Gunsmithing Opinions: $1500 mill

GasLight

GasLight

That Guy
Banned !
Full Member
Minuteman
May 2, 2008
1,962
13
Bozeman, MT
www.thevaultgunandloan.com
#1
OK, I can't get what I want with this kind of money, but for the current time, even a mill/drill will provide me some ability where all I have right now is a drill press. So, my current budget is $1500, do you have any recommendations. I will need the $1500 to include a vise and collet set. I have some bits already, enough to get started with anyway, but I realize I will have to spend more on tooling as I go.

I was looking at a couple models of Grizzly, but wanted to see if there was some stellar machine out there that I hadn't considered.

Thanks!!

Dave
 
#2
Re: Opinions: $1500 mill

We just bought a used in good order Bridgeport with DRO for $2200.In this economy there are tons of machines out there.If you can go $1500 resist the mill drill thing save a little more and score a real machine jmo.
 
#4
Re: Opinions: $1500 mill

My only problems with a bridgeport is getting it to me (shipping), and then being able to buy one that isn't worn out. If I get any kind of serious with a mill, I would want to move to a CNC at some point down the road. If there was a Bridgeport locally that I could buy in the same price range, I would have already done it.

The uses I can think of right off hand are making fixtures, inletting stocks, small gun parts...

Dave
 
#5
Re: Opinions: $1500 mill

My suggestion is to keep saving your money, clean out your closets & shed, sell stuff on Ebay at least until you have enough for a 9x49 Bridgeport clone. You're about halfway there. The resale value of a drill-mill or other bench top mill is pretty poor. If you get a 9x49 knee mill, you'll never out grow it even if you end up with a CNC VMC. You always need a knee mill. It's not always practical & efficient to make one-ofs on a CNC VMC.
 
#6
Re: Opinions: $1500 mill

Dave a good vise (Kurt) is over half of your budget if you buy it new.

I own three and one was $1200 alone.

With ANY equipment purchase the best advise anyone can give is to buy the biggest, most bad ass, robust, powerful piece you can possibly afford.

There will ALWAYS be jobs that require a pinch more in X, Y, and Z.

It's so much nicer to have it than to sit there scratching your head.

I'm not talking a 5 axis rotary head Deckel. But a solid knee mill with a 40+ inch X will save your bacon.

They are never cheap, but with dilligent shopping you can find the deals.

Save your money buddy. If it's worth buying, it's worth buying ONCE.

Good luck.

C
 
#8
Re: Opinions: $1500 mill

I would stay away from the Mill/Drill combos unless you are planning on building 1/10th scale model rifles . Most of the ones I have seen and used are just good enough to screw up whatever your working on .

Like others have said , clean out your closets , sell some blood and eat Ramen until you can afford something that will work .
 
#9
Re: Opinions: $1500 mill

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: GasLight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My only problems with a bridgeport is getting it to me (shipping), and then being able to buy one that isn't worn out. If I get any kind of serious with a mill, I would want to move to a CNC at some point down the road. If there was a Bridgeport locally that I could buy in the same price range, I would have already done it.

The uses I can think of right off hand are making fixtures, inletting stocks, small gun parts...

Dave </div></div>

Shipping will run you $300-$500. Hold out for a variable speed head and chrome ways. They are out there, just be patient. As soon as you buy the one you really didn't want, the perfect machine will be for sale right down the street.
smile.gif
 
#11
Re: Opinions: $1500 mill

I have worked on a bunch of machines, and the minimum for gunsmithing is a knee mill. If they are $2.5k new, then save money for as many years as it takes.

Don't waste your time, money, and enthusiasm on a mill-drill.
 
#13
Re: Opinions: $1500 mill

Be careful about buying a used Bridgeport type mill that has been in storage,or hasn't been used for a while, particularly if it's been in a humid environment. The high precision taper spindle bearings will accumulate moisture and rust, resulting in a rough turning spindle or one that is seized. The oiling system is total loss, i.e. pour it in the top and it runs out the bottom. Keeps the debris flushed out. If you don't have drips on the table, find out why.

That being said, use it to your advantage. I bought a Lagun FT-1 (a heavier Bridgeport style mill) on Ebay for a little over $700 for that reason. I stripped it down and rebuilt the spindle (the spindle bearings are $250 a set) so now I have a heavier vertical (880 lb table load) with brand new bearings for $1500.

But remember, the tooling will cost way more than the machine in the long run.
 
#14
Re: Opinions: $1500 mill

For gun smithing, $10 [cheap] sealed bearings can be substituted on a mill spindle.

If at the tool the deflection axially is .001" at 100 pounds of force and .001" of deflection radially with 20 pounds of force, there is no gunsmithing task it can't do.

Part of that is because the smallest Bridgeport is 10 times as rigid and 10 times as accurate as needed for gunsmthing.
 
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