Buying a mill and other maters...
Posted by
richard_damian@p...
on 2000-09-04 18:37:20 UTC
I have a fairly complete metal shop and used to repair bridgeports (and
resell them) as a hobby. The "M" head is particularly easy to repair. The
addition of a hitachi inverter, for about $300, will drive the 3 HP 3-phase
motor off of single phase.
Years ago, a friend and I were really crazy about buying most anything that
we could haul off. He bought a medium sized (approx 8000 lb) metal planner
once and used a rented trailer to get it home. The rental company said
that they would charge $150 if he damaged the trailer. He broke a bunch of
the boards lining the trailer and happily paid them their $150.
Bridgeports can be substantially taken apart. Spare parts are plentiful.
Blanchard grinding of saddle ways is (relatively) cheap.
I just want to encourage everyone in this forum. Sooner or later, someone
at a job shop is going to point out a metal lathe or mill that is sitting
in the middle of a field sinking in the mud. The owner is going to say
"you can have it for $200 (or free) if you will just haul it away..." Do
it. Take it apart and and rent an engine hoist if you need it. It can be
done . The owner probably knows that he can get $25 a ton tops if the
metal is sold to be charged back into a furnace - but it must be broken up
with a wrecking ball first.
When you have bought your first piece of semi-working industrial equipment,
you will have:
1. Almost certainly bought something a order of magnitude better than new
hobbiest equipment
2. You will have joined the ranks of the truely obsessed and proud owners
of equipment that deserves CNC control...
Dick
resell them) as a hobby. The "M" head is particularly easy to repair. The
addition of a hitachi inverter, for about $300, will drive the 3 HP 3-phase
motor off of single phase.
Years ago, a friend and I were really crazy about buying most anything that
we could haul off. He bought a medium sized (approx 8000 lb) metal planner
once and used a rented trailer to get it home. The rental company said
that they would charge $150 if he damaged the trailer. He broke a bunch of
the boards lining the trailer and happily paid them their $150.
Bridgeports can be substantially taken apart. Spare parts are plentiful.
Blanchard grinding of saddle ways is (relatively) cheap.
I just want to encourage everyone in this forum. Sooner or later, someone
at a job shop is going to point out a metal lathe or mill that is sitting
in the middle of a field sinking in the mud. The owner is going to say
"you can have it for $200 (or free) if you will just haul it away..." Do
it. Take it apart and and rent an engine hoist if you need it. It can be
done . The owner probably knows that he can get $25 a ton tops if the
metal is sold to be charged back into a furnace - but it must be broken up
with a wrecking ball first.
When you have bought your first piece of semi-working industrial equipment,
you will have:
1. Almost certainly bought something a order of magnitude better than new
hobbiest equipment
2. You will have joined the ranks of the truely obsessed and proud owners
of equipment that deserves CNC control...
Dick