Opinions on Grizzly G0705 mill

flatblackcapo

flatblackcapo

Joined
Mar 25, 2012
Messages
9,286
Looking for opinions on the Grizzly G0705 mill . Is it good enough to make folders and maybe a spaceship or two? I was seriously thinking about selling my car to buy a mill but at this price I could buy the mill and keep my car. Thank you for your time and shared knowledge.
 
Get the G0463 instead. Round column mills like the G0705 are nothing but trouble for any job that requires tool changes or needs the use of more height than the mill's spindle travel.

Square column mills are wonderful tools. Get a square column mill like the G0463, you won't regret it.
 
I have the G0463, and use it for knifemaking. It works great. These smaller mills are limited in capacity, but well suited to the smaller tasks performed in knifemaking. As long as you have the knowhow or are willing to put in the time to coax precision out if it, I think you would be happy with it.
 
I have about the same mill as the Grizzly G0705 and use it all the time for way more than knife making. Its only draw back is the round column, but I don't find myself adjusting the hieght that much especially on knife related work. I have added quite a bit to mine also. Scales on all 3 axis, a 3ph motor and VFD so no belt and pulley changes, etc etc oh and a modified Grizzly power feed.
 
There is an endless list of people who will always say how this mill isn't good enough because it's a round column mill, these are too small, that motor isn't big enough, it's not heavy enough, etc.
Disregard those comments.
1.) Any mill is better than no mill.
2.) Get what you can afford.
3.) Later on, if you can upgrade - do so.
 
I own a G0463. It is a nice little square column Sieg X3 mill... great for milling guards and such. But it IS little, a bit sloppy, and not near as rigid as a big machine. I have full 3-axis DRO's on mine, and would be lost without them.
Best wishes whatever route you choose.
Erin
 
Karl B. Andersen said:
But just think where you'd be without it.
Click to expand...

VERY, VERY true Karl... and I'm definitely not complaining. The little mill is one of the most-used tools in my shop. I just want to make sure that nobody ends up disappointed when they try to run a big face-mill on Ti. ;)
 
When I first started looking at mills, I though I could get away with the HF mini mill. Then I decided, why not go a little bigger to the LMS benchtop mill. Then I figured, why stop there? I'll look at a Grizzly G0705... but then I wanted a square column, so I looked at the G0704, then the G0465, then the PM-20V all the way up to the PM-45M and about another half dozen "benchtop" mills besides that.

After it was all said and done, however, I decided to just suck it up and get the biggest and best that I could afford, so I bought a used 3 phase knee mill. Ultimately, I actually paid just a couple hundred more than the G0704 would have cost, and I now have a mill that I can do just about anything I want to with.

Now, I will say that not all mills are created equal, and I may have gotten lucky on mine, but if you know what to look for and keep a sharp eye, you should be able to find a used knee mill that will put out every bit as good of a part as the smaller, imported benchtops, with room and power to spare.

And as far as size goes, I really don't think that a 3 phase knee mill really takes all that much more room than a G0704 (or similar) mill would in the first place. Sure, it's a little wider, longer and taller, but not what I'd consider outrageously so.

Just my $.02. YMMV.
 
knife to a gunfight said:
And as far as size goes, I really don't think that a 3 phase knee mill really takes all that much more room than a G0704 (or similar) mill would in the first place. Sure, it's a little wider, longer and taller, but not what I'd consider outrageously so.
Click to expand...

And just a bit trickier to get down stairs and into the basement. ;) :p
Erin
 
I would take a hard look at the G705 it is very nive mill for its size. That said there are lots of full size mills for sale down in Californa but you may not have the room for one.

Brett
 
Karl B. Andersen said:
There is an endless list of people who will always say how this mill isn't good enough because it's a round column mill, these are too small, that motor isn't big enough, it's not heavy enough, etc.
Disregard those comments.
1.) Any mill is better than no mill.
2.) Get what you can afford.
3.) Later on, if you can upgrade - do so.
Click to expand...
Very true, Karl!

I used a Sherline (all 26 lbs of it) for 15 years. Did everything this full time knife maker needed. :D

Have a LMS bench top mill now and love it!
 
Thanks guys. Are these smaller mills like the G0705 and G0463 good enough for milling Ti frame lock scales?
The question that is burning in my mind now is, Where did Erin Burke get those awesome shades!??????
 
i had a HF mini mill for the last 8 years and only this year did i find a brideport 32" table for 1500$ with vice and a few odds and ends. i have used it a fwe times but most the time im doing smaller stuff and use the mini mill
 
I have the G0704 and love it. There is a forum dedicated to it as well as the conversion to CNC. I've had no issues with Titanium or Heat Treated Stainless on this mill at all.
 
Erin Burke said:
And just a bit trickier to get down stairs and into the basement. ;) :p
Erin
Click to expand...

Trickier, perhaps, but still possible. ;)

Unless your ceilings are too low.


When it's all said and done though, (ceiling height not being a factor) you really only sacrifice around a couple of extra feet on the front and each side. And that's assuming you get a full sized knee mill. There are a couple knee mills that are actually relatively compact.

And while it may be true that a smaller mill may handle smaller work more easily, you can still do small work on a large mill. You can't do larger work on a small mill.

Karl did hit it on the head though: ANY mill is usually better than no mill.
 
flatblackcapo said:
Thanks guys. Are these smaller mills like the G0705 and G0463 good enough for milling Ti frame lock scales?
The question that is burning in my mind now is, Where did Erin Burke get those awesome shades!??????
Click to expand...

You should be fine with most Ti milling (I've yet to build a framelock, but I've built several Ti handled balisongs), as long as you're doing reasonable cuts with appropriately-sized tooling.
The shades came from my kids' toy box. ;)
 
Erin Burke said:
You should be fine with most Ti milling (I've yet to build a framelock, but I've built several Ti handled balisongs), as long as you're doing reasonable cuts with appropriately-sized tooling.
The shades came from my kids' toy box. ;)
Click to expand...
Thanks Erin . Kids have the coolest stuff:D
Knife to a gunfight, You make a good point. I will see exactly what I can spend and look for a good long time to see just how much mill I can get for my money.
Thanks to all for your imput.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top