Make me feel less remorseful about my impulse mill purchase

[stioc]

My impulse mill purchase and the ongoing ramblings...

I don't know how I went from 'hypothetically considering a mill for I don't know what' to actually buying a mill in about 3 days

It's an Enco RF-30 that I'll be picking up on Sat about 120 miles away. Comes with lots of tooling etc. However, I really have absolutely no clue what I'll use it for. Do you guys have any thoughts? any specific projects that come to mind as it relates to cars/offroading etc that I'll be able to use it for?

Currently I park both cars in my 2 car garage but looks like one of the cars will now have to live outside, what did I get myself into lol.

 

[Alchymist]

It's like buying a hammer - once you own one, every job becomes a nail. Opens up a whole new ball game.

 

[Strouty]

Unfortunately I am not a visionary, my mill has been keeping my shop floor from floating away for a couple of years now. Just start using it, learn as you go and make things as needed. My hangup is my phase converter and the "time" it would take to hook things up. I don't even know how I can say that with a straight face. My point is, use it, use it for anything, well except a giant paper weight.

 

[-Brent-]

It's not a huge machine so at least it won't take up too much space.

A mill is like a boat in that if you don't have friends, today, you will when that thing is up and running.

 

[stioc]

Haha. I thought I asked you guys to make me feel better

 

[speed bump]

I would love a mill for times when I need to make an "almost" correct part fit or when I need to make several of something.

Really the more projects you do the more you can come up with applications for the equipment.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Man, if I only had a mill, a decent set of large drill bits & endmills... and maybe a rotary table...

 

[Alchymist]

Man, if I only had a mill, a decent set of large drill bits & endmills... and maybe a rotary table...

Yeah, we forgot to warn you. It becomes addictive, and there's always "that one more tool" you need to do the next job.

 

[bczygan]

Sounds like you are under the false impression that a tool must have an immediate use to allow it's purchase.

You are among tool fanatics. Relax. We're here to help you feed your addiction........not recover from it!

Bill

And now that half the garage is a shop, you need a horizontal bandsaw and a disc sander and a welder and...........

 

[LXCam]

Reminds me of when I bought my first one. The wife said what'd ya buy that for. I said cuzzzzz and proceeded to make a billet paper towel holder with it and the rotary table. I was very proud of my billet paper towel holder and showed it to the wife. I'm pretty sure she was very pleased with my efforts because she gave me a "wow" response.

But since all those years ago I can't even begin to remember all the various projects and products I've made with it. Every dime I dropped into it and tooling has paid for its self many times over. You own a bike, just wait until to start making billet pieces for it and like someone else mentioned, your friends will come out of the woodwork left and right.

 

[stioc]

Ha! yeah I realized after posting that it's like asking a drug dealer how to quit lol

If you notice my join date, you'll see I've learned many bad habits since then, the garage is well stocked with bandsaws, welders, plasma cutters, lifts, table saws, band saw etc etc. I need prof help just as much as anyone else here haha.

Some past and recent projects and the garage:

 

[bczygan]

Your next thread title:

"What Tooling For My New Mill?"

 

[EOC_Jason]

Yeah, we forgot to warn you. It becomes addictive, and there's always "that one more tool" you need to do the next job.

When I lived in Houston I had a friend with a machine shop... Having access to knee mills, lathes, blasting cabinets, grinders, and every drill bit, end mill, and tap size you can imagine was so very helpful for projects.

When I moved now I'm finding myself searching for smaller versions that I can fit in my garage. I also try to buy drill bits and such in bulk at estate sales if I can get them cheap. I don't mind sitting in the garage for an hour or so sharpening a coffee can full of bits I bought for $5, beats the heck out of retail.

 

[larry_g]

One thing you'll find is that home shop sized machine tools are perty stable in price so if you find it is not your thing you can send it down the road for what you paid for it.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[vettex2]

Good one!
Now that I'm retired I don't have the shop access I used to have. I'm making one of those!

Ha! yeah I realized after posting that it's like asking a drug dealer how to quit lol

 

[jd_1138]

Garages are for tools -- not vehicles. Especially when you live in sunny California. Just put a sunshade over the dash.

 

[jd_1138]

I haven't had need for my mill in about four years.
I built what I needed, now I don't need anything built.
Not a waste of space, because I have extra space, but it certainly isn't mesmerizing or addictive. It's just a GIANT thing that makes little things.

Boiling it all down, a lathe and mill has little value to the average guy unless you need a new hobby.
But, they do resell easily.

You can make parts, but probably after buying raw stock you'd have been better off just buying the part already made.

A mill would make a nice side business if you can come up with a product to make and sell.

 

[b-dog]

I'll echo everything said in this thread about this being the beginning of tooling/fixtures/etc. I'll take it one step further, I find it funny that the word "lathe" only appears twice in this thread so far....Now that you have a mill, it's only a matter of time....

Side work is semi-easy to come by if you want it. My mill and lathe paid for themselves in under 6 months.

