Needs Pictures Needs Pictures:  0
Picture(s) thanks Picture(s) thanks:  0
Results 1 to 12 of 12
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Tamworth, NSW
    Posts
    202

    Default Wanted: Milling machine / vertical mill

    Hi there

    I am in the market for a milling machine for hobby use in shed. Primary use if for making folding knives and jigs for knife making. If I buy new it would be something like a Sieg sx3 benchtop machine but if there are any small knee mills out there or benchtop machines you are looking to sell please let me know. This would be my first mill.

    I am located in Tamworth but prepared to drive hundreds of km for the right machine. Budget is up to $2,500.

    Please let me know if you think you have something or know of a machine.

    Ian

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    Don't know the condition of it, but the rotary table alone would be worth the cost.
    https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/east-maitland/miscellaneous-goods/denbigh-milling-machine/1223131822

    Do you have 3 phase?
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Tamworth, NSW
    Posts
    202

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore View Post
    Don't know the condition of it, but the rotary table alone would be worth the cost.
    https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/east-maitland/miscellaneous-goods/denbigh-milling-machine/1223131822

    Do you have 3 phase?
    Kryn
    Thank you Kryn

    Yes I have a vfd that I could use to run one and saw that mill. I guess the size and my inexperience stopped me investigating further. Having no mill experience I thought that the vertical head being fixed and knee adjustment for height would potentially make it harder for vertical use where plunge cuts were being used. I was hoping to replace my drill presswith the mill allowing me to utilise space in the workshop better. With folding knives operations such as counterboring, drilling and plunge cuts are frequently used and I thought maybe this would be not so easy to use but maybe I am wrong?

    i’d appreciate any thoughts on this model or similar ones without a quill like a benchtop mill or drill press has?

    Ian

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    35
    Posts
    1,522

    Default

    My mill only has a tiny quill travel of 60mm so i do a lot with the knee fixed. The only thing that really is hard without a quill is power tapping. You can get round that with a tapping head, but they use heaps of Z room so are not ideal.

    Those Denbigh mills are tough, and not impossibly heavy but the thing you'll miss if drilling many small holes is the spindle RPM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    Just be aware that some of the minimills like the X2 etc, have plastic gears inside of them.
    When you do find something acceptable to you, I'm pretty sure that some of the members on here would be only to happy to assist you by having a look at it with/for you.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Tamworth, NSW
    Posts
    202

    Default

    Thanks cask warrior for your comments - lots to consider.

    Quote Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore View Post
    Just be aware that some of the minimills like the X2 etc, have plastic gears inside of them.
    When you do find something acceptable to you, I'm pretty sure that some of the members on here would be only to happy to assist you by having a look at it with/for you.
    Kryn
    Yes I am looking a the belt drive models with brushless dc motors sx2.7L or sx3.

    My concern also also with a larger knee mill was maybe for intricate work using say a 4mm end mill to cut a groove in knife I would lose some feeling/feedback when in use - I am probably showing my inexperience here but putting a small pocket knife part on a significant sized machine just seemed a little above what I may need?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    35
    Posts
    1,522

    Default

    I don't think you lose any feel between something Bridgeport sized and a mini mill at all really. I have a super tiny astoba and it's really the same experience as my big mill only way less capable at removing material. It also does not have a quill so I've been getting a lot better at rigid drilling (and breaking taps).

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    melbourne australia
    Posts
    3,228

    Default

    I can't remember exact numbers, but from memory a 3mm solid carbide end mill wants to be spun at around 6000RPM. I don't have a mill, but I have milled slots in titanium with carbide end mills using a cross-slide mounted DC motor. If I didn't keep the revs up I got horrible chatter. If you will be milling exotics for your knifes I would look for something with the capability of high RPM.
    Chris

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Syd
    Posts
    492

    Default

    Not sure if this is still there, a mate was asking my opinion of this Adcock and Shipley the other week....based on a partial picture of the tail-end! Can't imagine he can fit it in his place, but it was under your budget. You'd have to drive to Sydney if it's still available.IMG_3151.jpg

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Tamworth, NSW
    Posts
    202

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Hunch View Post
    Not sure if this is still there, a mate was asking my opinion of this Adcock and Shipley the other week....based on a partial picture of the tail-end! Can't imagine he can fit it in his place, but it was under your budget. You'd have to drive to Sydney if it's still available.IMG_3151.jpg
    thanks, do you have some contact details you could PM me please?

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Syd
    Posts
    492

    Default

    Hi Ian, not sure what's going on, but can't quick reply or "normal" reply to the PM for some reason. If I don't hear from him tonight or tomorrow - left him a message - I'll visit on Saturday and see if I can get the contact for you. Cheers,
    Bill.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Tamworth, NSW
    Posts
    202

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Hunch View Post
    Hi Ian, not sure what's going on, but can't quick reply or "normal" reply to the PM for some reason. If I don't hear from him tonight or tomorrow - left him a message - I'll visit on Saturday and see if I can get the contact for you. Cheers,
    Bill.
    Thank you Bill, I’ll PM you my email address just in case.

Similar Threads

  1. WTB Vertical Milling Machine Melbourne
    By joez in forum WANTED TO BUY
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 7th Apr 2018, 10:43 PM
  2. Electric power feed for Vertical Milling Machine.
    By LexD in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 3rd Mar 2018, 03:44 AM
  3. Victoria milling machine vertical head
    By KBs PensNmore in forum EBAY, GUMTREE, and other off forum sales sites
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 10th Feb 2017, 10:35 PM
  4. Replies: 14
    Last Post: 7th May 2016, 10:49 PM
  5. Vertical Milling Head for Horizontal Mill
    By seafurymike in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 42
    Last Post: 16th May 2012, 05:23 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •