Hello all,
Some more Mill/Drill Questions: (don’t worry I have use the search function first)
Would a Mill/Drill make a good drill? Or is it all bad? Can any Mill be a Drill Press?
The Plan: Buy a good Mill/Drill ($2000 or less) and use the Mill/Drill until I outgrow its capacity. Then buy a big beautiful Bridgeport (most likely used) which would turn my Mill/Drill into a Drill.
Reasoning: I don’t own a House yet and my tools must be portable (Benchtop) and run on 110 or 220 volt. I know nothing about Machine Tools. This is my first Mill and it should be new. I might not always need a Mill, but I will always need a Drill Press.
Quality: I am a miser with my money and I want to spend it correctly. From what I have read here: Enco, Grizzly, and Harbor Freight are at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to quality and customer service. Jet seems to rise to the top when it comes to customer service. Jet, Enco, Grizzly, and Harbor Freight all sell Chinese Mills. The next best Mill/Drill is Rong Fu from Taiwan. The Rong Fu has a better constructed Column (dovetail). The Lathemaster RF-45 clone could be an option, but it is made in China (Anhui GuiChi Tongyong Machine Works). From here we go to Mill only machines.
Prazi/Wabeco Mills are made in Germany starting price is around $2500 (maybe)
Rockwell is USA made, but I need to buy new for my first mill.
Wells-Index is USA made, but most likely beyond my budget.
Rusnok/Electro-Mechano is USA made, but starts at $3130 (beyond my budget)
Sherline is USA made, but don’t like the looks/function.
Taig Tools is USA made, but it is too small.
Country of Origin: I would rather not buy from a country that does not have or respect labor laws. That takes China out of the line-up. Taiwan might be a compromise.
The Holy Grail: It looks like I want a Bridgeport the size of a Rong Fu Mill/Drill with Drill features, but not made in China or Taiwan if at all possible.
Use/Projects: I plan to use the Mill for making Air Rifles, Paintball Markers and other toys.
Is there any brand that I missed? Is there a solution for me?
Thank you for reading,
-Matthew
[ 12-29-2004, 04:32 PM: Message edited by: yipsilant ]
Some more Mill/Drill Questions: (don’t worry I have use the search function first)
Would a Mill/Drill make a good drill? Or is it all bad? Can any Mill be a Drill Press?
The Plan: Buy a good Mill/Drill ($2000 or less) and use the Mill/Drill until I outgrow its capacity. Then buy a big beautiful Bridgeport (most likely used) which would turn my Mill/Drill into a Drill.
Reasoning: I don’t own a House yet and my tools must be portable (Benchtop) and run on 110 or 220 volt. I know nothing about Machine Tools. This is my first Mill and it should be new. I might not always need a Mill, but I will always need a Drill Press.
Quality: I am a miser with my money and I want to spend it correctly. From what I have read here: Enco, Grizzly, and Harbor Freight are at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to quality and customer service. Jet seems to rise to the top when it comes to customer service. Jet, Enco, Grizzly, and Harbor Freight all sell Chinese Mills. The next best Mill/Drill is Rong Fu from Taiwan. The Rong Fu has a better constructed Column (dovetail). The Lathemaster RF-45 clone could be an option, but it is made in China (Anhui GuiChi Tongyong Machine Works). From here we go to Mill only machines.
Prazi/Wabeco Mills are made in Germany starting price is around $2500 (maybe)
Rockwell is USA made, but I need to buy new for my first mill.
Wells-Index is USA made, but most likely beyond my budget.
Rusnok/Electro-Mechano is USA made, but starts at $3130 (beyond my budget)
Sherline is USA made, but don’t like the looks/function.
Taig Tools is USA made, but it is too small.
Country of Origin: I would rather not buy from a country that does not have or respect labor laws. That takes China out of the line-up. Taiwan might be a compromise.
The Holy Grail: It looks like I want a Bridgeport the size of a Rong Fu Mill/Drill with Drill features, but not made in China or Taiwan if at all possible.
Use/Projects: I plan to use the Mill for making Air Rifles, Paintball Markers and other toys.
Is there any brand that I missed? Is there a solution for me?
Thank you for reading,
-Matthew
[ 12-29-2004, 04:32 PM: Message edited by: yipsilant ]