Mill recommendation

Bryant Hollinger

Bryant Hollinger

Joined
Jan 1, 2009
Messages
58
what mini or mid size mill/drill do you recommend? I want to use it to slot guards and maybe to make folders in the future. I don’t wanna buy junk but I can’t spend a fortune. Looking at the grizzlies mostly. I would love a bridgeport but they are hard to find in my area plus very hard to move and out of my price range.
 
what's your budget to purchase? new or used?
allow for tooling, holders, clamps, vises, cutters
 
Plan on spending at least as much on tooling as you do the mill.
 
Budget is as little as I can to get into a decent machine. Might could spend 1200-1500 for machine and basic tooling.

Anyone have a grizzly 0781?
 
Hopefully this isn't too off topic...

But could you do the milling needed for the DIY SGA in the other thread on one of these mini mills?
 
Bryant Hollinger said:
Budget is as little as I can to get into a decent machine. Might could spend 1200-1500 for machine and basic tooling.

Anyone have a grizzly 0781?
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I don’t have one but it looks like it will be fine for your knife making needs

We machine relatively soft stuff and thin stuff so it will work just fine
 
BubbaW said:
Hopefully this isn't too off topic...

But could you do the milling needed for the DIY SGA in the other thread on one of these mini mills?
Click to expand...

Shouldn’t be a problem. You won’t be taking a .250” DOC by any means, but it’ll get you there. Just takes a few (dozen) more passes.
 
Out of your price range but hear me out. I was in the same boat. I chose tormachs 440. Got it financed. If I could do it again I'd buy the newest 1100M. Once your hooked, you'll appreciate the extra table space!
 
I would save up and buy something larger then the mini. Mine works fine slotting guards but you can't do much more if you plan on anything besides knife making. They lack the rigidity, power, and table space.
 
FWIW, I started looking at the minis, moved on to shopping for a bench top, and then some of the smaller knee mills. Ended up buying a used full size knee mill from a machinery dealer about 3 hours north of me. Haggled the cost of freight (their truck I believe) into the cost. The dropped it off and pushed it into my garage with a pallet jack. I just had to tilt the head 90 to fit through my door.
There are times I wish I had an even bigger milk to be honest, but I couldn’t imagine going smaller.
Bottom line: it is a little more work and logistics to get a larger machine, but you absolutely will not regret it, and it’s a one time headache (unless you plan on moving, though guys do it).

At the end of the day, they really don’t take up a whole lot more space either, at least not much more than a bench top mill.

Something to think about.
 
Bigger is Better....Mass equates to rigidity which adds up to holding better tolerance less chatter of cutters. There are always tools that a knifemaker wants or needs to streamline a process this is where the Larger Table starts to be advantageous for knife specific tools!!
 
I've used both a HF/LMS mini and a medium sized (1000lb) machine for beginner folder work. The mini seems just fine for cutting lock bars with a dremel cutoff wheel, but it doesn't do very well with things like milling a relief into a lock bar. It vibrates, chatters, squeals, and groans...and leaves a poor surface finish. It just doesn't have the mass needed for heavier operations.

Definitely buy the biggest and heaviest machine that you have the space and budget for. Also check out Precision Matthews for Grizzly alternatives.
 
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hello, i have owned a GO781 for 3 years now, i only use it for guard slots and finger curves in the guard, and to flatten handle material. i did not buy collets, i use the drill chuck it came with. i think it works great. i use a shars 4" milling vise. its not as nice as a curt vise, but not as cheesy as the inexpensive imports. i also agree with the above post, you have to go slower than a real bridgeport, or else you get chatter and a rough surface. but for me, the extra room saved in the shop and being inexpensive, makes the downsides easier to deal with.
 
I have a Grizzly G0759 and a LMS Hi Torque.

Get a spindle DRO, you will use it all day long. I'd get the cheapest Grizzly with one.

Precision Matthews makes some great mils if you want to spend a bit more.

Get the biggest heaviest mill you can afford, spend more than you think ,lol. Tooling costs so much the mill cost hardly matters.
 
ashwinearl said:
My problem is a basement shop and not being very strong to carry heavy pieces.
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I don't know anyone who can lift a 1500lb Bridgeport by themself. I've seen plenty of guys get them into a basement shop though. Google "moving a mill into a basement" and you'll get pages of results. ;)
 
Thanks for the advice guys. It’s gonna be hard enough for me to justify the $2000 or so for a mini mill and tooling. I would love a Bridgeport but what would a decent used one cost? 5-10k?

A customer of mine asked me to make him a loveless style dropped hunter.im working on 4 right now I have been wanting to do some since I began making knives. First time doing guards I’m having a hard time slotting the guards with a drill press and files. That’s why the mill is on my mind!

I’ve ruined about 4 guards so far I’ve got two that will probably work. Having a time getting them square and tight fitting!
 
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