[AT] OT Milling machine ?

[Dan Glass]

Usually every fall, the local distriburtor for Enco has a clearance 
sale.  I bought on on the large drill/mills with dro that lists in their 
catalog for about $3500 and paid $600.  It had never been turned on, but 
was taken to trade shows and was bolted to a pallet.  I also bought a 
large lathe for about $600 that was in their catalog for $3000.  They 
also had lots of accessories with them that you don't get out of the 
catalog.  This is in Atlanta, but they have distribution points all over 
the country.

Jim & Lyn Evans wrote:

>Do not get a combo machine.  You will be much happier with individual
>machines.  Good used American machines are non existent here.  I have a
>Grizzly mill-drill that was about $1500.  I have a Harbor Freight 12x36
>lathe that sells for $1800-2000.  It is one of the few exceptional machines
>that HF sells.
>There are several yahoo groups that cater to the Chinese-Taiwanese machine
>tools.  You can learn a lot from them.
>
>Jim
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
>[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Stuart Harner
>Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 1:04 PM
>To: atis
>Subject: [AT] OT Milling machine ?
>
>Since it seems a little slow today, I thought I would ask for input
>regarding combo lathe, mill, drill machines.
>
>I seem to always be needing something turned or milled or drilled and the
>nearest machine shop is 20 miles away.  While they do good work, they are
>always behind and it is a several day wait, which means a second trip, plus
>you are not there when the work is done to answer questions.
>
>There is no way I can justify the cost of a machine in terms of the prices I
>pay for the work, but in terms of time and effort, it gets closer to viable,
>especially if I don't have to mortgage the house for a machine.  Besides, in
>the hobby of restoring old things, it is more about the fun of doing it
>yourself.
>
>I am most interested in the Smithy line of machines, but my budget is at the
>lower end of things at best, maybe during a sale.  I have been watching
>Ebay, but most are too far away to ship or go fetch.  I actually won a
>Granite series 40" one in Mpls.  It looked like new and included the tool
>kit and stand.  Bought it for $2100 and figured the trip to pick it up was
>well worth it.  When I tried to pay for it, the owner informed me that they
>had sold it locally several days before and it was already gone.  I was
>PO'ed!!
>
>So, here I am still watching Ebay and hoping for a good deal on one nearby,
>but am wondering if I should be looking at other makes.  The only other one
>I have seen up close and personal was at a Harbor Freight store and I was
>not impressed.  It had a lot of backlash in the gearing.  Now maybe that is
>something that could be adjusted, which would be nice as they are closer to
>my price range.
>
>Any advice on makes, models, features, and sizes would be greatly
>appreciated.
>
>Stuart
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