The Home Machinist!

Hi all, I have been on the hunt for a new mill and I think I might have found the one that both fits my space and my needs. I wish I could buy a bigger one but I just don't have the room, my shop is a grand 10' x 10' shed that has been retrofit into a cozy shop and has been annexed as far as I can go.

I would appreciate any comments on this unit, if anyone has seen one up close and or used one. Being so far away from Grizzly I don't have the option to touch and feel it. From the specs it appears to be just the right size for my type of work (fishing reels). I'd like to know if it's rigid enough, I am going from a Mill/Drill to this unit but am not sure how much more rigid it will be.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Vertical-Mill/G0728

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

RG

Had one of the same design made a way back in '80. Better than a drill mill being that it has a knee. BUT changing speeds is a pain, no spindle lock/brake ,table clamps a bit lacking and I think not a lot better than the mill/drill rigitiy wise. After all the head area is made about the same as a mill/drill. A small table [32-36"] BP or Griz clone or JET etc. will not need much more floor space.

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www.chaski.com

Greeting gent's this is my first post, lots of great info here btw, so I'll throw my $.02 in as I was recently shopping for a mill as well.
It's a step up from a Drill / Mill and will be more rigid due to the overall weight but the head is mounted similarly. It was high on my list, the main issue I have with it is: Max. distance spindle to table: 12 1/4" Not a lot of room after fixtures and tooling. If I have a work piece 6" or 7" high in a vice that's another inch or so off the deck plus tooling in holders that leaves very little room. I have seen your work, you reels are very impressive, and height might not be an issue. I went with a Precision Matthews PM-45. More than I need but I know it will handle anything I'll throw at it. It should be arriving in a couple more weeks, hopefully the noise of a gear head won't drive me out of the garage. I also looked at the Industrial Hobbies mill. A definite step up but read too many horror stories of wait times. Maybe a PM-20 or 30 mill would fit the bill or the Grizzly equivalent? This is the big brother of the one you're looking at if you need more travel.
In the end I went w/ a RF-45 clone as they have a large following for support and upgrades even to CNC, but at that point I'd go a different direction.
HTH.

Good info so far.

Heywood, Welcome to the board

Believe me the "big brother" is the one I'd prefer. If the table wasn't so wide I'd have it in my shop now. Busybee has a new model in the store right now.

I like that PM-45 but I think shipping might kill me. I haven't contacted them though, maybe I should.

Since I posted the question and got some good info I have reconsidered my selection and am re-thinking my size selection. It turns out with my method of fixturing I don't have much room to maneuver under the spindle in some situations. I am therefore reconsidering the size of mill I should buy. My new choice is this unit. It concerns me though that it says 220v single phase with phase converter but then goes on to say 3 phase. Not sure about that statement.

Anyway, anyone have any opinions on this unit? Thanks...

http://www.grizzly.com/products/8-x-30- ... Mill/G0678

Just a misunderstanding on your part. Here's what it says:

"And it’s controlled by a state of the art Yaskawa frequency drive. No need for 3-phase here, folks! Hook it up to your 220 volt, single phase power source and go! The drive inverts and modulates the power to give you smooth speed changes with robust torque."


Harold

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Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.

Thanks Harold, I wasn't sure if I was reading that right.

So, any opinion on the machine?

I would hesitate to make any comments, not being familiar with its features and quality. Please do not interpret that as a thumbs down. I really have no opinion.

Harold

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Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.

Coming back late into this...
Have you made a decision? You've taken a big price jump from your original search, happened to me too.
I can't offer any feedback on that unit other than it has nice features and a VFD would be good, but I have *read* that parts for Grizzly machines can be difficult to source as they age, also read up on support for after the sale. Maybe some other members can comment with their experience with Grizzly.

Shipping on the PM45 was $99 + a $35 lift gate fee since my house doesn't have a loading dock His after sale support is top notch by all accounts. Also a 5% disc. for payment up front which basically covered the shipping cost.

Have you looked at an Optimum? What about a baby BP style.?

Hi Heywood,

Thanks for the info! I did make a decision and as you noted I ended up buying a machine locally, exactly the same as the one from Grizzly but without a VFD. I was warned buy another machine supplier that the HP drops when running the motor at a lower RPM, that and they can be sketchy, subject to failure. Besides as you also eluded, if it breaks down I'm up the creek without a paddle, but since it's from here it shouldn't be as big a deal.

I'll post some pics when I get it in the shop. Should be done by this time tomorrow.

How unusual!

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I like to think that I can see the negative in anything.

Steve, your the king of going bigger