Thread: New to Milling machines, and an old one to me!!!

I am not sure if this is the right place to put this, but I figured since this is about milling machines, someone would be able to get me going in the right direction.

I am about to purchase a Burke/Powermatic Millrite MVN mill. It is a 8"X36" with a 1 HP Baldor motor and an R8 spindle. It has been sitting for over 5 years in a welding shop without power to it. A friend of mine who is a journeyman machinist looked at it for me a while ago and said it looks like a good deal and in good shape. Unfortunately, he is out of town and they just cut the price down to get it out of the shop next week. I am going to start cleaning it up and will get power to it this weekend, as to make sure it works, but I have been assured it does. 2 years ago, they had a new drw bar made for it, but it has not run since. My question is what should I make sure I do before it gets powered up. I am more than a little worried that I may miss something and cause future issues. Also, is there anything a very basically trained eye needs to look for before such a purchase?

If you have any input into installing power feeds and DRO's on these types of machines, I would be very interested in any help or info as well.

Thanks

Nick

There was an engineer once that thought $1500 for a Bridgeport was a good deal, until we realized that the spindel ran out .010 when all the way down. I would definatly check that. Just set up a mag base with dial indicator on it, and lever it down. There are other things to check for, but this one may get away from you and it's not an easy fix.

Originally Posted by nickdahick

I am not sure if this is the right place to put this, but I figured since this is about milling machines, someone would be able to get me going in the right direction.

I am about to purchase a Burke/Powermatic Millrite MVN mill. It is a 8"X36" with a 1 HP Baldor motor and an R8 spindle. It has been sitting for over 5 years in a welding shop without power to it. A friend of mine who is a journeyman machinist looked at it for me a while ago and said it looks like a good deal and in good shape. Unfortunately, he is out of town and they just cut the price down to get it out of the shop next week. I am going to start cleaning it up and will get power to it this weekend, as to make sure it works, but I have been assured it does. 2 years ago, they had a new drw bar made for it, but it has not run since. My question is what should I make sure I do before it gets powered up. I am more than a little worried that I may miss something and cause future issues. Also, is there anything a very basically trained eye needs to look for before such a purchase?

If you have any input into installing power feeds and DRO's on these types of machines, I would be very interested in any help or info as well.

Thanks

Nick

Dear Nick,

I didn't see anywhere in your IP the price of this machine...

I wonder, "Why was it necessary to have a new drawbar made?"

I went ahead and searched mill|milling using searchtempest within a 500 mile radius of Cour d'Alene and didn't turn up much. probably not many buyers, either...

My advice? Slow and steady. Don't get "buck fever"; wait for a good shot.

What Mark W. Ingalls said....

Not sure what a good deal is, but for me I looked for about 2 years before I pulled the triger to buy a mill. FWIW, I learned after looking for a while that smaller import mills will cost every bit as much as a good used Bridgeport or Bridgeport clone. If you have the room and dont just have to have one now I would recomend slowing down before you purchace something you cant get parts for or has inharent problems that the untrained eye would not see. If nothing else I would take someone with me that knows what to look at.

If the worst case sonario happens and you just have to have this one, be sure to look at the ways, see if you can at least still see some scrape marks also you may want to ask if you can plug it in for just a minute, if they dont want you to that to me would be a red flag. If they honestly just dont need it and want it gone they wont have anything to hide. Run the table and knee and spindle left to right, front to back and up and down just to be sure there isnt any binding and or problems with the lead screws. A little tight at the far ends of travel isnt a bad thing but it should still move smoothly.

Good luck with looking, finding & buying your first mill,
Joe

I think I should probably stop typing these while drinking......

I am new to owning a mill, but have used them on occasion. This was not a rush purchase, as I have been looking for a mill for several years. This one is just almost exactly what I wanted. The DRO and Powerfeeds will come in time.

Parts are still available for these new. Yes, I know they are not everywhere, but it is not a daily user.

I am working on getting an oiler for it today.

Tomorrow the work begins.

Oh ya, about price. $750 delivered. Includes a full set of R8 collets, 2 drill chucks, and a few cutters.

Nick

Originally Posted by nickdahick

<snip> $750 delivered. Includes a full set of R8 collets, 2 drill chucks, and a few cutters.

Nick

"Then you done good," I say.

Originally Posted by nickdahick

I am new to owning a mill, but have used them on occasion. This was not a rush purchase, as I have been looking for a mill for several years. This one is just almost exactly what I wanted. The DRO and Powerfeeds will come in time.

Oh ya, about price. $750 delivered. Includes a full set of R8 collets, 2 drill chucks, and a few cutters.

With that being said, I say congrats!! , sounds like a pretty good price, and as far as the parts go I wasn't sure, just wanted it to be kept in mind. With that said, This being "almost exactly what I wanted"... you cant hardly ask for more.

As far as DRO, I just installed one myself if you need .... want any info or help feel free to check out mine or just ask.

New Additions to my old Bridgeport

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb...ad-bridgeport/

Congrats, & Good luck,
Joe