Barker Horizontal Milling Machine

[gol4]

I have been on the watch for a small mill. There has been nothing for a very long time. What ever rarely shows up is stripped down and over priced.

There is currently a Barker TM that is about 2 hours way and under $500. It appears to be complete and has a small amount of tooling with it.

From what I have been able to read on these they appear to be decent machines for what they are. Most seem to be using them for aluminum or other plastics. The guy selling it told me he was using it to cut brass sheets.

While the uses I described above are the demands I will usually put on the machine myself, I will want to do an occasional project in steel.

Are these machines up to the task. Additionally what are some failure points on them that I will need to look for on inspection.

 

[mikegt4]

A Barker is a "benchtop" size horizontal mill that is well regarded in it's size range. They still make them in various models but parts can be very pricey, maybe NLA for older models. If your intended work is within it's limits they are a nice tool just don't expect to do things like it was a Bridgeport.

http://barkermill.com/am.htm
http://www.lathes.co.uk/barkermiller/

 

[larry_g]

Most Barker mills were set up for production work, to do a repeated cut on the same part. Look closely at the mill and confirm that it has lead screws on all three axis. If it has lever feed on the X axis and fixed positions on the others then it is a production mill and not easily used for general work.

Also confirm that it is not a HARDINGE TM. The Hardinge would be a desirable mill.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[gol4]

It has lead screws on the Y and Z axis and rack for the X axis meaning a lever feed.

Is that going to be an issue?

 

[tool_scrounge]

If you are only going to have one mill, it is probably best to get a vertical. If your still want a horizontal, get one that has leadscrews on three axis as it is a lot more versatile. You might want to look at a Nichols horizontal mills (especially the tool room version, which has a lever and a leadscrew on X). It is smaller than a Bridgeport but very stout. But it is no benchtop. One problem with very small horizontal mills is that it is very hard to drill holes as the drill sticks out too far compared to Y axis travel.

 

[larry_g]

It has lead screws on the Y and Z axis and rack for the X axis meaning a lever feed.

Is that going to be an issue?

It would be an issue for me. You are giving up a lot of "ease of use" points here. Where a vertical turret mill shines is that you can set up and machine in a very short time compared to what it may take you with the Barker. You also are giving up one axis, the knee, so setup is harder. With the Barker pocket milling becomes near impossible.

So if you have a specific use for the Barker and it fills that need then your good. If your new to machining and just want a mill to learn with then this doesn't sound like the mill for you.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[gol4]

Thanks for the feed back. While this is not what I hoped would come along it is what is available.
Since what I have read about them is they are used in production shops has anyone here actually used one and if so are they capable of cutting steel.
Would the rack on the x axis not come in handy for things like cutting gears and slots.

I am currently doing milling operations on a Radial arm saw with carbide router bits.
While I can get things done doing thin cuts in aluminum it really is not good.
Would this machine be a major step up or be almost as crippled.