Bought Bridgeport Clone - Now Getting it Set Up for Basic Machining

[Firstram]

As far as the chip shield plates, if they are similar to a BP, since I have mine apart here are a couple pics how they go, for your pondering pleasure.

They only sit there and are kept in place and shifted forward and backward by the feednut yoke. The top plate has two indentions (green arrows) that drag the bottom plate with it. I will take detailed measurements if you need to order replacements in the future, to see if BP plates will work.

I can't see how to repair that mess without taking the table off, which is very straightforward and you should do it anyway. Good winter project!

Congratulations btw!

Don’t forget there’s a front and back to the cover plates. The wrong way will limit your Y travel.

 

[bimmer1980]

Sharing a forklift may not be a bad idea. Depends on the frequency of each of your use, and when and for how long.

I go months without using mine, but when I need it, then I need it.....

If you can arrange and agree on access, costs, etc, it may well be worth it and save the space.

For your case, an extending jib may be helpful. Not having legs that need to go under the machine may be the primary difference than just using your cherry picker hoist.

Maybe you own the forklift and he gets to use it for the cost of storage....? Versus a specify shared ownership. All sorts of ways to slice and dice.

 

[bulletpruf]

I know all us diy types want to save a buck. Call a rigger and have them set it were you want. Couple hours work for them and usually less effort and time. My $.02

The quote was $5,235. That's to move a one ton mill 7.5 miles.

I asked him if the decimal was in the right spot on the quote.

Needless to say, I'm going to do this myself.

 

[bulletpruf]

Sharing a forklift may not be a bad idea. Depends on the frequency of each of your use, and when and for how long.

I go months without using mine, but when I need it, then I need it.....

If you can arrange and agree on access, costs, etc, it may well be worth it and save the space.

For your case, an extending jib may be helpful. Not having legs that need to go under the machine may be the primary difference than just using your cherry picker hoist.

Maybe you own the forklift and he gets to use it for the cost of storage....? Versus a specify shared ownership. All sorts of ways to slice and dice.

That all briefs well, but the guy that I'd share use with is maybe 20 years old, not mechanically inclined, and I suspect he's never operated a forklift. He just has a unit full of food items that he re-sells and wants to be able to move pallets around.

I probably need to walk a few doors down to the tractor trailer repair shop and see if they'll rent me their forklift from time to time.

 

[SilverJimmy]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
And so much easier to move once it’s on its side!
Roll back tow trucks have many uses, but I don’t think moving something with such a high C/G as a mill is one of their strong application!

 

[bulletpruf]

9' drop deck trailer rented from Sunbelt, picking up on Friday, return Monday. But they charge me for 2 days, not 1. Total cost of $156.27.

Picked up 4 of the 1/2" steel rods, 3' long.

Will bring pry bars, lots of straps, cable hoist, a 6"x6"x30" piece of oak, 2x4 scraps, etc.

The seller's neighbor is supposed to show up with a skid steer with forks, but I don't plan to use that at all.

One problem I'll have to address is the location of the mill. It's just inside the rollup door on the left (as you're facing the shop). I plan to back up the trailer until it's in the shop and level, so I'll need to move the mill back about 10' or so.

EDIT: looking at it now, the slope outside isn't that bad. I may just be able to back the trailer up to the door and use the trailer jack to level it, if needed.

 

[SilverJimmy]

I also use the big wide ratchet straps to tie it down, and you can use them horizontally like a chainfall to help move it into the trailer. The hardest point will be getting it over the lip and the straps will help do that. Unless there’s a forklift available at seller location!

 

[bulletpruf]

I also use the big wide ratchet straps to tie it down, and you can use them horizontally like a chainfall to help move it into the trailer. The hardest point will be getting it over the lip and the straps will help do that. Unless there’s a forklift available at seller location!

Yep, I've used ratchet straps to winch stuff in the past. Not ideal, but workable.

I do have a nice come-along/cable hoist/ratchet puller that I can use, too. Not cheap, but it sure beats the hell out of the $30 junk from Harbor Freight.

The seller's neighbor is supposed to help with a skid steer with forks, but I don't plan to use it.

 

[SilverJimmy]

I just looked closely at the picture of the shop, that lip outside the door will make the loading easy. I’d back the trailer up so that the dropped bed just clears the ledge and make the bed the same level as the slab. Then when you roll the mill out the door onto the trailer you should be able to get the mill a couple inches into the trailer past the slope ramp and get another 1/2 roller under the mill. Should be easier than what I just typed!

