Benchmaster Table Top Milling Machine

[Maui]

I’ve had this Benchmaster table top vertical mill for several years, and it is one handy tool to have. It can do a surprising amount of work for the size of the machine, and sometimes punches well above its weight class. I finished a set of brass jaws for a Wilton bullet vise that I am restoring today using this mill, and it allowed me to plunge cut into the jaws with a 1/2” end mill. Pretty impressive for a machine of this size. I was wondering if anybody else here has one of these mills in their shop?

Maui

 

[GeoBruin]

Cool little machine. I saw one on Craigslist recently and it was the first I'd seen of one. I have a small benchtop mill and it's amazing what you can do with a little patience.

 

[Maui]

I agree. With a little patience and working within the limitations of the machine you can get a surprising amount done!

 

[Aaron_W]

They are neat little mills, and seem like a couple steps above most mini-mills. I'd be happy to offer one a home but people sure are proud of them, not unusual to see people asking $1500-2500.

 

[larry_g]

The first mill I owned. I soon found out that it was not the machine for me. I was asking it to do car and tractor parts and it was just to lightweight for me. My big mill now is just shy of 2 tons and is just about right.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Maui]

I understand that Larry - tractor parts are too large for a mill this size. But for milling smaller pieces it can do quite a lot. And it is the perfect size for a model shop that is tight on floor space.

 

[humpty]

That is a gorgeous little mill you got there Maui!

I've been on the hunt for a small mill that I can have in my basement shop, as other have said, many of them are cast in gold.

 

[larry_g]

I understand that Larry - tractor parts are too large for a mill this size. But for milling smaller pieces it can do quite a lot. And it is the perfect size for a model shop that is tight on floor space.

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply they are not a great little mill. One just has to understand what the work envelope is for a machine and I did not understand that at the time. For that size machine it has good mass and will cut reliably within it's capabilities.

 

[APEowner]

Prior to this thread I'd never heard of Benchmaster. That looks like a really solid piece of equipment. Particularly for its size.

 

[Zeus36]

I had a chance to pick one up for $850 and it was rebuilt by a local restorer. I stupidly passed because it only took MT2 tooling up to 1/2" end mills. Forgot I had MT2 ER32 chucks for my lathe. Another of my big regrets....

 

[American Locomotive]

That is a stout looking bench top mill. Having that big solid knee instead of the silly tower with a rack & pinion makes this at least 2 or 3 tiers above the Habor Freight/Grizzly/Whatever bench-top mini-mill. It actually looks like it's built like a proper milling machine - just small.

 

[2oolhound]

Yes, having the knee and the tilting head is awesome. The vise looks good too. Nice tool!

I picked up a cheap mill drill for 6 bills and it gets a lot of use. The most recent job, (since I don't have a planer), was trueing up some hard wood. Worked like a charm but the oak was sure hard on end mills.

naw, it cut like butter but it sure was nice to be able to use it for that job when I had nothing else to true the bottom with the top and counter sink a 1" wide channel through the middle of one surface. Would have taken a month of sundays to do it by hand.

 

[liliysdad]

I stumbled into a Clausing 8530 a year or so back, and could not be happier. I don't have the room or the skill to justify a full tilt Bridgeport size machine, but I appreciate the mass the Clausing has over a benchtop machine. Sometimes "good enough" is just right.

 

[Maui]

Yep, and I have a Hardinge miniature vertical milling machine that I plan to restore and get up and running this spring. It will be interesting to see how it compares to the Benchmaster.

 

[dogzbody1]

I just collected all the parts needed to change my vertical Benchmaster to horizontal, the vertical parts are grey and the horizontal green, I don't want to loose the patina of the base so think all the green will become grey. I think these are eat little machines and if chosen well will suit their owners needs. If you bought one needing a Bport its not the Benchmasters fault of failing IMHO.