Possible Milling Machine Purchase

opaul

opaul

Well-Known Member
I may have a lead on a Smitty 1220xl 3 in 1 lath, mill and drill press.
I have seen pictures only but it looks in good shape. There would be accessories with it but I don’t know exactly what they would be.
My question to you guys that have researched mills, etc - would this be a good machine to grab and if so what would be the price for this used machine.
Thanks in advance!
 
I don't know anything about that machine but if you go and look at it make sure everything is still tight with no slop.
check the spindle for any play and any lash in the dials. lash in the dials will be really bad.
I looked at a lathe at horrible freight and there must have been a 1/4" of slop in the dial.
look at the table and ways for any sort of damage.
 
bladegrinder said:
I don't know anything about that machine but if you go and look at it make sure everything is still tight with no slop.
check the spindle for any play and any lash in the dials. lash in the dials will be really bad.
I looked at a lathe at horrible freight and there must have been a 1/4" of slop in the dial.
look at the table and ways for any sort of damage.
Click to expand...
Thanks. What is lash in the dials. I’m familiar with spindle play etc.
 
I looked at these pretty hard a few years back. My impression was they are good for the small footprint and probably quite good for knife makers shop. They will not do (well) “full size” mill or lathe stuff - what ever that is. Small to medium scale. Expect to learn how to machine to the tolerance these will hold. It won’t hold up, tolerance wise compared to full size machines. It’s a combo budget entry level machine.

I have seen some projects done with these that are amazing. The models matter as they have some duds and some popular ones. Check the reviews on the Net. A well maintained machine usually runs at least half to three fourths of retail. Tooling costs add up FAST. If your used one comes with a bunch of tools and indicators, that will matter.
 
Lash is the play in graduations on your dials. the lines on the dials are normally 1000 of an inch, so if you turn the dial clockwise and then turn it counter clockwise there should be no free play. my machine has about 1000 of an inch free play when reversing travel.
 
I looked into buying one of these. The reviews seemed almost 50/50! If you do research these make sure the reviews are not from Smithy site! Everyone on there said how wonderful they were! Off there site you get a better look at the machine. I'm no machinist and a lot of the guys doing reviews were, so I imagine coming from a full size whatever to one of these is not great. In the end I bought a Grizzly G0704, again not a full size machine but larger than the HF Mini Mill. I have a friend that has one of those and the nice thing is there is a large aftermarket for it believe it or not!
 
Gliden07 said:
I looked into buying one of these. The reviews seemed almost 50/50! If you do research these make sure the reviews are not from Smithy site! Everyone on there said how wonderful they were! Off there site you get a better look at the machine. I'm no machinist and a lot of the guys doing reviews were, so I imagine coming from a full size whatever to one of these is not great. In the end I bought a Grizzly G0704, again not a full size machine but larger than the HF Mini Mill. I have a friend that has one of those and the nice thing is there is a large aftermarket for it believe it or not!
Click to expand...
Thanks 07. I was really interested yesterday and now not so sure. I really want a milling machine. I really don't have the need for a lathe and I have the drill press. So unless I can get it really cheap and there are lots of tooling accessories with it, I'll most likely pass and set my sites on a mill.
If you don't mind me asking what is your investment in the Grizzly with tooling. Did you have to get the x-y table or did it come with it? PM if you had rather. Thanks!!
 
opaul said:
Thanks 07. I was really interested yesterday and now not so sure. I really want a milling machine. I really don't have the need for a lathe and I have the drill press. So unless I can get it really cheap and there are lots of tooling accessories with it, I'll most likely pass and set my sites on a mill.
If you don't mind me asking what is your investment in the Grizzly with tooling. Did you have to get the x-y table or did it come with it? PM if you had rather. Thanks!!
Click to expand...

I have around 2K into machine and cheap tooling to "play". Still need more tooling, and as everyone says that is where all the money is. The mill comes with the X and Y table as well as a Z up and down. The G0704 has a 1HP DC motor. I'm actually in the process of setting it all up. Just had machine delivered to my home. Have it set up and sitting on stand, broke the spindle in. Gonna clean everything up in the next few days and play a little. My time is at such a premium lately it takes me 2 weeks to get anything done, then I have to pick at it a little at a time.
 
I had a similar machine, different brand. For three days. I hated it. I drilled and tapped a piece of wrought and chucked it in the lathe using a screw to turn the back flat. The turning wasn't concentric to the threaded hole. It was offset over 1/16". I put it right back on CL and bought a G0704 and an Enco lathe.
 
Wishing you good hunting for one, I have had mine over a year and am just finding out how valuable it can be. Heretofore, it was just a glorified drill press and scales flattener. I''ve been spending a lot of time with it every day since I don't have production pushing me and am very happy with what I can now use it for. It may be a game changer when I get things started up again.
 
A little scrubbing...

https://raleigh.craigslist.org/tls/d/raleigh-milling-machine/6769915851.html

This one is a tank! would need a phase converter...Two months on craigs list...should be ready to deal! I'd buy it if it was close to me...

https://greensboro.craigslist.org/tls/d/milling-machine/6744339480.html

Perfect for a kinfe shop that has limited space...probably a very good little mill.

https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/tls/d/mechanicsburg-sheldon-no-0-horizontal/6785606373.html

When it comes to iron...old is often as good or better than new...
 
Smallshop said:
A little scrubbing...

https://raleigh.craigslist.org/tls/d/raleigh-milling-machine/6769915851.html

This one is a tank! would need a phase converter...Two months on craigs list...should be ready to deal! I'd buy it if it was close to me...

https://greensboro.craigslist.org/tls/d/milling-machine/6744339480.html

Perfect for a kinfe shop that has limited space...probably a very good little mill.

https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/tls/d/mechanicsburg-sheldon-no-0-horizontal/6785606373.html

When it comes to iron...old is often as good or better than new...
Click to expand...

Thanks Smallshop! You have me drooling. I couldn't get those things through my shop door. I'm definitely going to have to go with a small mini mill.
 
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