 

[bulletpruf]

I just looked closely at the picture of the shop, that lip outside the door will make the loading easy. I’d back the trailer up so that the dropped bed just clears the ledge and make the bed the same level as the slab. Then when you roll the mill out the door onto the trailer you should be able to get the mill a couple inches into the trailer past the slope ramp and get another 1/2 roller under the mill. Should be easier than what I just typed!

Good point. Thanks!

 

[slowtwitch73]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
And so much easier to move once it’s on its side!
Roll back tow trucks have many uses, but I don’t think moving something with such a high C/G as a mill is one of their strong application!

People do it all the time.. do what you want.

 

[RoninB4]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
And so much easier to move once it’s on its side!
Roll back tow trucks have many uses, but I don’t think moving something with such a high C/G as a mill is one of their strong application!

-I had a roll back move my 5,000 lb. jig borer, the driver shoe-horned it inside a standard overhead garage roll-up door.

 

[txvwnut]

If it hasn't been suggested before you load it rotate the head 180* and lower the table all the way down, this will help with the CG a little. If that one is like my mill and most of the bridgeports I've seen they have a threaded hole for a lifting eye on the top of the ram, although I can't say if they are all the same thread as mine is metric.

 

[cannuck]

Will bring a 6"x6"x30" piece of oak,

You REALLT know how to piss me off. don't you? Couldn't even mention the **** I could get locally for 6x6.

On the price thing: our last big move was their crane to load 30+k break onto my trailer (my crane only 12.5 ton) reposition 10 miles to offload, pick and skate into place break and 6k ironworker from my trailers, then skate, lift, drop and skate 17k shear into place....all for about $3k loonies. I think you were given the F OFF quote. You probably told them your 2x4 shims were oak too.

 

[bulletpruf]

If it hasn't been suggested before you load it rotate the head 180* and lower the table all the way down, this will help with the CG a little. If that one is like my mill and most of the bridgeports I've seen they have a threaded hole for a lifting eye on the top of the ram, although I can't say if they are all the same thread as mine is metric.

Yes, it's been mentioned.

Thanks

 

[bulletpruf]

You guys realize how much you ****, right?

You get to pick and choose. "Oh, this one's a little too rusty", or, "this one doesn't have enough tooling", or "I don't like the color this one's painted".

Meanwhile, I gotta buy this, this, and this, or damn well do without.

I only have one or two machines in the entire shop that I didn't have to heavily repair or outright rebuild from junk- because that's all that's available.

You guys can look at fifty machines and pick the best of the lot. You make me sick.

Doc.

Doc -

Is it location? Are you in rural Alaska or something like that?

Scott

 

[bulletpruf]

You REALLT know how to piss me off. don't you? Couldn't even mention the **** I could get locally for 6x6.

That actually took me finding someone who was willing to mill it for me. I thought about chainsaw milling some myself, but I don't have a big saw on the shelf now (normally try to keep something 100cc+ just in case) and I didn't want to beat on my Stihl 044.

On the price thing: our last big move was their crane to load 30+k break onto my trailer (my crane only 12.5 ton) reposition 10 miles to offload, pick and skate into place break and 6k ironworker from my trailers, then skate, lift, drop and skate 17k shear into place....all for about $3 loonies. I think you were given the F OFF quote. You probably told them your 2x4 shims were oak too.

Yeah, it's definitely a F OFF quote.

 

[Firstram]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
And so much easier to move once it’s on its side!
Roll back tow trucks have many uses, but I don’t think moving something with such a high C/G as a mill is one of their strong application!

I have used an electric winch to pull a drill press on casters up and down my box trailer ramp at least a half dozen times. Experience, understanding vectors and gravity as well as some common sense go a long way toward not sounding ignorant on the internet!

 

[Steve from Socal]

the tilt angle of a rollback is WAY too much for a turret mill to remain standing up safely.

I had a friend with a tilt bed truck pick up my K&T 2H and zoom it into my garage in Woodland Hills. My driveway is sloped down and not much of a flat at the door. I also have a flip up door with limited height. The bed could slide the mill into the garage better than anything else I could come up with,

 

[Steve from Socal]

I you have some good rope or chain you can slide the mill on the floor of the shop to the door with your truck chain it low on the column and pull from the back. The comealong will work but is really slow

 

[DocsMachine]

Is it location? Are you in rural Alaska or something like that?

-Yes, exactly.

Just south of the backwater of Left Armpit, Alaska. Machine tools come up for sale up here about as often as Buddy Holly releases a new album.

I've got a decent collection now, but it took me 25 years and an F-Ton of work to do it. I'd have killed and helped hide the body to be able to pick-and-choose through a couple dozen listings, and wind up buying one that just needs a little cleaning and oiling. The lathe I just got, I'm into my third month of rebuilding, and still not quite done yet.

Doc.

