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Thread: New Mill

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2021
    Location
    WA
    Posts
    25

    Default New Mill

    Looking for owners of either a Pacific FT2 or a First 1 1/2 mills .
    I am thinking of getting a 2nd hand Pacific or a new First mill & trying to justify the expense of the new one .
    All feedback on these 2 would be greatly appreciated .

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    4,779

    Default

    I have a Pacific FTV2 mill.

    They are essentially a Lagun mill made in Spain. Quality is pretty good and they are reasonably solid. Mine has a fair bit of wear in the ways but it still does good work. I bought mine sight unseen from someone in Sydney. The head was in pieces but I was assured all the parts were there. I got lucky, only a couple missing parts that were easily fabricated by me. It came with a Sony DRO and a 200mm z column spacer all for $1200.

    I enjoy using it. Best gamble I ever made.

    Simon

    Sent from a galaxy far far away
    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.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2020
    Location
    Brisbane
    Age
    57
    Posts
    12

    Default

    My new First 1 1/2 mill arrives in a few weeks, spend a good two years waiting to find something secondhand but these days the coin for second hand rubbish is crazy and of all the new mills in that size I think it represented good value. I don't have time to fix up machinery and at the end of the day I told the wife we cant go on holidays as I need to buy more toys. The time I was looking I just saved my money to by the new machine and it worked out about right. I find the Taiwanese machines at another level well above the Chinese's stuff and I like the fact that I'm buying from a brand rather than a rebadge equipment distributor.
    Only wish I could have got a NT40 but will just have to make do with the NT30.

    Probably have not helped you much but for a new machine the First tick the boxes for me.

    Alex

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Location
    Geelong
    Posts
    37

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Hardcarve1 View Post
    My new First 1 1/2 mill arrives in a few weeks

    Alex
    Hey Alex,

    I have been seriously looking at these first mills as well, could you share what options if any you went with, and what the overall price was? They look like a good bit of kit in the photos. I did talk to the Modern Tools guys at the manufacturing expo last week, but unfortunately they didn't have any machines on display.

    I have been tossing up between the bm40v from hafco, and the First from Modern Tools. Tonight i was doing a bit of side by side comparing of certain stats i thought would be important.

    In no particular order, there was Table size, table travels, quill travels, quill diameter, weight, spindle hp, max table weight, extras and of course price.

    The first had 100mm more table travel on the x than the bm, and an extra 250rpm on the spindle. So far as i can see thats about it on paper. However it does look in the photos like it has a very high level of finish, and i have read that Richard King taught scraping classes at Long Chang, who make first mills, and reckons they are alright.

    The bm has a 100mm bigger table, more z and y travel, can support an extra 100kg on the table and weighs 300kg more. It also comes with a DRO and a vice. And it costs $1000 less at the moment with the sales.

    On the other stats they where very closely matched, and both are made in Taiwan, so they are democratic machines...

    Anyway, im probably leaning toward the bm at the moment as it seems hard to beat the value.

    Rowdy

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2021
    Location
    WA
    Posts
    25

    Default

    Thanks to Simon for his very helpful PM's with pictures ,of the pacific mill.
    Much appreciated .

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2020
    Location
    Brisbane
    Age
    57
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by qb6sagr View Post
    Hey Alex,

    I have been seriously looking at these first mills as well, could you share what options if any you went with, and what the overall price was? They look like a good bit of kit in the photos. I did talk to the Modern Tools guys at the manufacturing expo last week, but unfortunately they didn't have any machines on display.

    I have been tossing up between the bm40v from hafco, and the First from Modern Tools. Tonight i was doing a bit of side by side comparing of certain stats i thought would be important.

    In no particular order, there was Table size, table travels, quill travels, quill diameter, weight, spindle hp, max table weight, extras and of course price.

    The first had 100mm more table travel on the x than the bm, and an extra 250rpm on the spindle. So far as i can see thats about it on paper. However it does look in the photos like it has a very high level of finish, and i have read that Richard King taught scraping classes at Long Chang, who make first mills, and reckons they are alright.

    The bm has a 100mm bigger table, more z and y travel, can support an extra 100kg on the table and weighs 300kg more. It also comes with a DRO and a vice. And it costs $1000 less at the moment with the sales.

    On the other stats they where very closely matched, and both are made in Taiwan, so they are democratic machines...

    Anyway, im probably leaning toward the bm at the moment as it seems hard to beat the value.

    Rowdy

    Hi Rowdy
    Had my First mill now for a few weeks and but not doing any serious work on it as I have been just getting it set up in my shed. Its a nice machine and I'm happy with its accuracy, quality and smooth running. I can only comparing it to a BM30 that is on display at our local H&F warehouse as they don't have a BM40 but there is not much different from the outside in quality. They both have similar layout and controls and both feel the same when operating the handles and levers. The First does have a larger electrical box with better quality equipment and fit out which was the biggest difference. There is extra value for money on the BM40 for sure so that would be a good reason to go with it. My choice was based on I wanted a machine made by a known manufactured with a bit of history for parts in the future so was prepared to pay for that.
    Hope this helps

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    4,779

    Default

    Enjoy your new mill. I bet you are now thinking of all these new projects you can take on now that you have increased your machining capability!

    Simon

    Sent from a galaxy far far away
    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.

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