[Fot] OT Milling machine

[Bill Babcock]

I agree that the american or german made machines are worth the bucks  
and better used than the chinese stuff is new, but I've found this  
shoptask machine to be pretty handy for my middling skills--the little  
I remember from machine shop class in High School reinforced with a  
bunch of skimmed books. I think it takes about three years of serious  
effort to be a machinist of any quality and ten years and some talent  
before you really know what you're doing.

Used to be a lot of used good machinery around, and I had a friend  
that sold the stuff. When I finally had space to put together a  
machine shop he was out of biz--told me the sources of used equipment  
had pretty much dried up and the available stuff was junk. Kind of  
makes sense--when every little town had a machine shop the equipment  
moved around a lot. Most of those small shops are gone, and the gear  
serious people buy today is for lights out machining. When one of  
those operations goes BK there's nothing us regular folks can use.

I spent a lot of time perusing eBay and other sources before I bought  
my shoptask. I gave up.
On Apr 30, 2008, at 5:22 PM, WILLIAM TOBIN wrote:

> Hi, this is along the lines of discusion about automotive lifts of a  
> few
> weeks ago. You need one.
> Go for the Bridgeport, with digital readout and power feed. Yeah,  
> the Griz
> or Jet or Enco are ok, but you can get a used Bridgeport (or  
> Clausing or
> other brands) for about the same money and it will outlast the lesser
> brands. Plus, was made in Conn.or somewhere domestically and parts or
> accessories are readily available.
> I have an Index brand milling machine, built in 1944; I have the  
> original
> mfr. documents. War Dept OK'd! It's smooth as silk and much more  
> accurate
> than I'll ever be. (Before I bought it, I'd never run one!)
> I also have a Rutland brand import; works ok but not a Bridgeport.  
> Probably
> came from the same factory as the Enco, etc.
> I have a couple sources for used equipment; give me a shout and I'll  
> give
> you details. And no I don't have a financial interest in them. Just  
> trying
> to help.
> Hope this helps; my 2 francs worth.
> Thanks, Bill Tobin  Erie Pa Vintage TR6
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "James McAndrew" <jdment at suddenlink.net>
> To: <fot at autox.team.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 10:02 PM
> Subject: [Fot] OT Milling machine
>
>
>> I need advice from the incredible fund of knowledge of the FOT.
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm looking into buying a small milling machine (to make small  
>> prototype
>> Triumph parts- okay now I'm back on topic).
>>
>>
>>
>> I don't need a Bridgeport.
>>
>>
>>
>> I have 220v single phase in my garage.
>>
>>
>>
>> What should I get?  Jet? Grizzly? Do I need digital readout? Power  
>> feed?
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Jim McAndrew
>>
>> Tyler, Texas
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Bill Babcock
Babcock & Jenkins
Billb at bnj.com
503.936.7660
www.bnj.com