 

[WhoWhatNow]

If the seller can load it for you in a drop bed trailer, coincided buying a pallet jack. Even the Harbor Freight pallet jack is pretty good and should be able to lift a Bridgeport sized machine. I have moved a Bridgeport using pipe and a riggers bar and making turns is a bit of a PIA. Load it on some cribbing so you can roll the plate jack underneath the mill once you get to the shop.

 

[bugnut]

Scott I am in full agreement that you got the I don't wanna be bothered with your shite quote. WOW

PS Time to buy forks and weights for the 8n.

Best of luck with the move. Be thoughtful and careful, you'll have no issues.

The quote was $5,235. That's to move a one ton mill 7.5 miles.

I asked him if the decimal was in the right spot on the quote.

Needless to say, I'm going to do this myself.

 

[cannuck]

Yeah, it's definitely a F OFF quote.

Scottt: Just for frame of reference if you ever need to move a 100 ton or more tool: We used to budget on $1/mile/wheel when moving 400 ton transformers. It was normal to be on 130 or so wheels (lifting from ship if fully geared not our cost but cranes at destination we paid - but not always separate from transport. So you can appreciate how ridiculous that quote was.

Recently toured a polytech machine shop where cost has never been a problem. Right in the middle of a bunch of new and expensive CNC stuff was their ancient but highly valued R8 turret mill - and it was another Cheng Ki BP knockoff from decades long gone.

As others have already suggested: take your time, think things through, manage risks to equipment and yourself on the conservative side and be safe. Funny advice coming from a guy who has done a lifetime of high risk work but one of the reasons I am still around is learning to use the safest work/lifting/rigging plan possible/practical.

 

[bulletpruf]

-Yes, exactly.

Just south of the backwater of Left Armpit, Alaska. Machine tools come up for sale up here about as often as Buddy Holly releases a new album.

That's pretty damn funny.

I've got a decent collection now, but it took me 25 years and an F-Ton of work to do it. I'd have killed and helped hide the body to be able to pick-and-choose through a couple dozen listings, and wind up buying one that just needs a little cleaning and oiling. The lathe I just got, I'm into my third month of rebuilding, and still not quite done yet.

Doc.

Damn! No bodies to hide here! At least not yet!!!

FYI - one of my other hobbies is buying and restoring vintage pro chainsaws; mostly Stihl and Jonsereds. Given your location, that's what you should be buying!

 

[bulletpruf]

If the seller can load it for you in a drop bed trailer, coincided buying a pallet jack. Even the Harbor Freight pallet jack is pretty good and should be able to lift a Bridgeport sized machine. I have moved a Bridgeport using pipe and a riggers bar and making turns is a bit of a PIA. Load it on some cribbing so you can roll the plate jack underneath the mill once you get to the shop.

I do need a pallet jack, but I think I'm to try rolling this one on the 1/2" steel rod.

Thanks

 

[bulletpruf]

Scott I am in full agreement that you got the I don't wanna be bothered with your shite quote. WOW

PS Time to buy forks and weights for the 8n.

Best of luck with the move. Be thoughtful and careful, you'll have no issues.

Well, the 8N is 1.5 hours from here at my buddy's ranch, but the 977 is at the shop....I wonder if anyone makes forks for it?

 

[bulletpruf]

Scottt: Just for frame of reference if you ever need to move a 100 ton or more tool: We used to budget on $1/mile/wheel when moving 400 ton transformers. It was normal to be on 130 or so wheels (lifting from ship if fully geared not our cost but cranes at destination we paid - but not always separate from transport. So you can appreciate how ridiculous that quote was.

Recently toured a polytech machine shop where cost has never been a problem. Right in the middle of a bunch of new and expensive CNC stuff was their ancient but highly valued R8 turret mill - and it was another Cheng Ki BP knockoff from decades long gone.

As others have already suggested: take your time, think things through, manage risks to equipment and yourself on the conservative side and be safe. Funny advice coming from a guy who has done a lifetime of high risk work but one of the reasons I am still around is learning to use the safest work/lifting/rigging plan possible/practical.

Sounds good. I'm supposed to pick up the drop deck trailer today and pick up the mill on Sunday morning. Someone will be there to help load, but I may be unloading solo. However, I can back the trailer into the shop and once I get it off the trailer, I just have to move it a few feet to get it in position.

 

[bulletpruf]

Now that the mill has been purchased well under budget, I really should spend some leftover funds on tooling and setting it up to run on 220, but I could also go ahead a buy a lathe to park next to it. There's a South Bend 9" lathe that's for sale not too far from here...

 

[txvwnut]

-Yes, exactly.

Just south of the backwater of Left Armpit, Alaska. Machine tools come up for sale up here about as often as Buddy Holly releases a new album.

