Harbor freight milling machine

[JoelD]

This machine gets great reviews and price seems good

Multipurpose Machine

My brother and I have no experience with milling or tooling but would like learn

Does this look like a good first machine?

Also what sort of bits or tooling would we need to do some basic processes like boring and milling?

I know nothing

Thanks
Joel

 

[BHD]

it is probably a good machine to learn on, but it is very small, IMO,

but a lot depends on what your wanting to be able to do,

If it is farm type repair, one could do some on it, but it would be limited,

I do not own one of the machines you are looking at, but I do have a Bridgeport mill and two lathes one 13"x 40" and 28" x 70", and had considered a smaller mill when I was mill hunting, and I am glad I got what I did get, and some times I wish I had more capacity,

If your looking at hobby and modeling type work the machine your looking at will do you a good job most likely, but if your wanting to build some thing larger more than likely you will find the machine limiting,

end mills
lath bits,
a small boring bar,
some clamping,
I have used micrometers, but prefer a dial caliper,
get an ENCO catalog, Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Tools and Shop Supplies
yes there are others one can get supplies from as well,

 

[bikerdib]

Looks OK but like JoelD said you will be limited on the size of the project you can do. Of course, when you jump up in capacity, the price jumps quite a lot also. If you do get it, see if you can get the replacement warranty they offer on most of their tools. Their equipment is not bad for the money but I've been glad I purchased the warranty on a couple of big ticket items I've bought there. The items failed and they replaced them with new. One was a plasma cutter, I actually got a better machine than the original. The other was a rotary hammer drill that just quit working after only a few minutes of use.

 

[grsthegreat]

check out this grizzley unit

G4015Z Combo Lathe/Mill

ive purchased a few pieces of equipment from them, and they are WAY WAY better than harbor freight anything..not much more $$ either. and it looks to be larger unit

the thing has alot more adjustment points ....looks alot sturdier also

anyways, just a thought. except for the compressor air dryer i bought thru harbor freight, most of their stuff really is crap. one of the plumbers was showing off the great angle drill he got for next to nothing. he broke it in first hour using it. my $300 Milwaukee hole hog is still running after 12 years.

 

[wdchyd]

Joel,
If it was my decision I'd buy a clean used lathe and separate mill to learn on and you'll find more uses for fiddling around on....problem is you'll need more space for two machines.....

Looks like the machine in your link is missing a gear box for feeds/threads......Threading will be usefull for your learning curve (english and metric)


When it comes to machine work, think about size of what you'll be doing.....you'll always want to stick something in there bigger than the envelope size......you can always use a bigger machine to do small work but not the other way......

Also consider the small size of a machine takes away rigidity for smooth/powerfull cuts and will vibrate when machining/drilling/boring......it's a trade off with having a small machine......


Heck, I've made parts as small as 1/8" on this machine .....and it weighs in at 13000#

 

[bearcreek paul]

Looks ok for small work but for about the same money you could pickup a old southbend bench top lathe and a j head milling machine.They are around at auctions,craigslist and in my area a mag called papershop.As for tooling high speed steel for the lathe it's cheap for the mill a couple of 2&4 flute high speed end mills.Also check to see if there are used machine dealers in your area.The old flat belt lathes can be had cheap and they are hard to kill.Good luck.

 

[JoelD]

Thank you guys I'm glad I asked

I can see I've got some research to do

We are limited to no more than 220v

I'd like to get the right machine and need to keep buying up if I can help it

We work a lot on small engine stuff like snowblowers riding mowers tillers and of course my backhoe and then there are out boats and trucks and autos

Thanks again
Joel

 

[JoelD]

How about this?
Milling Machine B Port Mill

Just noticed 3 phase not sure what that means but unlikely I can run at home, right?

 

[grsthegreat]

How about this?
Milling Machine B Port Mill

Just noticed 3 phase not sure what that means but unlikely I can run at home, right?

3 phase is a commercial power rating. your 220 residential will NOT be 3 phase. they make a phase converter to allow a 3 phase machine to run on your single phase power....but not cheep. best to go with a single phase machine. i have hooked some 3 phase equipment up for people in their home shops, and they will run ok, but sometimes have trouble starting. sometimes not. depends on the quality of phase converter used. also some 3 phase will be 480 volt.....this wont work regardless (unless yo can rewire motor)

 

[wdchyd]

How about this?
Milling Machine B Port Mill

Just noticed 3 phase not sure what that means but unlikely I can run at home, right?

