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Thread: Choosing A Mill

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
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    Launceston
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    11

    Default Choosing A Mill

    Hello to all
    I am still looking to choose a mid sized Mill for hobby type work, I do mostly bits and pieces for motorbikes, cut some key-ways etc so nothing terribly technical.
    Following info I received from members here I have refrained from the Hafco and Sieg Mills I was contemplating.
    Can anyone give me their thoughts on the Rong Fu Machines; This is the link to the unit I am looking at. RF-45/N2F/N2F+DRO Model Milling Drilling Machine - Rong Fu
    Also found this whilst reading this morning: Titan TM45FGB. Are these worth looking at?


    Thanks in advance.
    Last edited by Woolant; 3rd Dec 2017 at 10:08 AM. Reason: Addittional info

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Canley Heights, NSW
    Age
    67
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    529

    Default

    You will find when it comes to Milling Machine advice on here, everyone has their own Hobby Horse they like to climb on, I had a HM-45 (Hafco) for 4 years, bought it secondhand and did a little work on it and it served me well building bits and pieces for model Live Steam Loco's. Found a HM-52G (Hafco) at the right price so sold the HM-45. The HM-45, RF-45, TM45 and other 45 machines are mostly the same machines rebadged, Ozmestore on Ebay sells one for around $1400. Naturally the fit, finish and quality of work and cut depth won't be anywhere near as good as a Bridgeport or similar machine.

    Just my 2 cents worth.
    Shane

    Got the square peg in the round hole, now can't get it out !!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Default

    Pretty much what Auskart said also echoes my experiences too. I have had a 45 size mill for 6 years and it has mostly done everything I have asked of it. I did have to tweak and play with it a bit at the start to get it to (what I considered) a useable state but you will find that with many members here and on other forums have similar experiences with these machines.

    I recently bought a S/H, very well used BP clone and now that I have seen how a "decent" mill is made, I can appreciate the difference but until I bought the clone I was none the wiser and happily made do with my 45 size geared head mill. It sounds a bit cliche but you learn to work around your machines shortcomings in no time at all.

    It's a shame that most of the home workshop Chinese mills are like this but then again if it was not for these machines, many of us would not be enjoying this hobby as many of us cannot afford or justify more expensive machines.

    From what you have told us, a 45 size machine would probably suit 99% of your needs.

    Simon
    Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Brisbane
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    Default

    I would just say that as the 45's start at 2kish and you will almost certainly want to add a DRO and power feed, then factor in a milling vice and you are sitting at 3k.
    For 4.4k you can get this - https://www.machines4u.com.au/view/a...CW-1PH/321169/
    I recently bought a bridgeport clone for 5k and I wish I'd gone down this route initially. 1 tonne isnt really heavy for these things.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2006
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    Canley Heights, NSW
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    67
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by j3dprints View Post
    I would just say that as the 45's start at 2kish and you will almost certainly want to add a DRO and power feed, then factor in a milling vice and you are sitting at 3k.
    For 4.4k you can get this - https://www.machines4u.com.au/view/a...CW-1PH/321169/
    I recently bought a bridgeport clone for 5k and I wish I'd gone down this route initially. 1 tonne isnt really heavy for these things.
    The Machine in the link you pointed to is exactly the same as the HM-52G I picked up, I paid $800 for it and added a VFD and DRO, all up owes me around $1600. Bought it from a prototyping company that was closing down it was only ever used on soft metals and plastics and came with all the accessories that were with it when new (vice, arbors, adapters etc). If you are prepared to wait, there are some bargains to be had out there, but there is also a lot of junk.

    The DRO I used is https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pro...10752b02cuWUUQ

    Here is a link to a HM-52G on Ebay https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Metal-Mi...wAAOSwY~laI6gr
    Shane

    Got the square peg in the round hole, now can't get it out !!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Laidley, SE Qld
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    Default

    To the OP. Unfortunately none of the suppliers of import mills know or have little interest in whether their current batch of mills or individual mills within that batch are dodgy or not, the mills present well on the showroom floor and that is that.
    The odds are - 10 to 1, 20 to 1 - that you won’t get stuck with a dud, it’s best to deal with a company that has the financial wherewithal to refund your money should it become necessary.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Malvern East
    Posts
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    Default

    To the OP. Rong Fu are a Taiwanese manufacturer of pretty dam good machines my RF30 is close to 25 years old and has given nothing but sterling performance. the distributor used to be MTI qualos who I think still are so I would not have a problem highly recommending them. Yes I have built steam engines, modified crankcases on my bikes made triple clamps etc all the things that you are intending to do plus more they are a good machine even better today they come with square slide backs mines an old round column machine but ive learnt to work around it

    Good luck with it

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Brisbane
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    Default

    http://www.graysonline.com/lot/0241-...sters?spr=true

    This just came up. No idea on the condition, and the model has a few faults if you google it. Still, it will mill things.
    In my experience watching grays though it will go for more than it's worth.

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