Thread: Another new member - looking to buy a K&T mill...coincidence or destiny?

I will be driving out tomorrow to look at purchasing a K&T horizontal mill. Despite a number of requests, the seller hasn't been able to tell me the model designation - but he has given me the serial number: 57-3653 and it has a 7-1/2 hp motor. Some tooling goes with it, 3 arbors, a knee-mounted overarm support, but not much else. He thought that it weighed 4000 lbs, but Gkbikers thread indicates that I should plan for up to 6000.

I am new to machining - kind of. I have designed a number of heavy metal objects to be machined by others, and I repaired a lathe for my previous employer (it had been sitting unused in his shop for six years). I have done a ton of welding and fabrication, but I always wanted to try machining. Otherwise, I teach the sciences at a tiny high school in N. Idaho.

Here is what I am after:

One of a lot of 75 2K/3H horizontals completed April 1942.

Just got back from seeing the machine - it is a 2K plain. Sitting out on the seller's side lawn, it was not available to test or run so I am taking a bit of a gamble. Worst case would be that the machine is trashed inside, but at least it has more scrap value than its selling price. On the other hand, I would have nightmares if I let myself go that low. So, $300 for a machine with a question mark, 350 lbs of accessories and tooling, a set of manuals, and an education in the offing -- still sounds like a deal. I brought the tooling home with me [3 arbors, 2 boring bars, a type B arbor brace, some angle plates and an adjustable angle table).

I plan to retrieve it on Thurs or Fri. My current plan is to use a pair of 2ton engine hoists, a spreader bar, a level, a trailer, some steel, sweat and gatorade. Just as if I had good sense. Photos real soon now...

It weighs a few pounds less than 6000. That was in the '39 catalog - I expect they gained some weight by '42.

I just found paperwork indicating that the machine spent many recent years at the Community College of Spokane before being auctioned off in December of 2011 when the school opened a new machine shop facility. Here's hoping that it lead an uneventful easy-going life up to that point.

I suppose you can accurately say that it was put out to pasture, sitting as it was in the midst of a patch of grass...

Originally Posted by Marty3d

I just found paperwork indicating that the machine spent many recent years at the Community College of Spokane before being auctioned off in December of 2011 when the school opened a new machine shop facility. Here's hoping that it lead an uneventful easy-going life up to that point.

I suppose you can accurately say that it was put out to pasture, sitting as it was in the midst of a patch of grass...

Hi Marty3d.

I have yet to hook mine to power, but I still say that you will love your new prize. There are still parts available for these great machines, although they are not cheap. I have been talking with a gentleman that has warehouses full of parts for them. Hopefully, your machine will not need anything except a little TLC.

Make no mistake about the weight though. These are real beasts and are amazingly heavy for their exterior dimensions. I am still having trouble believing how much mine weighs. I had to purchase a 6600 pound pallet jack to move it around and, even then, it takes three or four stout gentlemen to make it motivate.

Be careful when loading and unloading it. We loaded mine with a forklift, but it barely picked it up. I had a large wrecker unload mine. He used some type of fabric sock-like straps that he looped around the overarms. He picked it up without a hitch and helped me set it down PERFECTLY on a custom pallet I had made for the machine.

Congrats. Keep the updates coming!

gkbikers

Gk would you share the warehouse contact info with all the K&T parts?
Thanks,
Scott

Originally Posted by advt001

Gk would you share the warehouse contact info with all the K&T parts?
Thanks,
Scott

Hi Scott.

I'm sure PM members have done business with Mr. Chuck Carter already. His specializes in K&T and Cincinnati machine parts and manuals. My dealings with Mr. Carter have found him extremely professional and very knowledgeable about my particular machine. He has delivered more than I paid for, giving me information and advice that simply cannot be found for sale - both before and after I purchased a 2K manual from him (which was very nicely produced). I have been very impressed.

Let me offer the usual disclaimer: I do not personally know nor have I ever met Mr. Carter. I have only recently discovered his business and I have no relationship with him or his company other than that represented herein. I have not and do not expect to have any material gain by making the statements above.

Here is the contact info.:

MillingParts
Division of Magneco
New and used parts for Kearney & Trecker Milling Machines / Cincinnati Milling Machines
17401 Nichols Street ‑ "L"
Huntington Beach, California 92647
24 Hour Telephone 714‑843‑9997
Cell Phone: 714-398-5551
website: www.millingparts.com
E‑mail: chucker@dslextreme.com

I hope you find this helpful.

gkbikers

Originally Posted by Marty3d

I plan to retrieve it on Thurs or Fri. My current plan is to use a pair of 2ton engine hoists, a spreader bar, a level, a trailer, some steel, sweat and gatorade. Just as if I had good sense. Photos real soon now...

How did the move go? Sweat (a lot) is a given, but did you actually manage to pick that guy up with a pair of engine hoists?

X2 on the pick up? This one's in our local CL.

Ok, I picked up the machine. I had one 2ton hoist already and assumed (foolishly it turns out) that when I called rental yards and asked to rent a 2 ton hoist - and they both responded in the affirmative - that I would be able to go to one and rent one. Wrong. Both were rated at 1500 lbs, not 2 tons. So, I thought that maybe Harbor Freight would have one on hand...no again (they seem to be sold out in their whole system). So, I found a used one and purchased it (just as if I had good sense). I calculated the loads (BSE from U of Michigan) and searched for an I beam that I could lift - solo. All likely beams were just too heavy for me so I designed a spreader using steel that I had on hand (2x2x1/4" square tube and 3x3x1/8" square tube). I built the beam with extendable ends and drove to Spokane to load the machine. In spite of uneven ground, and the fact that the new/used hoist had a pressure relief valve that I didn't know about, I lifted the mill up, backed the trailer under it, and let it down. Proof:



Turns out the motor starter was destroyed by the previous mover...I am replacing it.

By the way, I tested my hoist to 4000 lbs using a crane scale before deciding to do it this way...



P.S. I want to take the opportunity to thank all of the participants of this forum for their contributions. Not to my puny thread necessarily, but for creating an honestly useful resource for someone like me. I purchased my first machine - a Rockwell vertical mill - just a month ago. I saw the K&T, for what I considered to be very little $, but while I was aware of their basic use for horizontal milling, slots, slabs, etc., I found out how versatile they can be by searching this website and reading numerous other threads. It brings to me the ability to do things that were previously impossible. That really gets me going!

Originally Posted by Marty3d

P.S. I want to take the opportunity to thank all of the participants of this forum for their contributions. Not to my puny thread necessarily, but for creating an honestly useful resource for someone like me. I purchased my first machine - a Rockwell vertical mill - just a month ago. I saw the K&T, for what I considered to be very little $, but while I was aware of their basic use for horizontal milling, slots, slabs, etc., I found out how versatile they can be by searching this website and reading numerous other threads. It brings to me the ability to do things that were previously impossible. That really gets me going!

Marty3d,

I want to second your positive commets about PM. I am a total newbie to machining, but I have found only positive responses and helpful comments here. Thanks to all the members for being so supportive.

By the way Marty3d, way to go in loading your machine. Your used hoist looks very similar to one I bought. Mine seems to be about 40 years old!

gkbikers