Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] What to buy me, oh my

Hi Les:
Please do yourself a BIG favour and don't buy one of those abysmal
combination machines (Smithy, Shoptask etc.)
They are both crummily made and a pain in the ass to set up and use.
The best stuff to have for your class of work is a small kneemill and a
12x36 lathe.
KBC (among others) markets a perfectly sized little kneemill.
I had one for about 8 years, and I built all kinds of complex precision
stuff on it.
The table was about 7x30 or thereabouts, and the new cost is about $4500.00
CDN.(about $3000.00 USD)
I sold mine last spring for $2500.00 to a buddy who makes radial aircraft
engine models, and he just loves it.
There should be others around.
It's big enough that you can get a 1/2" drill chuck and a 1 1/4" Prentice
drill in it and still have enough room to drill a hole in a reasonable sized
block clamped in a milling vise.
It's only 900 lb or thereabouts, so it can still be humped into a basement
without too much pain.
Beats a milldrill and those godawful combo contraptions by a country mile.
Cheers

Marcus
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Lester <lesmoore@...>
To: 7x10minilathe@yahoogroups.com <7x10minilathe@yahoogroups.com>;
CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>;
gunsmith-list@... <gunsmith-list@...>
Date: Wednesday, February 21, 2001 8:24 PM
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] What to buy me, oh my

>Ok, I've been reading this group for a while and rec.crafts.metalworking
>for a few years off and on.
>
>I now have money to buy a lathe and mill. There have been lots of
>questions regarding what to buy, but I'm gonna try to ask mine a little
>differently.
>
>I'm new to metal working, but am pretty proficient with mechanical drawings
>and such, from my Navy technical experience.
>
>I want to do anything from building a sterling engine up to some
>gunsmithing, as in maybe working barrels for a single shot rifle and maybe
>making my own falling block action. Maybe also things like repairing
>shafts, pump impellers and other small parts repair/fabrication.
>
>Should I buy a Shoptask a Smithy Granite, I've also been looking at the Jet
>9x20 benchtop.
>
>I may still buy the Grizzly 7x12 in addition to something bigger, or maybe
>just to start out with it.
>
>Mills, I am totally lost with other than the 3n1 jobs.
>
>It would be nice to have DRO and CNC capability, since my eyes are getting

bad.

>
>I have $2500 to $3000 to spend.
>
>I'm going to start calling around the local area, now that I am ready to
>buy, and see what is available. There are only 2 or 3 dealers listed in
>our phone book, so I'm not expecting much around locally.
>
>I'm cross posting this to multiple groups, so my apologies in advance for
>those that read all the groups.
>
>Any help appreciated,
>Thanks,
>
>-(o|||||||o)-
> Les
>
>
>