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#1
05-04-2005, 05:19 AM
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Hankerin' to machine
I'm amazed that I have the bucks(maybe), time, and
now a place to put it, so I'd like to get one of those one station 'machine shops'. There seem to be several-Shop Task, Shop this n' that, etc. I'm looking at metal work not wood. Anyone out there have any experience with one? Any recommendations? Thanks, Don Lee 
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#2
05-04-2005, 06:03 AM
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I have a smithy 12-20, it seems to handle most anything I need to do.
I would get a better vise for it. Depending on what you are going to do, the longer cross slide on the XL model would be nice. The mill head vibrates some if you are really hogging something out on the mill. The lathe portion is pretty good. All in all for the money I cannot complain. It is a good machine for a garage, small repair, one off small parts. If you plan on manufacturing, or really making precision parts, guns etc, spend the extra money and get a bigger machine. http://www.smithy.com/midas1220.htm
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The government cannot give anything to anybody that the Government does not first take from somebody else. “I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.” - Thomas Jefferson Scott Essex....Flying H Ranch
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#3
05-04-2005, 07:04 AM
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If you have the room and power, I think you would happier with seperate machines.
It has been my experance that multi function machines don't do anything well unless it is aluminum and not very precision. I bought a very nice world war two mill for $875 and a nice 12 inch lath with tooling for $1,200. Rember the machine can't do anything without tooling and tooling can be very expensive. There are lots of little used machines out there for very reasonable prices. Generaly speaking the more Iron a machine has in it the more precision tolerances it can hold if it is in good shape. I would also recomend a good machinist's handbook. It can teach you a lot about cutting speeds, cutting tools, lubricants and good machine practices. Most towns have a machine tool supply store and they will have a lot of very valuable information. It will not be called Harbor Freight or Home Depot. One of the challenges of full size machine tools is many of them need three phase power. Most three phase converters don't work well and they rob power from the machine. A very smart friend of mine who taught me a lot about precision steel fabrication and shaping and gas welding aluminum, had a lath and mill, but would always hire his machine work done. Most machinests are tool junkies and their experance is invaluable. In my experance learning to draw is more valuable than inexpensive machine tools. A good machinist can also help with design. Thank you, Vance
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Vance Breese Last edited by Vance; 05-04-2005 at 07:32 AM.
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#4
05-04-2005, 07:29 AM
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Good points Vance.
__________________
The government cannot give anything to anybody that the Government does not first take from somebody else. “I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.” - Thomas Jefferson Scott Essex....Flying H Ranch
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#5
05-04-2005, 07:40 AM
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I just re-read my post and it sounds like I am diminishing home machining. That is not my intention. I love to make the chips fall late into the night. I love to pull an idea from my head and demonstrate that it works. I have a lot of chinese tools. I know the pain it causes me when I fail at a project because I am too cheap to buy the correct tool or too ignorant to use it properly. I have seen many very cleaver parts made on very inexpensive tools.
Sorry if I diminished anyone. Sweeping my shop gives me great pleasure. I don't have to be creating some precision wonderment to find joy in the shop. Happy Machining all. Thank you, Vance
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Vance Breese Last edited by Vance; 05-04-2005 at 08:43 AM.
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#6
05-04-2005, 07:47 AM
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Depending on your application, separate machines are better, I have access to a bridgeport mill and a 36" lathe here at work.
The small one does "almost" everything I need it to around the house/hangar, But If I need something I don't have tooling for, I'll pay to have it done, cheaper than another $$thousand$$ machine. I mean who wouldn't want a nice BIG CNC machine! 
__________________
The government cannot give anything to anybody that the Government does not first take from somebody else. “I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.” - Thomas Jefferson Scott Essex....Flying H Ranch
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#7
05-04-2005, 12:14 PM
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You might want to try Grizzly.com. They have bench top models all the way up to the big boys. Not sure of their quality, but they have a lot of machining tools.
grizzly.com
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"cause I'm free as a bird, and this bird you'll never change" - Ronnie Van Zant Bart Hutchison Private Pilot SEL Sold My Ultrawhite Like A Dumb A$$
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#8
05-04-2005, 03:51 PM
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I appreciate the info gents. Don
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#9
05-04-2005, 05:52 PM
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Quote:
email me at ncra@bellsouth.net with subject 3-in 1 and i can send you some pics of it in action and the info where to get one. I got this one for under $1,200 if you decide to get one i will give you some hints to improve it. i have machines several parts for my scorpions Rotorhead and swashplate conversion,and this one also has power cross feed.
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