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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Albury
    Age
    58
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    90

    Default Mill Drill opinion/suggestion/recommendation

    I have never owned a milling machine and the last time I've operated one was during my apprenticeship 35 years ago so I'm looking for some advice ... here it goes:

    The need to carry out some milling operations arose not long after I acquired my lathe and I wish I could just buy a mill and get on with it. However, my workshop space is somewhat limited and doesn't provide room for more machines so I need to come up with another solution.

    I own a full height pedestal drill (old "Peerless" brand) which has served me well for over 25 years. I'm exploring the option of replacing the drill with a small mill drill.

    Something like an Opti Mill Drill BF-20 (see link here) would fit the available space. I don't do any commercial work, just small home/hobby jobs.

    What are the limitations of a small mill-drill (i.e. what CAN'T they do)?
    Does anyone own or have experience with a small mill drill?
    What other brand/model mill drill would you recommend?
    Any "must-have" features I should look for?

    All comments, opinions and recommendations are appreciated.

    Thanks for looking at my post.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    sydney ( st marys )
    Age
    64
    Posts
    4,887

    Default

    Not owning one but my opinion.
    I think they are reasonable value for money.
    There appears to be a lot of information out there on the net about them.
    If you are only going to be doing hobby stuff they would be more than capable.
    If you wanted to be able to machine something reasonably quickly it probably won’t happen,you would need to work to the limitations of the machine.
    I think they utilise plastic gearing which would limit how you approach a job, I also think there may be an issue with their drive system, if it’s not direct drive.
    Tooling I don’t believe is an issue as long as the other requirements are met ( machine capabilities).

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Mt Crosby, Brisbane
    Posts
    177

    Default

    Ultimately it depends on what you are trying to do. Anything that is high load or high precision you need a proper mill. The hobby mill drills are lightly built, but if you can squeeze in a vertical mill with a drop head well that's a proper mill and overbuilt for drilling.

    I have a vice with xy screws that I can put on my drill press to do very light work. It will also mount on a lathe with a 90 deg table and you can mount a cutter in the chuck. Works like a vertical head mill only on it's side...again it's a limited solution but cheaper than buying a mill drill.
    I'm just a startled bunny in the headlights of life. L.J. Young.
    We live in a free country. We have freedom of choice. You can choose to agree with me, or you can choose to be wrong. Me.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    6,439

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    Hi Apprentice, Guys,

    I have a BF20 Chinese clone. It does what I want it to do in a reasonable manner.

    The major weak points are as Pipeclay pointed out are plastic gears. Very easy to strip the teeth off. I made up a set of steel gears to replace mine. There is a write up on here somewhere !

    Another is the motor ! I understand that the newer machines have brushless motors, which is a big plus. The motor on mine is a brushed motor and I've now had two new motors and repaired the second one four times. The brush gear is a weak point on these motors.

    And very recently, past couple of days, had to make a new bush for the fine down feed to the down feed handle because the gears were so lightly in mesh that they started to skip over each other. I've now made a bronze bush and replaced the one made from cheese. There is still only a couple of mm of tooth engagement, but it works properly again.

    Other than the things I've mentioned, I've done a lot of good work with the machine.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Picnic Point, Sydney
    Age
    77
    Posts
    312

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    From what I hear the geared head machines have gear problems. If that's the case then look for a machine with V pulley drive. I've had one for over 40 years that I work hard & it still does the job. I doubt a geared head machine will drill a 2 1/8" dia hole in steel and then with a 4" cup wheel fitted use as a surface grinder . I don't think today's Chinese machines are the same quality as my old Taiwanese drill/mill with the cast iron pulleys but still worth a look. Definitely fit a 2 axis DRO.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    6,439

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    Hi Snapey,

    Nothing wrong with gears, its the plastic that is a problem ! Just look at the plastic belt pulleys on cheap Chinese press drills.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    666

    Default Mill Drill opinion/suggestion/recommendation

    I can’t comment on that particular machine but for that kind of money I’d look for something older and sturdier.

    I tried milling on my 9” Hercus once for about 2 hours. Was way too much of a pain and I immediately started looking for a mill.

    Found one of these for $300 (the older version, RF-30 with a 3 phase motor):


    https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/root...pytopasteboard

    I think that’s a little too much money based on what I’ve seen before. But have no idea really.

    It took another $200 in parts to get it back up and running. I added a spindle RPM gauge and VFD and it’s been flawless. Unfortunately the table has been pecked and is tight/loose in a few spots on the x axis but that’s what you get for the money I paid.

    Other than that it’s been amazing. Hogs material and I haven’t found I needed more yet.

    Not small though and certainly not light. I reckon 400kg all up and the table travel needs space.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Mt Crosby, Brisbane
    Posts
    177

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    Taiwanese stuff has always been a cut above the chinese stuff. I have a Taiwanese table saw, it's a perfectly good machine for what it is. Some of the chinese saws I've seen should go straight to the tip. It never ceases to amaze me how much function and reliability they will sacrifice to save a few pennies.

    Your fundamental problem is everyone wants the same thing. The chief market in aus for second hand machinery is home hobiests, and most are space poor,so you can buy large top quality machines for next to nothing while small good machines cost a bomb. If you have the land it would actually be cheaper overall to build a bigger shed to house full size machines.

    Good quality mill drills are really scarce, so you are left to pick over the bones of rubbish chinese machines and try to get them working.

    I have a hercus 9". They were designed to train apprentices, not to do any real work. They are barely a lathe let alone a mill. If you get a proper lathe, something with a 14" or 17" swing and short bed you can do a bit of milling on that. You need a vice mounted at 90 deg and a vertical slide. You can use the cross feed for even cutting.limited travel, but if you want to do serious milling buy a proper mill and put it in a garden shed.
    I'm just a startled bunny in the headlights of life. L.J. Young.
    We live in a free country. We have freedom of choice. You can choose to agree with me, or you can choose to be wrong. Me.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    1,322

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    I have the slightly bigger and more powerful (slightly being the operative word) Optimum HM-28V. I've never used a "proper" mill, so I don't have a reference point apart from watching YouTube vids of bigger mills in action. It certainly seems capable, but you do start to see vibration through the machine as the cuts get bigger. So you take lighter cuts and get it done. I've added a DRO to mine, and very happy with it so far.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    9,088

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by damian View Post
    Taiwanese stuff has always been a cut above the chinese stuff.
    Young whippersnapper

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