Oh and I'd recommend making a rule for yourself now, "no gun stuff" for anyone but yourself (if that's applicable). I looooove the 2nd but I have little interest in talking to the ATF. Gun people WILL come out of the woodwork, maybe less so because of the hippy state you live in but they will come.

 

[jd_1138]

I'll echo everything said in this thread about this being the beginning of tooling/fixtures/etc. I'll take it one step further, I find it funny that the word "lathe" only appears twice in this thread so far....Now that you have a mill, it's only a matter of time....

Side work is semi-easy to come by if you want it. My mill and lathe paid for themselves in under 6 months.

Oh and I'd recommend making a rule for yourself now, "no gun stuff" for anyone but yourself (if that's applicable). I looooove the 2nd but I have little interest in talking to the ATF. Gun people WILL come out of the woodwork, maybe less so because of the hippy state you live in but they will come.

What about stuff like scope mounts, bayonets, or tripods for guns (not sure of what the term is for legs to rest a rifle on). Need ATF involvement for that?

Can make a smart phone mount for a rifle and call it a "Tactical Smart Phone" mount.

 

[kkroger]

Quickly... no time to waste... Find EVERY block of aluminum in your garage and throw it away! Don't even bring the damned thing into your shop! Sell it from the back of your truck in a parking lot somewhere and RUN RUN away! Trust me... first it will be buying tooling, then buying every block of aluminum from the drop bin at the metal yard, then it will be DROs then CNC, THEN your shop will forever be covered in Aluminum Glitter... FOR EVAR!!!! I just finished using mine to drill holes in the bottoms of some pans I am making for a local restaurant, never easier than making a pattern to drill 3 holes in the bottoms run the cycle, change the part run the cycle, change the part etc 50 times... instead of measure Drill, Measure Drill, Measure Drill etc etc etc...

 

[pi_guy]

Using my combo to check the runout of a Hewland clutch shaft.
There have been many uses in the 4 months I have owned the machine.
And it never stops on tooling needed 10mm reamer for the diff carrier bolts.
I make a weekly trip to the machine shop supply store.

 

[Alchymist]

Some quick pics as to why a mill comes in handy. (Oh yeah, lathe is next, see pic 3!). Last pic is end result.

 

[4 FN 27]

I don't know what I would do without my Mill, Lathe, Press Brake and Welders...been adding tools and equipment since 1986...tomorrow morning picking up a 60 x 120 CNC Plasma Table...no regrets...not a one...

Well my only regret might be I wish I had all this stuff when I was a young pup and could work 23 hours a day...

 

[ndnchf]

I have an RF30 I bought from Enco about 15 years ago. I don't use it every day, but now and then I do. It has served me well. Congrats, learn to use it within its limitations and enjoy it.

 

[stioc]

Your next thread title:

"What Tooling For My New Mill?"

Ha! luckily I'm getting a lot of tooling with the mill so hopefully I'll be ok for a while on that one but I know what you mean.

Good one!
Now that I'm retired I don't have the shop access I used to have. I'm making one of those!

Thanks, that's something I literally threw together with scraps I had for a quick project in like 20 mins. A much better option is to get one from Swag Off-road. They sell different versions for your taste/press.

Garages are for tools -- not vehicles. Especially when you live in sunny California. Just put a sunshade over the dash.

Yeah, but the sun here really messes up the paint on flat surfaces, particularly the roof and hood paint oxidizes fast. Granted my newest car is almost 4yrs old now but I'm one of those that really obsesses over the finish, dings, new scratches etc.

I haven't had need for my mill in about four years.
I built what I needed, now I don't need anything built.
Not a waste of space, because I have extra space, but it certainly isn't mesmerizing or addictive. It's just a GIANT thing that makes little things.

Boiling it all down, a lathe and mill has little value to the average guy unless you need a new hobby.
But, they do resell easily.

Cool Blazer! Yeah that's my fear too, I owned a little HF lathe several years ago, I sold it a year later in frustration and little to no use for it. I did realize afterwards that a mill is a better first machine tool especially if you're trying to learn machining on your own. Two, I don't ever want to mess with toy machines (tiny, no torque, can't make normal sized parts).

Side work is semi-easy to come by if you want it. My mill and lathe paid for themselves in under 6 months.

Oh and I'd recommend making a rule for yourself now, "no gun stuff" for anyone but yourself (if that's applicable). I looooove the 2nd but I have little interest in talking to the ATF. Gun people WILL come out of the woodwork, maybe less so because of the hippy state you live in but they will come.

I'd love to hear about the parts you made where the machines paid for themselves, that's awesome!

Oh and yes hippy state but you'd be surprised how many guns people own here. I wouldn't be surprised if CA is one of the highest gun ownership states but yeah I'm not touching that stuff though I know someone who does that work but is fully licensed for it.

Some quick pics as to why a mill comes in handy. (Oh yeah, lathe is next, see pic 3!). Last pic is end result.

