milling machine

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Feb 4, 2004 | 12:22 PM

jrod60

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Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 37

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From: Katy, TX

milling machine

I've recently been eyeing some benchtop sized mills on ebay. you can score them for around $300, and the uses seem endless. Anyone here have one in their shop? Think of all you could do with a mill and a lathe handy....

Feb 4, 2004 | 01:12 PM

Mike W

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Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 7,157

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From: Central Kali

I have an RF-30 which is fine for the use it gets. The larger HF model is a clone of it made in China. You end up spending as much or more on tooling for it.

Feb 4, 2004 | 03:41 PM

John Pen

Tuned

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 261

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From: Western NY

Harbour Frieight has one for about 280. Look in the sale section. Id be interested to here from anyone who has one or has used one

Feb 4, 2004 | 05:17 PM

otto

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Joined: Dec 2000

Posts: 1,686

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From: Racine WI

I have seen many nice South Bend and Browne & Sharpe bechtop size mills, they are old and well built and bring top dollar, Alot of home shop machinsts like the sherline and many use the imports quite successfully.

I wouldnt buy an import I will either find a B&S or South Bend benchtop or wait until I build a new garage and just get a floor model bridgeport from the 40's..........dont get much better than r8 collets, Bridgeport the SBC of mills, clones and aftermarket parts everywhere, Bridgeport R.I. they just auctioned the plant off about 6 months ago

Feb 4, 2004 | 06:10 PM

Torque1st

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Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 30,255

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I agree on the tooling, you will have 1x to 2x the cost of the machine in tooling easily. Same with a lathe. I have been looking at buying a lathe for a LONG time.