Is there such a thing as a good mini mill?

T

Travis Fry

Well-Known Member
I'm always looking for a mill, and a mini would suffice for everything I need. From what I've read, however, most of the minis are kinda crappy. The ones that aren't are pretty expensive, enough so that it isn't worth not saving for something bigger. I don't know much about mills other than what I've read, so I don't really have a reference point to judge them by. Anybody have a mini that they're happy with that is reasonably priced?
 
I have had very good luck with the Chinese mini-mills. They are strong, stout, heavy and rigid. IMO they are alot of mill for the money.
CW
 
http://www.littlemachineshop.com/3900

I've heard some good reviews on the HiTorque mini mill from littlemachineshop.com, though like most any chinese mill, you will likely need to shim and/or deburr certain mating surfaces if you're looking for tight tolerances along every axis.

I've read that the harbor freight machines can be made into some fantastic little machines with a few upgrades, but by the time you spend the money, you start blurring the lines between economical and expensive.

I'm not sure what you're wanting to spend, but I started out with the same questions and in the same market that you're in, and finally convinced myself that it'd be worth it to just cry once and spend a little more money on something a little more substantial and capable. That's why I'm saving up for either a 25MV or a 30MV mill from http://www.machinetoolonline.com/PM-MV-BenchMills.html.

I'll probably end up with the cheaper of the two so I can put a little more money into tooling and whatnot, but I haven't quite decided yet.
 
I guess the new question is this: Since I'll not likely ever use my mill for anything other than milling guard slots, folder liner relief, folder liners, and making knifemaking related shop jigs from mild steel, will the LittleMachineShop mini mill do this well, and is there real value in paying 80% more for something bigger and more substantial? If there is real value in getting something bigger for the purposes I've described, I can save longer, but the opportunity cost is 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of a surface grinder that would be accordingly delayed.
 
I've been down both roads....owned a couple of "mini-mills", and for me they were a waste of money......what I've come to understand is that you can do "small work" on a larger mill, but you simply cannot do anything but very small/minor work on a "mini-mill". My intentions were the same as those you mentioned, but I found that for a "mini-mill", even slotting a guard is a "big" job. I sold one of the cheaper mini-mills, and made what I thought was a "step up" to a sherline......wasn't any better. Anything larger than a 1/8" end mill/bit is too much for one of the mini-mills to handle.

I sold that one, and traded for a 1 1/2 hp benchtop mill. Later I also purchased a full sized 2hp floor model mill. I now have two mills....the 1 1/2hp bench top model, and a 2hp floor model. Once you have a full sized mill, you'll wonder how you did without one. You'll find yourself thinking of all kinds of uses for it, and it will be able to handle most any task you need it to.
My opinion is that the mini-mills should only be considered if you're a mild hobbyist, using it for very minor cutting jobs, in very "light" materials. For example, although I'm sure some do it, my opinion is that even 1/4" brass is too much for a mini-mill to handle efficiently.
For me it's a lot like a grinder.....you can go the less expensive route (a mini-mill), but you will quickly "out grow" it, and quickly become dissatisfied with it's performance. Then your in a position where you've spent the money once, and will likely spend more to "upgrade".
Save your money and get yourself at least a bench top mill with at least a 1hp motor, and an R8 spindle.
 
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Good feedback Ed, and thanks. I've really been fishing for thoughts from folks who have used both, but a mill is a big enough thing that most have only bought one, made it work, and are consequently satisfied because they don't know anything else.

I've also gathered a lot of positive comments from here and on BF about the LittleMachineShop mini mentioned above. Most seem to think it adequate for the tasks I describe, but again, most who say so haven't used anything else. My plan is to keep looking for something used and quite a bit bigger, and be ready to spring when the right deal comes up. If the time comes to buy and I haven't found a good used one, things may get more complicated.
 
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I can't really comment on mini mills because I've never used one.

I would like to point out though- Especially with the mill and surface grinder, you'll find ALOT, worth repeating... ALOT of uses for these items that you haven't even thought of yet. Making guards is the very tip of the iceberg for these machines capabilities.

Keep the "big picture" in mind. I can see myself in the future totally spending some serious bucks for a knee mill with DRO and quite possible auto feed on the table and retiring my mill/drill to "really AWESOME drill press" status. It'll be a long time in the future, lol but I could justify that purchase easily even with pricetag of probably $7000.

Purchasing my mill was a target of oppertunity but I was saving for a dovetail column mill at the time and for $400 I couldn't pass up the deal. In retrospect, I use the mill enough that passing on the "deal" and continuing to save for the dovetail machine would've been a wiser move.

Since getting the mill a hardly ever use my drill press.

Another thing I always keep in the back of my mind with big knifemaking tool purchases- I could probably sell my mill or surface grinder in a heartbeat if I had the need and cash to upgrade. This fact makes the purchase of a "starter" machine far more bearable ;)

Like Ed said, get a machine that takes R8 tooling so if you want to upgrade later you'll be set with the tooling you have.

Tool purchases are always difficult decisions. After owning a mill for awhile now I'd skip the mini in favor of something larger and more rigid. I can't ever remember someone saying "I've got this Bridgeport... but wish I had a mini mill" LOL

Good luck -Josh
 
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