New milling machine arrived this week

[lostcause]

oh yeah, one more thing on the manual ironworker - it looks about the same as ones marketed by baileigh. they make a manual ironworker and a manual punch for around $500 each. do you think yours is about the same as that one, and did you find it easy to use? those ones are priced reasonably enough that i've given thought to going in that direction.

 

[4shorts]

exactly right on the need/want issue. i worked as a detailer for a large fabricator for many years, and i really enjoy steel fabrication. i'd love to be able to do it on a small scale, but i don't find that to be feasible at the moment for several reasons. in the meantime i'm constantly looking for pieces to add to the collection in the hopes that i can reach that point in the not too distant future. it's certainly difficult to do that with a pocket change minded budget, but it means that i have nearly nothing to lose if i can accomplish it. if i can do it, it leaves me with a possible night and weekend business that i can work at through my last 20+ years in the workforce and then into the retirement years.

i've got cad files with a few partial plans for cnc tables and i've sketched out some preliminary thoughts on making rudimentary ironworkers, like press brakes and punches, and i'm just waiting to stumble on that cheap set of punches and dies, or brake dies to get the ball rolling. not having to have these tools to make a living makes it easier for me to wait for the right item to come along. i certainly am awed at the nice tools, but recognize the inherent liability that comes with them - you gotta have a good volume of work to keep it all going.

i'll leave you with a picture of my wood stove. it looks like my door might be bigger, so i think i might have got a slightly larger stove than you did. or maybe i just got the side loader and you got the front loader.

Ah it's basically the same mill/drill as mine. There a good reliable little thing. When I was working for other people I used to do allot of work on the side in the evenings and weekends. I would take some of the extra cash and put into a tool fund. By the time I decided to go it on my own I had enough good tools to get me off to a great start plus I already had a good customer base. As time went on I got into machining, fabricating and welding. I still do a good bit of automotive repairs along with the other stuff.

You seem to have the will and the want to do it so all you need is a little drive and some small amount of skill and you'll make it happen. It's not easy on your own. I can work most days 12-14 hours and sometimes even more but it is very rewarding in many ways. It's just myself and my wife here at the shop. She looks after all the book work, customers and everything related to the office and I do all the grunt work. We've been doing this for 15 years now and I'm only doing 15 more and then i'm looking for something different to do.

oh yeah, one more thing on the manual ironworker - it looks about the same as ones marketed by baileigh. they make a manual ironworker and a manual punch for around $500 each. do you think yours is about the same as that one, and did you find it easy to use? those ones are priced reasonably enough that i've given thought to going in that direction.

Ya it's the same type of beast. There OK but not perfect. I'm glad I got one and if I had to do it over again I would buy another one like it. It's saved me me many hours cutting stuff and the blade has never dulled. It's never had an issue but the problem I don't like about it is the blade set up. If the blade came straight down It would be a perfect cut but instead they start off cutting on the inside and as your cutting the metal it's rolling the outside piece.

I went out to the shop and snapped a few pics to show you. One piece is 1/8 th plate and the other is 1/4 Aluminum. the thicker the piece the more the right side piece gets deformed so there's a small amount of wastage. It's still better than a cop saw because there's no air born metal cuttings in the air after you use it.

They can cut thick plate. I've had myself and my buddy pulling on the handle to cut 3/8 X 4" flat bar. It wasn't intended for that but we made it happen and it didn't break the machine so It's tough. Here's a few pics to view.

 

[kevinj]

Lookin good!!!!!!!!!!!!!:thumbsup:

 

[jones6780]

On that power drawbar, he spindle did not start, but the brake failed and the power drawbar is what spun the spindle.

Russell

 

[4shorts]

On that power drawbar, he spindle did not start, but the brake failed and the power drawbar is what spun the spindle.

Russell

Wow. My brake must come on automatically because the spindle don't turn when I use the power draw bar. Either way I'm going to be very cautious when using it. Thanks again!

 

[Window Geek]

Nice machine, Paul. I like that CNC vise. That should help with getting things done.

 

[4shorts]

Nice machine, Paul. I like that CNC vise. That should help with getting things done.

Thanks buddy. It's been so busy on this end I haven't had the chance to get back ad leveling it and adjusting the tram on it but in time I will, I hope

 

[Reg]

Yes, nice, very NICE.
Nice shop too, really nice.

So, with all the patriotism for "Made in USA" in other threads.....
Where are the "Bridgeport, Oh Bridgeport" comments ?
and are they still in business, or is it a RIP situation there too ?

Yeah, you KNOW why I waited until TODAY to ask.

 

[Ductape]

Are you hiring ??

I work for peanuts as long as I can use the shop a little (or alot) on the weekends for my own pet projects.

 

[4shorts]

Yes, nice, very NICE.
Nice shop too, really nice.

So, with all the patriotism for "Made in USA" in other threads.....
Where are the "Bridgeport, Oh Bridgeport" comments ?
and are they still in business, or is it a RIP situation there too ?

Yeah, you KNOW why I waited until TODAY to ask.

Thanks Reg. I try and by Canadian or American made products when I can but I'm also a very small business owner who tries to make his dollar stretch as far as I can and living on an island leaves me at a Hugh disadvantage when it comes to purchasing items like this mill. There's no used to get and when it do become available they usually want 80% the cost of a new machine so I went with a new machine.

I first looked at purchasing a new South Bend mill and found out they are now built in Taiwan and priced high for what you get. I looked at the Bridgeport and could not find out where there made plus a small mill with the Bridgeport name on it that came with little to no accessories and was priced way to high so I did the next best thing. I purchased a new Taiwanese built mill with all the options I could get for it and purchased it from a Canadian company.

I do know that the Taiwanese build very good machinery these days and I'm more than happy with my purchase. We all would like to buy an IBM but how many of us actually do? When it comes down to taking money out of our own pockets we tend to rethink the buying American or Canadian purchases and look for the best deal.

On a good note. I just purchased a new Ironworker that's built in the US and it's being shipped directly from there factory. I did it because It seemed like a very well built machine for my needs and they were very competitive on there pricing and yes because it was American built. Thanks for your post. Happy Forth everyone from your neighbors in Canada

Are you hiring ??

I work for peanuts as long as I can use the shop a little (or alot) on the weekends for my own pet projects.

Man I'd hire you in a heartbeat. You do awesome work that's second to none. You could use my shop if you didn't work for me :thumbsup: