I just bought a chinese milling machine on Ebay. Only want it for small work..... Cheap as chips just wonder if they are any good, time will tell I guess...... Got it as a replacement for the old Waldown drill I sold on Ebay. Hang on SWMBO says I'm addicted to Ebay......

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH a phoneless cord has just come up, that must be worth 27 cents....

Basil goooooo slowwwwly uuu need aholy day. Seriously hope to catch up soonly. Greg

ahhh!! ebay, what are you going to use a milling machine for Basil??? I got the phone that goes with that cord, you can have it for a $100

Do not listen to HID, ebay has lots of goodies, cheap too. Waiting for my next parcel now, so excited.

me too, I think ebay is great. Have purchased heaps of stuff there. Don't know if I needed it all, but being a bargin, I couldn't help myself. No such thing as being addicted to ebay Go for it Basil. Enjoy yourself. Happy bidding Have a great one

All you fellas remind me of the ad on the tele for supercheep auto, can picture you driving home with a car full,of ------"bargains" ????????????????

Basil I am a FitterTurner and have used lots of chinese Mlling machines ,there mostly good value for money if you consider it will cost 3 or 4 times the price for an English or American Brand. Things to watch are marking tapes are not often acurate ie 47degrees may be 47.5degrees so use your combination square to set angles. Also if you want real acuracy fit a DRO digital read out. things that tend to break are return springs ,brakes etc but used with care they are a very usefull machine and cheaper than say a Bridgeport.

All this technical speak you blokes. It's great, and I love watching people operate these machines - but what the hell does it mean? What do you "mill" with the Chinese mill? I'm guessing it's a type of drill or lathe for metal or wood work. What do you make Basil? What do you do with the things you make? I love learning about people's hobbies. I regret doing cooking at school when I should have done metal and wood work. Cheers Chris

bearings and motor arent always up to spec either but intermittent use will not show that, the metal used in the cogs tends to be a bit softer but just take smaller strikes and dont overload the system, give it plenty of rest in between jobs and it will be fine I have the hartford, I had a look on ebay and seen one for sale for a damn sight less than I paid once you have a mill then you could make a "mini mill" which in itself is a very usefull item I too am an "ebay junkie" having bought and sold quite a bit of gear off there

whoppa wrote:

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Basil I am a FitterTurner and have used lots of chinese Milling machines ,there mostly good value for money if you consider it will cost 3 or 4 times the price for an English or American Brand.
Things to watch are marking tapes are not often acurate ie 47degrees may be 47.5degrees so use your combination square to set angles.
Also if you want real acuracy fit a DRO digital read out.
things that tend to break are return springs ,brakes etc but used with care they are a very usefull machine and cheaper than say a Bridgeport.

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Yes i've used a bridgeport when I was "working" also next to it was a HMT (Hindustan machine tool) copy. This is only a small machine for making small bits, I have found a niche market in the Ship Modeling area where people can't buy fittings that I will be able to supply....

this is it. Ok @ $746 for sale at around 2K normally.....

look's the part Basil, let us know how it goes, did you get any cutters with it

No cutters but I have heaps that I kept when I sold my other stuff....

shame you werent a bit closer I could sharpen them for you

Sorry Christine, this is "segret men's business".

I believe the smaller mills are more practical for 'normal' work. The machine age has now past the "do it all" and gone to the average job. Good to see that we 'gadget' people can make the things required, without the price tag of a full blowen machine shop.

I understand that Bob, but Basil, what do you make with those lovely looking machines? I mean, how small are the things you make for the model ships? I sounds like a great hobby that pays. Good for you keeping busy. I still regret doing cooking at school. Cheers Chris

dave06 wrote:

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shame you werent a bit closer I could sharpen them for you

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next purchace is a "Quorn" tool and cutter grinder....

 

I am not familiar with that make but that doesnt surprise me, they are coming on the market in droves now, when I ordered mine ( a big old german made monstrosity) I had a 6 month waiting list and I had to show proof of my saw doctors certificate, very clicky religion back in those days, knowledge was not easily shared as it is today, my machine weighs in at about 750 kilo's or 3/4 of a tonne,

my machine does

buzzer/planer/thicknesser blades up to 3', to a 15% carbon content (special discs are needed to sharpen beyond that) I can sharpen longer blades with an extension that takes about half an hour to put on and line up right and so I dont use it

t.c.t. circular saw blades and h.s.s. to 3'6",

any size bandsaw blade

all router bits, internal radious and external (I can cut one from a blank to any shape or form that the customer desires)

drill bits, forstener bits, hole saws and cutters, any type of lathe, milling or machine cutting tool,

spindle moulders (large and small) to a carbon or tungsten percentage of factor 15 basically if it cuts I and my machine can sharpen it

it is a fantastic machine but mind you I paid (including import duties) $15,000 for it, I was offered a fully automated unit from the same supplioer just recently for $45,000 I politely said "no thank you" I shall continue with a manual one

when you buy one, make it a small one so as to not take up much room when not in use

with your mill, you would be mainly machining brass or bronze for model ships wouldnt you!

does your mill have no 1, 2 or 3 morse taper, if so cutters are far cheaper for that type than they are for a "shanked" bit and more "industrial

just did a bit of research on the quorn and I now realise why I didnt recognise the brand, it is a "hobbyist" machine and self manufactured to a very large extent,

 having said that it looks to be the very epitomy of what a home workshop sharpening machine should be and a very capable one at that

there is a lot of info on this little machine all over the web and many "home" built jigs and accesorys, I dont mean home built in a nasty derogative way most inventions and first machines come from "home built" I am a great perponent of "home built" machines, I have many myself that I have constructed over the years

from what I could see and understand the quorn is a great little machine and more than capable of delivering all that you need

are you going to "manufacture" the parts or see about a complete one, I can see a lot of enjoyment in the manufacture, construction and use of this great little machine


-- Edited by dave06 on Wednesday 5th of August 2009 12:08:11 PM

Cruising Granny wrote:

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I understand that Bob, but Basil, what do you make with those lovely looking machines? I mean, how small are the things you make for the model ships? I sounds like a great hobby that pays. Good for you keeping busy.
I still regret doing cooking at school. Cheers Chris

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This machine will give me the capability to make things like new parts for old clocks, cut gears etc. The model ship bits will be made to order and according to the scale could be minute to a handful.....
Is anyone into electroplating? I'd like to be able to nickel and copper plate things. I did have a plating bizzo for circuit boards but it fell apart.....

I really have enough to keep me busy, I have to get back on the road.....

 

I have a mate who has a quorn and is selling it so I'll get it complete.
It's a No. 3 mt. I'll have to get an "endmill chuck" for it as it comes with a drill chuck which would not be accurate for small endmills...

I may buy one of these: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/A1-1-Stirling-Engine-Assemble-Kit-Model-Maker-Kit_W0QQitemZ380145926220QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_BnI_Woodworking_Metalworking?hash=item588276804c&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262

or one of these: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/A5-1-HOT-FAN-ASSEMBLE-KIT-MODEL-MAKER-KIT_W0QQitemZ270438067617QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_BnI_Woodworking_Metalworking?hash=item3ef75d6da1&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262
 
Could be a fun project. But like everything on Ebay search and you can find exacary same thing rots cheaper

yep had a look at that, just watch that the quill hasnt been abused, it must have "ZERO" side play to be accurate enough for sharpening, chuck the chuck away, havent found one under $250 yet that would guarentee accuracy, most are within 5 - 10% accuracy, not good enough especially on the smaller machines should be a lot of fun for a lot of hours and keep the old grey matter mixing around. love to be there