Is this old drill/mill worth it?

Phil Dwyer

Phil Dwyer

Joined
Feb 28, 2006
Messages
3,494
Hi Friends,

What do you think about this? Price seems maybe a little high to me? It's supposed to be in good shape although needs cleaning up and "a little sanding."

Thanks, Phil

DRILLING & MILLING MACHINE - $1000 (Honolulu)

Date: 2011-01-26, 2:05AM HST
Jet 16 Drilling & Milling Machine Excellent Working Condition. Table size : 9 3/8" X 23 1/2". Drilling Capacity : 1 1/4". 2 HP. Extra Electric Table Feeder, Dayton S.C.R. Control, Custom Made Stand. $1000 or best offer. If interested please call Hawaii Metal Fabrications between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 282-8975. Please do not respond by email.

3m73p13l25Z65W65R2b1q410909f5012218d8.jpg
 
that looks to be a good deal. the extra table feed is worth it. is it close enough for you to check out in person?
 
I personally would not pay $1000 dollars for it. Maybe offer $600. Jet is an import just like Grizzly, and you can pick up a Grizzly mill/drill for less than a thousand new.

You didn't say what you were looking to use it or. That would play a consideration as to whether it will fit your needs.

One thing I would mention about a round column mill/drill is that if you have to raise and lower the head in one operation you are in for some frustration. For example, you need to drill a hole and then counter boring it, but you need to raise the head to swap out your tooling, the round column will make it so that when you bring the head back down, it will be in a different location left to right. So now your counter bore will be way off.

I don't know your experience level with machining so that is just a very simple example, but the round column will cause many problems when doing milling set ups where you need to change tooling by raising the head and then lowering it back into position.

Also the power feed is not that big of a deal depending on use. If you are just doing little jobs for knife making then you will really never get much use out of it except for moving the table when setting up.

If you are limited on funds but still want a decent machine look at a dovetail column machine.

Good luck,
Greebe
 
As I understand it, your biggest cost in Hawaii is shipping, so you are especially interested in looking local.

The above post re round column is the downside

The power table feed is nice to set for constant smooth finished feeds
$300 to 400 add on made by Align for most any knee or mini mill, just determining the model number is the biggest trouble.

If you are really set on using a round column, you can work around somewhat by making your own special tools ( cutting long shank tools short )

For guards and other super basic slots and such, you will never notice.

Once you get used to having it, and thinking more about milling jigs, fixtures, tooling, and good projects, you may think again about moving up to a knee mill with better capabilities.

I am really wary about used machines, as I bought one that seemed ok, but is WAY out of TIR.

Check to be sure it has R8 collet so it will be compatible with the one you eventually change to.
Morse taper tooling is a deal breaker for me.

Check to see what they throw in first, NICE VISE ???
Then offer 4 or 500 ?
 
Phil,
I have pretty much the same machine. I have the Grizzly 2hp. Works great for what I do with it. I cut the sholders on my blades with it and also slot guards. I also used it with a ball mill to put a fuller in a Bowie blade. Here's the deal I got. Machine less than a year old, still has packing grease on it. 2 vises, 125 end mills from 1/8 to 1.5", stand, and a 13 piece R8 collet set. I paid $650.00 I know Hawaii prices are probably higher than Tyro NC prices. Here is a link to the machine I have http://www.grizzly.com/products/Mill-Drill/G3358
Hope this info helps.
 
Thanks guys. I really appreciate your input!

It is difficult to say what its use will be as I would have a steep learning curve ahead of me in order to discover the possibilities. I'm kind of looking for something to eventually explore with with my some of my metalworks high school students.

I am pretty much always checking the local Craigslist tools listings. This is only the second mill I've seen listed in as many years. The other was an old Bridgeport, but completely beyond my means to house. I talked with the fella selling this one. He is selling off stuff from a friend's shop (who died suddenly) to pay off his friends bills. No haggling was entertained. I believe I will pass on this as the price seems rather high. If it doesn't sell and gets relisted, maybe I'll try again.

Thanks again, Phil
 
Good luck finding a mill, Phil. I remember when I lived on Oahu, machinery was scarce secondhand. Maui was even worse of course. Get the Bridgeport! Heck, build a shed for it. Or make the school house it. Bridgeports are great.
 
Salem Straub said:
Good luck finding a mill, Phil. I remember when I lived on Oahu, machinery was scarce secondhand. Maui was even worse of course. Get the Bridgeport! Heck, build a shed for it. Or make the school house it. Bridgeports are great.
Click to expand...

Believe me, I would if I could. I rent and the owner has complained to the property manager, who has had more than one conversation with me, about all the stuff I have there already! As for the school, they too have expressed their concerns about the stuff I've brought there. The large hydraulic press I brought in still sits waiting for an electricity upgrade for the shop (not high on the list for the bean counters here). I've got an electives mechanics class working on a diesel powered generator we're going to try and run on french fry oil. We'll make our own electricity. Eff them if they can't take a joke! :D I miss my farm. :( :grumpy:
 
Hey I hope you can find something. I know how indispensable a mill has been in my shop. I would wait to see if he doesn't sell that mill and then offer him less if he still has it. $1000 is way too much in my opinion for it. Have you checked to see what it would cost to ship one from Grizzly? You might be surprised, I had them ship some stuff to Alaska and while it was expensive it was better than not having anything.

Good Luck,
Greebe
 
sharpeknives said:
Phil,
I have pretty much the same machine. I have the Grizzly 2hp. Works great for what I do with it. I cut the sholders on my blades with it and also slot guards. I also used it with a ball mill to put a fuller in a Bowie blade. Here's the deal I got. Machine less than a year old, still has packing grease on it. 2 vises, 125 end mills from 1/8 to 1.5", stand, and a 13 piece R8 collet set. I paid $650.00 I know Hawaii prices are probably higher than Tyro NC prices. Here is a link to the machine I have http://www.grizzly.com/products/Mill-Drill/G3358
Hope this info helps.
Click to expand...

Now that's a steal!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: 125 endmills in that size range would cost that much.

That is EXACTLY the same machine I got from Enco, just green instead of blue. I got mine brand new with their "mill/drill starter kit" for about $1200 delivered (with X-axis power feed). It is all I have ever used for knife work, and is the only machine I'm using in my WIP for Lorien's knife (I'd like to use my other machines but don't have my phase converter yet).

The one in your ad looks very similar Phil. $1,000 with tooling would be one thing... with no tooling it's too much.

+1 to number's post about round column mill/drills. For many things outside of knife making, they can absolutely infuriating... but for knife making it is a quite capable machine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top