Awesome, thanks! what does that part do (the end result)?

I don't know what I would do without my Mill, Lathe, Press Brake and Welders...been adding tools and equipment since 1986...tomorrow morning picking up a 60 x 120 CNC Plasma Table...no regrets...not a one...

Well my only regret might be I wish I had all this stuff when I was a young pup and could work 23 hours a day...

I'm hoping that when I retire I would already have most of the tools I'd want in my retirement shop so I do see them as investments for the long term. Or that's one of the ways I justify them

 

[stioc]

I have an RF30 I bought from Enco about 15 years ago. I don't use it every day, but now and then I do. It has served me well. Congrats, learn to use it within its limitations and enjoy it.

That's awesome to hear. I was wondering about the footprint it would take up in the garage. Can you give me some rough estimates? 3ft wide 3ft deep or bigger?

 

[stioc]

BTW, here's a pic of my garage in the current state. I'm thinking the left side I'll dedicate to the Mill and when I roll out my other tools that are tucked away around the garage; say the table saw etc. I'll have the mill setup such that my back will be towards the scissor lift and making sure there's at least about 3ft between the lift and the machine so that if I'm working on the side of a vehicle I don't hit the machines.

 

[ndnchf]

Mine sits on a heavy angle iron stand I bought from Enco. It measures 16" x 26". The best update I did to mine was add an LED angel eye light to the spindle. It really helps my old eyes.

 

[Alchymist]

Awesome, thanks! what does that part do (the end result)?



I'm hoping that when I retire I would already have most of the tools I'd want in my retirement shop so I do see them as investments for the long term. Or that's one of the ways I justify them

It's a shop made small wood lathe, prime purpose to make pens like in the first picture. However, it has morphed into the setup in the second picture. Just one example of the proliferation.

 

[SweetD]

Hey stioc,

Nice looking garage/shop, similar in size to mine.

What brand/model lift is that I see on your floor?

Thanks!

Dave

 

[stioc]

Mine sits on a heavy angle iron stand I bought from Enco. It measures 16" x 26". The best update I did to mine was add an LED angel eye light to the spindle. It really helps my old eyes.

That's very cool, I'll have to do that to mine

Thanks for the footprint dimensions, I guess I should've asked the overall width and depth. I'm wondering if it'll somehow fit in the area where I currently have my smaller tool box with the drill press and a small wood bandsaw on it. May be not but I'm still resisting giving up the parking...it's probably futile

It's a shop made small wood lathe, prime purpose to make pens like in the first picture. However, it has morphed into the setup in the second picture. Just one example of the proliferation.

I thought it looked like a wood lathe, that's awesome!

Hey stioc,

Nice looking garage/shop, similar in size to mine.

What brand/model lift is that I see on your floor?

Thanks!

Dave

Thanks Dave! There are far far better garages in the Garage Gallery section but as they say this one's mine and it works OK for me. The lift is a BendPak P6 above-ground model that I bought new back in 2008. Which reminds me that ATF in it is 9yrs old, I should probably change it One of the best investments I made in the garage. It has served me very well. The short two post lifts like the MaxJax weren't an option back then and honestly with the small garage as it is and questionable slab poured in the 70s I wasn't keen on getting a 2 post lift.

 

[ndnchf]

I can get the overall dimensions tonight. But here's a photo of mine. It will give you are pretty idea of the size.

 

[vettex2]

Garages are for tools -- not vehicles. Especially when you live in sunny California. Just put a sunshade over the dash.

BS. You can do both

 

[vettex2]

It's been my experience that you may not need every tool every day but having the right tool when you need it is priceless!

 

[EOC_Jason]

It's been my experience that you may not need every tool every day but having the right tool when you need it is priceless!

Amen!

 

[kazlx]

Yea, well, I'm the wrong person to discourage you from buying anything...

 

[stioc]

I can get the overall dimensions tonight. But here's a photo of mine. It will give you are pretty idea of the size.

Oh that doesn't look bad at all, it just might fit where I think I'll fit. Thanks!

BTW, here's what the one I bought comes with:

· Power feed on the X axis
· Scales and TouchDro digital readout
· Steel stand with chip pan
· Cast Iron hand wheels
· 8” rotary table
· 4” machinist vise w/ swivel
· ½” drill chuck, 3” face mill
· Spin indexer and grinding fixture <-- no idea what this does
· Set of 12 –R8 collets
· Set of T slot clamps

Yea, well, I'm the wrong person to discourage you from buying anything...

Haha no, but you sir are the right person who got me into this mess in the first place I'm just hoping I actually use it so it earns its keep. BTW, can't wait to see your new toys.

 

[ndnchf]

Wow - that one's all tricked out - nice. The spin indexer is kind of cheap, basic, manual dividing head.

 

[4 FN 27]

Picked up my latest "Impulse Buy" this morning...

 

[kazlx]

Nice. I'm sure I'll end up building a smaller plasma table at some point. So damn handy.