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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Heidelberg, Victoria
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    79
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    2,074

    Default Bridgeport mill, how much?

    I have the opportunity to purchase a genuine Bridgeport mill, in excellent nick with a swag of expensive tooling. This mill is way, way bigger than I need, and I don't really have a pressing need for it. Just don't want to let this opportunity slip away.

    I know nothing about Bridgeport's, it's a JB8081 what ever that means.

    Initially I had my eye on a Sieg super X3, a desk top mill at around $2200 new.

    How much should I offer for the Bridgeport with tooling? I've seen a couple at machinery houses, and on eBay for around $12,000, much, much more than I could afford, or justify.

    What to do? What is a used Bridgeport mill worth?

    Ken

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    9,088

    Default

    I don't recall seeing a Bridgeport go for less than 2k mostly double that and upwards from there. Tooling could easily add another 2k. Hard to say much without knowing more.
    The 12k one at machinery houses are variable speed and DRO, does the Bridgeport have those? I don't recall seeing a Bridgeport that big.
    Stuart

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    melbourne, laverton
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    1,910

    Default

    this may be a dumb ques but why are they called bridge port mill? i am familiar with the machines. but was just recreantly after standing in front of one all night.and did think why is it a bridge port. is it the same as a turret mill?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    home
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    621

    Default

    Bridgeport is a brand name. They make turret mills - among other things.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
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    9,088

    Default

    Not dumb at all. (Well I'd like to think so because I only found out the answer a few years back)
    All turret mills aren't Bridgeport clones but lots are. Bridgeport is a America company that's been around forever. On clones you'll find the spindle area especially is pretty much the same.
    This is a bridgeport clone
    https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Pr...tockCode=M603D
    This isn't
    https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Pr...tockCode=M163D

    Hope this helps
    Stuart

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    melbourne, laverton
    Posts
    1,910

    Default

    thanks mate. so it wasn't a bridge-port i just thought it was. stil a handy machine.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    melbourne, laverton
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    Default

    i thought it was a turret because the the cutting head could move up and down unlike a universal. mill but i had a feeling because of the configuration. ie slotter on the the other end of the machine 180 deg. it was a bridge port.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Riverina NSW
    Posts
    169

    Default

    It could of been a bridgeport they are just a brand and make milling machines, i have used a kondia that looks like a bridgeport that also has a slotting attatchment

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    near Rockhampton
    Posts
    6,216

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by azzrock View Post
    this may be a dumb ques but why are they called bridge port mill? i am familiar with the machines. but was just recreantly after standing in front of one all night.and did think why is it a bridge port. is it the same as a turret mill?
    They were designed and built in Bridgeport, Connecticut USA back around the WW2 era...

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Charlestown NSW
    Age
    65
    Posts
    1,669

    Default

    Ken
    I suppose if the seller hasn't out a price on it, all you can do is decide the maximum you are prepared to pay for it. If you can afford it go for the bridgeport instead of the sieg. You won't regret it. You will still be able to do the small jobs on the bridgeport and the larger ones the seig can't handle. Will the seller sell the machine without the tooling? Might be a way to get the machine into your budget and then work up to more tooling later.

    bollie7

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    near Rockhampton
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    Default

    I probably would not buy an old bridgeport... The R8 spindle is not common in this country plus the mills are not that sturdy compared to the later clones...

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by .RC. View Post
    I probably would not buy an old bridgeport...
    Well now for me it would depend on price and condition(although I am assuming we are talking about the bridgeport mill that was cloned by everyone, there are some earlier models I wouldn't be so interested in)
    Quote Originally Posted by .RC. View Post
    The R8 spindle is not common in this country
    There are plenty OS and if it comes with all the tooling he is likely to need its not so much of an issue.
    Quote Originally Posted by .RC. View Post
    plus the mills are not that sturdy compared to the later clones...
    He is comparing it to a Sieg super X3, I'd say it was sturdy enough.

    Still in the end it comes down to price and the bridgeports do tend to go for more than I would like to pay.

    Stuart

  13. #13
    Dave J Guest

    Default

    Hi Ken,
    It depends on how well you know him and how much he is expecting for it. I would go for a low price, say $1500 with tooling and go from their, you can always go up, but you cant come down. If not ask him to give you a rough price he was thinking of.
    You can always sweeten the deal by offering to do him jobs in the future if needed as well.
    An R8 is well known and for a home shop it is absolutely fine, after all it was an industry standard over hear for many years and is still sold in the US today on their machines from China etc.
    Tooling is available almost anywhere for R8, H&F's has it CTC, the US has heaps etc. Sometimes I wish I had R8 spindles, as the tooling is a lot cheaper than my NT30 because it's so popular. CTC price for a R8/ER32 collet chuck is $15.50 where the same chuck in NT30 is $39.00.
    As for it being rigid I think it will be plenty rigid enough and at least 100 time that of the X3.
    I wouldn't wait around in case someone else hears about it, and I would try to buy all the tooling with it as you will probably pay 2 to 3 times the price latter on.

    Dave

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    near Rockhampton
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    Default

    It is not going to be better then a new X3 if it is clapped out.. If it is clapped out it can be more frustrating then ever...

  15. #15
    Dave J Guest

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by neksmerj View Post
    I have the opportunity to purchase a genuine Bridgeport mill, in excellent nick with a swag of expensive tooling.
    Ken
    Not sure if you missed this bit at the top RC.

    Dave

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