Another thing to consider with a milling machine, make sure it has "R-8" spindle to accept R-8 collets.......that machine pictured does not..... and yes a phase converter is an alternative for 3 phase but best to buy 220V/single phase for residential use.......

 

[wvpolekat]

Another thing to consider with a milling machine, make sure it has "R-8" spindle to accept R-8 collets

Why are they preferred? Are they better? More common?

Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[wdchyd]

R8 collets are universal to milling machine attachments:

Boring heads

Drill chuck

End Mill holders

Fly Cutters

Much more adaptable, larger range in size, cheaper to buy tooling with R8, I would never buy (or take free) a mill without R8......

Notice that ad for the old bridgeport mill mentions it does not have R8 collets.....Pity the fool who buys it......:confused2:

 

[wdchyd]

Actually was offered one for free couple years ago and left it right where I saw it.......wasn't worth the cost of transportation or the real estate it'll use up while collecting dust.....:laughing:

 

[Rayrla]

If you find a well maintained used lathe or mill that is three phase, dont let the three phase stop you from purchasing. Last year found a nice three phase lathe and for approximately $125 I was able to buy a variable frequency driver(VFD) to convert 220 single phase to 220 three phase to power the lathe. Wiring was not difficult, but programming required assistance from seller. Most VFD manuals lack sufficient programming instructions. VFD also allows you to run your lathe or mill at variable speeds, especially nice with a mill. Lots of info on the internet on VFDS.

 

[troutsqueezer]

You would do well to research on one of the home machinist forums. This sort of thing is discussed all the time. I belong to this one: Home Model Engine Machinist - Index

Here is another: The Home Shop Machinist & Machinist's Workshop Magazine's BBS - Powered by vBulletin
It has close to 90,000 members.

As mentioned, the combo machines are frowned upon. Mostly because of the setting up and tearing down required as you go between the mill and the lathe.

As for Harbor Freight machines, they are made by a Chinese company called Seig and they sell to Grizzly, Micro Mark, Enco and a bunch of other companies who paint them different colors and put their own name on them. No they are not Bridgeports but they do allow the rest of us to afford to get into the hobby. There are many many first class model engines and such built with these machines. Most of them need a few simple mods to bring them up to snuff. This is all documented in the machinist forums and Yahoo groups.

A blanket statement like "All Harbor Freight stuff is crap" illustrates a lack of understanding and familiarity with the various products. I own both the Harbor Freight mini lathe and mini mill. Here is one of the small steam engines I have built with it.

And a link to the video:

YouTube - Trout's Twin (2)

 

[BHD]

when I first got my mill, that was three phase, I use a simple static converter, and used it for nearly 15 years, before I got three phase in the shop,

one can either go with a rotary converter or a static for some thing like a mill, as it does not start under load,
for some thing that starts under load will need a rotary converter, (for example a compressor)

 

[Milton Burro]

Troutsqueezer, that's funny. Good video. You must have loads of free time.

 

[kennyd]

Another thing to consider with a milling machine, make sure it has "R-8" spindle to accept R-8 collets.......that machine pictured does not..... and yes a phase converter is an alternative for 3 phase but best to buy 220V/single phase for residential use.......

I agree 100% on the R8 spindle, but not on the 3 phase option. Any 3PH machine tool under 3 HP can easliy be powered with a VFD, and the money you save buying the tool up front will pay for the VFD because so many people are scared of 3 phase.

The VFD for my 1 HP lathe was only $120 a few years ago.

 

[hr3]

I agree 100% on the R8 spindle, but not on the 3 phase option. Any 3PH machine tool under 3 HP can easliy be powered with a VFD, and the money you save buying the tool up front will pay for the VFD because so many people are scared of 3 phase.

The VFD for my 1 HP lathe was only $120 a few years ago.

Agree with Kenny.. We have done it many times on wharfs and in small shops and VFD's are very reliable..

 

[JoelD]

Again thank you guys!!

I really appreciate all the advice!

I am not afraid of 3phase if others have sorted out and I'll google on vfd

I'd really like to be able to make some of my own parts as we run into old machines all the time and parts are not available in some instances

I'll also look for some classes any suggestions? Is this something I can find at a community college or the like for example maybe a general course.

Joel