I for got the link. The Navy calls a machinist's a "machinery repairman" or shortened to "MR".
http://www.metalworking.com/dropbox/
Richard W.
Hello, and a question probably asked a thousand times
Moderator: Harold_V
my vote
Having had the Smithy 1220 LTD for about 10 years, I can say that it's the one for me. Good lathe/mill, and good product and parts/accessories support. For the home shop machinist, the 3 in 1's just cant be beat. Look at some of my past comments on my Smithy under my users name.
KERMIT
KERMIT
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sailingamerican
Re: my vote
kermit wrote:Having had the Smithy 1220 LTD for about 10 years, I can say that it's the one for me. Good lathe/mill, and good product and parts/accessories support. For the home shop machinist, the 3 in 1's just cant be beat. Look at some of my past comments on my Smithy under my users name.
KERMIT
I will second your choice. You have one of the good ones. I still like the single machines.
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vascon2196
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2009 12:46 pm
- Location: Mass
3-in-1 machines
This is the answer I have been posting quite often...just my opinion though.
I purchased a Grizzly G0516 3-in-1 machine about a year ago. I got into making small stationary steam engines as a hobby and for the price and what it had to offer made it an easy decision to make.
HOWEVER....if I had the cash (and patience) I would have bought a separate lathe and mill. It gets really old really fast when you start a project using your lathe and have to mill a keyway or something and then have to (take the tool post off, clean the cross-slide, attach milling tabel, attach and square up milling vise) and then mill a keyway. Then if you want to part the finished piece off you have to take all of the milling components off and set up again for your lathe. PITA.
I already had the lathe tool post tapped holes strip out on me in a little over a year from the constant back and forth between the lathe and mill.
Also, the milling attachment that comes with the lathe is great for aluminum and brass but steel....it just doesn't have what it takes. If I do have to mill steel I have to take very light cuts (.005 to .010"). Drilling isn't really an issue.
The lathe works great I must say. Changing speeds is a pain because you have to change belts around manually.
To give you a true honest answer (in my opinion) becasue I am a 3-in-1 owner, I would suggest you purchase a lathe and a mill separately. Grizzly is nice because of the price and the tooling is relatively inexpensive as well but if you want to spend the money and get some really nice machines do yourself a favor and get a Smithy.
I am use to my 3-in-1 now but if I could go back, I would have gotten a separate lathe and mill probably from Smithy.
That's my opinion.
Chris
I purchased a Grizzly G0516 3-in-1 machine about a year ago. I got into making small stationary steam engines as a hobby and for the price and what it had to offer made it an easy decision to make.
HOWEVER....if I had the cash (and patience) I would have bought a separate lathe and mill. It gets really old really fast when you start a project using your lathe and have to mill a keyway or something and then have to (take the tool post off, clean the cross-slide, attach milling tabel, attach and square up milling vise) and then mill a keyway. Then if you want to part the finished piece off you have to take all of the milling components off and set up again for your lathe. PITA.
I already had the lathe tool post tapped holes strip out on me in a little over a year from the constant back and forth between the lathe and mill.
Also, the milling attachment that comes with the lathe is great for aluminum and brass but steel....it just doesn't have what it takes. If I do have to mill steel I have to take very light cuts (.005 to .010"). Drilling isn't really an issue.
The lathe works great I must say. Changing speeds is a pain because you have to change belts around manually.
To give you a true honest answer (in my opinion) becasue I am a 3-in-1 owner, I would suggest you purchase a lathe and a mill separately. Grizzly is nice because of the price and the tooling is relatively inexpensive as well but if you want to spend the money and get some really nice machines do yourself a favor and get a Smithy.
I am use to my 3-in-1 now but if I could go back, I would have gotten a separate lathe and mill probably from Smithy.
That's my opinion.
Chris
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make-n-chips
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 9:40 am
- Location: Georgia
3 in 1 machines
Hello, New to Home Machinist.
I had recently purchased a 3 in 1 machine. I have done very good work with it so far. Some very detailed and close tollerance work and had no problems. I got a AT320L From a company called Bolton Hardware. I think the machine is made by Gear Head but it has the bolton name on it. The miiling head is setup in the middle of the lathe and very easily turns out of the way. I find this machine to be very easy to run and change setups. Mine has a 36" lathe but they do have smaller units. Anyone interested in more info just let me know. I got this for under 3000.00
I had recently purchased a 3 in 1 machine. I have done very good work with it so far. Some very detailed and close tollerance work and had no problems. I got a AT320L From a company called Bolton Hardware. I think the machine is made by Gear Head but it has the bolton name on it. The miiling head is setup in the middle of the lathe and very easily turns out of the way. I find this machine to be very easy to run and change setups. Mine has a 36" lathe but they do have smaller units. Anyone interested in more info just let me know. I got this for under 3000.00