SLRist
Plastic
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2017
- Location
- Portsmouth UK
For some time I've been planning to upgrade my mill to something properly decent. I have a reasonable amount to spend having sold a second car, and wanted to avoid the potential pitfalls of buying an old used industrial mill, so have been looking to see what can be bought new in the (very) low 5 figures range. I'd been looking at various beefed-up Bridgeport clones, but I have an issue with ceiling height in my workshop - 2.4 metres (7'10") max, and this is a real issue with turret mills. Then I came to thinking that one of the universal mills might be a better bet - something like this model:
VICTORY 32 Mill – Chester Machine Tools
These are well within my height restrictions, and would seem to provide additional flexibility as it has the ability to mill horizontally as well as vertically. My guess is that they're also rather more rigid than a Bridgeport style mill. The obvious limitation is the lack of a quill. I'm not quite so bothered about the inability to swing the head of the mill laterally.
Having not used a universal mill without a quill before, I was wondering whether someone could tell me whether this proves to be a huge obstacle in practice. I plan to hang onto my existing - very junior - mill which will be demoted to duties as a glorified drill press.
Grateful for any advice - thanks.
VICTORY 32 Mill – Chester Machine Tools
These are well within my height restrictions, and would seem to provide additional flexibility as it has the ability to mill horizontally as well as vertically. My guess is that they're also rather more rigid than a Bridgeport style mill. The obvious limitation is the lack of a quill. I'm not quite so bothered about the inability to swing the head of the mill laterally.
Having not used a universal mill without a quill before, I was wondering whether someone could tell me whether this proves to be a huge obstacle in practice. I plan to hang onto my existing - very junior - mill which will be demoted to duties as a glorified drill press.
Grateful for any advice - thanks.