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Posted: 3/9/2004 2:01:00 PM EDT
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I was suppose to be getting a used Bridgeport mill. The deal fell through so now I am looking for a machine. Harbour Freight has one for $799.00. Problem belt driven I would rather have it gear driven. They have one for over $1000.00 I have been looking into the Grizzley or the Surline they run only about $500.00. Any one here knows if Central Machinery is good? Or what a good Bench Model would be. |
| sent you a e-mail. I like the belt personaly low maint. and if and when I screw up I know some thing is going to give and when it does I hope its just a end mill or boreing bar that breaks and maybe a belt that smokes. our old J head was belt drive and it wasnt a issue. The gear drives scare the heck out of me. I would think that a bad day on one of those machines can get $$$$. the central is the same as the rung fu. as is the grizzly and enco and many others so i've heard. just do your self a favor and make sure to get a R-8 spindle. |
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Quoted: sent you a e-mail. I like the belt personaly low maint. and if and when I screw up I know some thing is going to give and when it does I hope its just a end mill or boreing bar that breaks and maybe a belt that smokes. our old J head was belt drive and it wasnt a issue. The gear drives scare the heck out of me. I would think that a bad day on one of those machines can get $$$$. the central is the same as the rung fu. as is the grizzly and enco and many others so i've heard. just do your self a favor and make sure to get a R-8 spindle. I agree, belt driven is the way to go! |
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Man, if you have the space a knee mill is the way to go. Mine - 8 x 42 - fits in a corner very well, 6' on a side. You DO want a R8 spindle. I heard the old timers used to take out the little key that the R8 collet holder fits into, to prevent breaking things if things grabbed. I haven't done so yet myself, it is one of those things I intend to get around to. |
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I guess your right about something giving LOL...I posted on the Roderuscustom.com site and got the same suggestion about the R8 Spindle. It's been a while since I did serious machine work and forgot about that. I need to really bone up on all the new machines out there. The prices and size of these things have changed so much and these Made in China S*&T out there. |
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It's often possible to find Bridgeport mills cheaper than chinese mills, but they're so friggin heavy it's costs an arm & a leg to move or ship 'em. Plenty of 'em on eBay. We, as Americans, are really cutting our own throats by buying chinese stuff, more than any other import country. I'm just as guilty as anyone else, but at least now I look at labels. |
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I will share a tip with you about Harbor Freight. Look at the item code. In your case it is 33686-6VGA. The number we are interested in is the 6 right before the VGA. Go to their web site, and click on the link that says order from printed catalog. Enter the item number as you see it except for that 6 we are interested in. Substitute 0 through 9 in that digits place and use that item number for the lowest price you find. |
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Quoted: I agree with you I would rather buy American. Like I said I was suppose to be getting a OLD Bridgeport, but the deal fell through. I am thinking and most likely going to get ITEM 33686-6VGA from Harbor Freight. It's on sale for $799.00. It usually is $1000.00. I have the 33686 in my dads place I like it for what i do with it, you do want an R8 spindle because you do not want a ton of money in the tooling. when you get it home, It will be covered in grease I have heard these things are a pain to tram in I have not had to find out yet. |
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I don't do much metal working but I do a lot of woodworking so I know the brands you mentioned from that perspective. It has been my experience the Central machinery tools are nothing but junk. Aviod them like the plague! On the different ww'ing forms I go to, I never once seen anybody have a good thing to say about them. Generally speaking Grizzly tools offer you decent tools for the money. They are still Tiawanese made tools and are nowhere near Bridgeport quality but their Q\A work is generally better than most importers. I think you would be better served going to a metal working forum and researching this question there. $700-$1000 is too much money to be spending based off of a catalog ad. |
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Sherline was another choice. Airgunner your right I started to look at other boards and it's like 70% give a hands down to Central.... To make matters worse I need to wait because my truck just failed Inspection for the front end. I need 4 ball joints and a pitman arm. I knew last year I had 2 lower ball joints going. It's going to run me close to $700.00 for the work to be done. 1988 4WD F-250 extended cab and bed. Don't even know if it's worth it since I have a rear main starting to leak. Also water leak starting from the gasket behind the timing case cover at the water pump assy. THIS SUCKS |
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Go to http://microscope.nuklias.com/nubusiness/documents/1020/knee%20mill%2010-23-03.PDF and read the Bridgeport specifications. I have acquired Bridgeports for tool rooms in industry and they do last with day in and day out use unlike occaisional home use. Do speak with a Bridgeport distributor, sometimes they have a deal in the wings with a repo or a demo unit. If available cash is the issue like yours truly, use the Bridgeport spec to buy one. Finally, repair and parts has always been a problem with Bridgeport clones. Part of it is due to the flakey distributors and the fact that the clone companies come and go. If I were buying one today, I would pursue a used Bridgeport simply because they are more precise and can be repaired. There are usually no surprises. Finally with the clones, the quality remains an issue. Some have no quality standards and others have foreign components that defy the ability to find quality replacement parts. |
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Quoted: Give these folks a look see. Maybe they have something that you could use. Made in California. [url]http://www.sherline.com[/url] I bought a Sherline mill and lathe for size considerations. They are top notch and I have used it to make adapters, mill Novak cuts in my 1911 slides and other light machine work. The stuff is not cheep and the spindles are small but they are great for light machining. |
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