a stand.

This one's not bad ethier but the table travel is shorter same with the spindle to table distance.

Dovetail column mill/drill

 

[MikeeBooshay]

Re: Affordable mill

Hate throw cold water on your plans, but it will be hard to find a decent Bridgeport for under $2k.

Rather than a mill/drill combo, you might be better suited to waiting a bit longer until funds are available for the full size mill, whether it be a used BP, or a new Grizzly.

There is a pretty decent Wells mill on the Houston CL now:

http://houston.craigslist.org/tls/3194611610.html

if anyone is looking there. Probably a little far for the OP to come get though.

Added this to if someone is looking for a cheap package with a lot of stuff:

http://houston.craigslist.org/tls/3190491748.html

 

[colchester]

Re: Affordable mill

PM sent

 

[cap2031]

Re: Affordable mill

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RWSGunsmithing</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Your gonna have a hard time finding a full size mill for under 1K and not all beat to hell or needing some major work. Look for a mill/drill combo. There gonna be the cheapest option out there.
</div></div>

+1

I just bough the one on Craigslist listed here......tough luck....maybe better luck next time.....

Just kidding!

That's what its like though. I literally am looking on Craigslist EVERYday for CNC lathes. and will snatch one up when I find a good one. And everytime I find a good one its already sold before I can have a look.

This is about the best way to get something decent, but you may be looking for a while, I know I have been.

Unless you get creative.....one tip (a lot more work). Get in touch with local Mfg shops and get in touch with either their maintenance, or manufacturing engineering group and ask to be put on the AUCTION list. They have yearly budgets and usually are selling off machines once a year to make room or upgrade to other machines.

This is not easy because usually the CNC machinist or Maintenance guys make a pretty good living on the side buying these machines, rebuilding them and selling them at a much higher price.

Good luck!

 

[Force_Multiplier]

Re: Affordable mill

I have this 1.... http://www.harborfreight.com/two-speed-variable-bench-mill-drill-machine-44991.html ... took it on partial trade for and AR w/ some tooling... all i use it for is inletting stocks and front sight dovetails, but it works

 

[OnyxSkyDV]

Re: Affordable mill

If you are willing to give it some time, you can find some deals. Took me 6 months, but I picked this up for a grand:

Small table, but sufficient for my needs right now, and I have no doubts about being about to resell it for the same costs when i am wanting to upgrade in the future.

It was listed in craigslist in the completely wrong section, buried in a listing about a hardinge lathe, so keep up the searches for all things machining, and also try giving local machinery movers a call, often they hear about deals.

Onyx

 

[oldfatguy]

Re: Affordable mill

Also need to budget for tooling. Probably going to have as much in that as in the mill.

OFG

 

[Sidk]

Re: Affordable mill

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: oldfatguy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Also need to budget for tooling. Probably going to have as much in that as in the mill.

OFG </div></div>

Hell yes, that stuff is not cheap and as I found out you need way more then you think you can get away with.

 

[wadebrown]

Re: Affordable mill

Have patience and watch Craigslist a couple times a day and you will be surprised what comes up. I bought a Jet lathe sight unseen over the phone, the price was too good to pass up. The person I bought it from said that must have been a good price as she had 22 messages on her machine and mine was the first. I told her yes she probably could have charged more for the lathe and gotten it.

I sold the Jet off, for a decent profit, when a much better lathe (a short and stubby TOS brand lathe) needing work showed up on CL. The second lathe showed up on CL about the same time I got power to the jet in the shop. I sold the Jet for the same price I paid for the TOS. The TOS is up and running great and I no longer look for lathes on CL unless I am looking for a lathe to flip.

I just got a Hurco KMB-1 for less that scrap value in great mechanical condition that a repairman said needs a new card. I will probably retrofit the KMB with a PC-driven setup. The great thing about this purchase is I have every manual and schematic that came with the KMB so retrofitting will be easier than it could be.

wade

 

[jake6547]

Re: Affordable mill

If you call a local used machinery sales company or machine repair company they come by used manual equipment all the time. Im in machine repair i get to 100s of shops and get tons of offers on used machines. Be patient you can find a shop going out of buisness and scoop up on a nice one!

 

[Clark]

Re: Affordable mill

This mill on Ebay is a Clausing 8520.
The Chinese make clones for $2k.

This one is at $800 now, but that price will go way up in the next 18 hours.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-CLAUSING-6-...#ht_4352wt_1398

 

[catskinner]

Re: Affordable mill

Chicago area

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/tls/3209785121.html

 

[Micdalen]

Re: Affordable mill

I been wearing out Craigslist, and evry other option within 200 miles. Trying to work out a trade for one of my ford big blocks in storage with a local machine shop. Hopefully it goes through. But he is a greedy SOB.