what can i build with a milling machine
- Thread starter Jefferson
- Start date
- Location
- Alberta Free State
There used to be a mail order book company "Lindsay's Technical Books". They had books on all sorts of machine tools, tools you could build, and other weird and wonderful projects. I purchased many interesting project books from them over the years, of one sort or another. There was a fellow named Dave Gingery who wrote a series of books for them about how a complete beginner could build a lathe, a milling machine, a shaper, a drill press, and on and on. They were fascinating books.
In the days before the internet, their catalogue was something to look forward to.
Looking just now, I see they have a web site,
h ttp://www.lindsaybks.com/
Might be worth a look. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Get a lathe and a mill both, they compliment each others capabilities, and if you want to make almost anything, you will need both machines.
Try to steer clear of the 3-in-1 combo machines. They will encourage you to get a different hobby.
Take a look at the Village Press Publishing site. They print Home Shop Machinist magazine. Worth picking up a copy or two!
They also sell, among other things, reprints of Steve Acker's series called The Gunsmith Machinist. He has at least one video available as well.
Check out Guy Lautard's Machinist's Bedside Reader books at Lautard.com
Take a look at the Lindsay Publications site, and order a catalog from there too. Lots of good books on old tech stuff.
Cheers
Trev
Try to steer clear of the 3-in-1 combo machines. They will encourage you to get a different hobby.
Take a look at the Village Press Publishing site. They print Home Shop Machinist magazine. Worth picking up a copy or two!
They also sell, among other things, reprints of Steve Acker's series called The Gunsmith Machinist. He has at least one video available as well.
Check out Guy Lautard's Machinist's Bedside Reader books at Lautard.com
Take a look at the Lindsay Publications site, and order a catalog from there too. Lots of good books on old tech stuff.
Cheers
Trev
Many of the combination machines incorporate compromises in their design that enhance neither lathe nor mill operations. It is really necessary to study and understand the machine, and determine if it is going to be suitable for the work you will be doing. Grizzly offers a 13x40 lathe with a vertical mill/drill mounted to the bed. It appears to be the least compromised design. Smithy might have something similar. Many combination machines incorporate neither a quick change box nor a threading dial; the absence of these features does not facilitate thread cutting.
In many respects, any machine tool is better than no machine tool.
Having separate machines is better than having a combination. But decent work can be done using a combination machine. I did pass on buying a combination machine in excellent condition for a very good price, simply because the lathe portion could not do the barrel work I wanted to do. I knew that I would need to get a lathe in addition. And once I bought a lathe, the milling portion of the combination machine was going to be quite light duty. So, I bought a good sized lathe, and a sound mill/drill, both used, when the opportunities presented themselves. I also have the space in my shop, with easy access, to place separate machines.
In many respects, any machine tool is better than no machine tool.
Having separate machines is better than having a combination. But decent work can be done using a combination machine. I did pass on buying a combination machine in excellent condition for a very good price, simply because the lathe portion could not do the barrel work I wanted to do. I knew that I would need to get a lathe in addition. And once I bought a lathe, the milling portion of the combination machine was going to be quite light duty. So, I bought a good sized lathe, and a sound mill/drill, both used, when the opportunities presented themselves. I also have the space in my shop, with easy access, to place separate machines.
I have one and find it to be a pretty good machine.It is a lathe first with the capability for light milling.
The power feeds only work with the lathe going,not the mill,so that kinda sucks.
Other than that it's a decent machine for the money and runs on 115 volts(currently set up in my spare bedroom
)
Tool post doubles as a small milling vise
