Harbor freight milling machine

[JoelD]

Trout that is a great video thanks for posting

A little depression though when I run intonguys like you and I realize just how much I don't know

Seriously great video and craftsmanship and thanks for posting

Would love to see a picture of the final parts all laid out if you have such a picture

Joel

 

[JoelD]

What does powerfeed mean?

Also, I'd like to be able to cut shapes out of flat stock, do I need powerfeed to do that?

Joel

 

[Gods Country]

I think your best bet would be to take a basic vo-tech course to learn the basics of milling & turning.

You'll save yourself years of frustration. You'll learn what to look for in machinery, and most important you won't lose a finger trying to teach yourself.

I also agree to look for good used equipment. The quality will be better, you'll be able to find parts, and you won't be able to blame the machine for poor quality.

 

[JoelD]

Great advice, I'll look around for classes today.

Any advice on what to search for, class titles or topics?

Thanks again,
Joel

 

[Gods Country]

I would contact local vocational schools, or community colleges and inquire whether they offer basic machinist courses. Explain you just want to learn the basics to safely operate a mill & lathe, possibly a surface grinder.

There is a foundry (Hitchiner) in Milford. I imagine there are local tool shops that support their operations. Hopefully there are also educational outlets
to fill the niche. Rural areas can be difficult that way.

 

[JoelD]

Thanks I started calling around to the community colleges, we'll see what comes back.
Joel

 

[troutsqueezer]

WRT Trout's steam engine:

Thanks Milton and Joel.

I don't have lots of free time, just spend 1 to 2 hours most evenings out in the shed. Currently working on building an internal combustion hit and miss farm engine.

Joel, sorry I don't think I have any pics of all the parts laid out. I did a build thread on Home Model Engine Machinist for others to follow as I built the twin steam engine. The purpose of the thread was to elicit advice from those members whose experience and skill levels are much greater than mine. This is one of the great things about this particular forum.

Trout's Twin

The HF mini mill comes with R8 spindle. There are some earlier versions that don't. However, if you are into making tractor parts and such, the mini versions of mills and lathe may be too small. Still the machine and machining advice available on these forums still applies. And there is no requirement to go to formal training sessions unless you want to. Many of the forum members are there to teach and they do it well with pictures and videos galore. It's how I learned.

 

[wdchyd]

JoelD,

When you do buy a machine I have all kinds of scrap shafts, nubs and slugs you can use for piddling around with.....the price is right(free)....I pitch the stuff out all the time..

 

[wdchyd]

I agree 100% on the R8 spindle, but not on the 3 phase option. Any 3PH machine tool under 3 HP can easliy be powered with a VFD, and the money you save buying the tool up front will pay for the VFD because so many people are scared of 3 phase.

The VFD for my 1 HP lathe was only $120 a few years ago.

Yea I guess the converter would be fairly inexpensive for 1 hp.....Guess I am just used to bigger motors (several as big as 20hp) which brings the cost up for conversion considerable.....

 

[JoelD]

wdchyd what a hugely generous offer and where I live close to you I might just take you up on it, you'll need to let me know what your preferred beverage is though and you'll have to be very clear when it is time for me to leave otherwise I'll ask questions for hours.

Thank you very much.

I'm still up in the air on what machine to initially get.

I'm thinking maybe the harbor freight as it is small enough to fit in either my or David's garage and we can learn as we go and then maybe progress to a bridgeport or the like Mill and a larger lathe?

The bridgeports are wonderful looking machines.

Can threading be done with a manual machine like the harbor freight?

Joel