My new Hobby Mill:

Pete Wass

Pete Wass

Well-known member
I have been wanting and looking for a small Milling Machine for years without luck so I reviewed a few machines and went with the Mill The Little Machine Shop sells, spending more of the Nursing Home's money :).

It arrived yesterday and I, with the help of a Cousin, got it into my Shop and partially set up. It appears to be a nice machine, for a Chinese machine. I bought the Accessory kit with it also and while pleased with most of the stuff, am disapointed with the vise. I may find another someday but the one I have will do for now.

While I would have liked to have a mcahine with power feed and powered Quil, I can live without being able to bore things well. I plan to buy a power feed unit for the X axis when they become available again. I think it will do most of the things I will want to do. Wish I had more time to play with it but don't right now :( .
 
That looks like a pretty comprehensive accessory kit you got with it. Get everything set up right, and have fun!

Jim
 
Hi Jim,

Right away I want to make something that requires a Ball Nose cutter, which did not come in the kit :(

Pete
 
Well, you're learning early: Every project requires at least one new tool.

J
 
Nice idea!
As for me, Martial arts is something I really crave for but travel costs and monthly fees aren't going to work out.

So I stopped at cooking. It's a great life skill though and gives you experiences to share with others. I'd start there if you have nothing else. Or check out this article https://www.maanly.com/hobbies-for-men/ . It suggests so solid ideas to spend you spare time.
 
Look into a Glacern vise, I think they made a 4" "Kurt style" vise that would work on your machine. Barring that get a "screwless" grinding vise. You'll get the best results if you never skimp on workholding or cutting tools. (Starting out, feel free to use some cheap endmills while learning, but when you find yourself struggling to get a good finish, buy some quality endmills and watch your problems go away...)

Good luck!

GsT
 
I took shop class in 8th and 9th grade in 1965.
I loaned money to my brother to set up a gunsmithing shop with lathe, mill, TIG welding, and tooling in 2000.
Having an inventory of that metal shop allowed me to set up my own. In the last 18 years I have rebarreled ~ 3 dozen rifles. I am on my 2nd mill and my 4th lathe.

Lately I have been watching machinists on youtube.
These guys are like rock stars.

There are some terrible Chinese mills that would require thousands of dollars to make them Kurt quality.
There are very good Chinese mills.

The rock stars of metal working evaluate these while putting on quite the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNAFlsSDHo0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5m-kA_Oq_4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58JleWxxOeE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKXyd78lcR4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK507Ra-goA

This is a good vise for cheap
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-ANG-LOCK-MILLING-MACHINE-VISE-w-swivel-base-850-300-NEW/161268628890
 
My Hobby Mill

turned into a Grizzly with a DRO several years ago. Small one and now I am wishing for one with more quill length and power down feed, more power as well. Shoulda went there in the first place likely.

Actually, I made a mistake in the building I chose. If I had done a small garage type building I coulda had a dang Bridgeport or clone long since. Too freakin old now to make the building change.

Pete
 
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