I've got a decent collection now, but it took me 25 years and an F-Ton of work to do it. I'd have killed and helped hide the body to be able to pick-and-choose through a couple dozen listings, and wind up buying one that just needs a little cleaning and oiling. The lathe I just got, I'm into my third month of rebuilding, and still not quite done yet.

Doc.

I sold my Smithy to a guy that lived in North Pole. I remember him stating it needed to be in Anchorage no later than a certain date or it would be stuck on the dock unit the winter thaw. He was quite excited to get it so I guess I now understand how hard it is to find machine shop equipment in your region.

 

[txvwnut]

Now that the mill has been purchased well under budget, I really should spend some leftover funds on tooling and setting it up to run on 220, but I could also go ahead a buy a lathe to park next to it. There's a South Bend 9" lathe that's for sale not too far from here...

Shars, Travers, MSC and ebay are my usual go to for machine tool shopping. Once you start looking for tooling welcome to the rabbit hole. If that machine has an R-8 quill look for one piece collets. I had a full set of two piece and one of the ones that had a lot mileage on it came apart in the quill and in the middle of a customer pay job.

 

[Chateau Slate 66]

Now that the mill has been purchased well under budget, I really should spend some leftover funds on tooling and setting it up to run on 220, but I could also go ahead a buy a lathe to park next to it. There's a South Bend 9" lathe that's for sale not too far from here...

Only makes sense if you already have the trailer rented.

 

[bulletpruf]

Only makes sense if you already have the trailer rented.

Yep, now you've got me thinking about it...

BTW, feel free to post up a pic of your Chateau Slate '66. I had an Aztec Bronze '66 SS396 4 speed car but sold it several years ago.

 

[whateg01]

...

PS Time to buy forks and weights for the 8n.

We use Dad's Ferguson to load and unload stuff from time to time. It's crazy to me how little it takes to lift the other end of that thing from either the front or the back.

 

[whateg01]

I do need a pallet jack, but I think I'm to try rolling this one on the 1/2" steel rod.

Once you have a pallet jack, it's pretty handy to have around. I don't use mine every day but it sure makes moving big, heavy, it bulky stuff easier.

Well, the 8N is 1.5 hours from here at my buddy's ranch, but the 977 is at the shop....I wonder if anyone makes forks for it?

You have a shop started. A set of forks aren't all that much used. Shouldn't be too hard to adapt them to the 977.

... There's a South Bend 9" lathe that's for sale not too far from here...

I don't know what you plan to make. A lot of parts have been made on a 9, but it's a pretty small machine, imo. I went from something similar to a sb10 to a 10ee and aside from the bed length have never looked back.

... I had a full set of two piece and one of the ones that had a lot mileage on it came apart in the quill and in the middle of a customer pay job.

I'm having trouble picturing a 2-piece r8 collet. Every r8 collet I've ever seen has been machined from a single chunk of steel.

 

[bulletpruf]

Once you have a pallet jack, it's pretty handy to have around. I don't use mine every day but it sure makes moving big, heavy, it bulky stuff easier.

Probably one of those things that you don't think that you need, but once you have one, you wonder how you managed without one.

I don't know what you plan to make. A lot of parts have been made on a 9, but it's a pretty small machine, imo. I went from something similar to a sb10 to a 10ee and aside from the bed length have never looked back.

I'm in the market for a small machine for the garage. Plan would be to get something larger for the shop at some point.

 

[oldmachinenut]

Hoping this is an autocorrect mistake ...

Open the tailgate and floor it

 

[bulletpruf]

Shars, Travers, MSC and ebay are my usual go to for machine tool shopping. Once you start looking for tooling welcome to the rabbit hole. If that machine has an R-8 quill look for one piece collets. I had a full set of two piece and one of the ones that had a lot mileage on it came apart in the quill and in the middle of a customer pay job.

Ok, can we start the shopping list for a basic setup?

-VFD. Any recommendations?
-Vise - I started searching and I'm finding options from $60 - $1,000+. Is there a particular configuration and size that folks generally use? Any recommendations on a budget friendly option?
-I believe the mill has an R8 collet, but how would I verify this?
-Drill chuck - Made in the USA Jacobs, lightly used? https://www.ebay.com/itm/3560048329...Do132wUkM+9sQrZPg==|tkp:Bk9SR7TX3pW5ZA&edge=0
-Collets? Sets of R8 collets aren't that expensive.
-Face mills and end mills?

Thanks,

Scott

 

[36truck]

You also need a clamping kit for it now.

Amazon.com

 

[bulletpruf]

You also need a clamping kit for it now.

Amazon.com

I have that already.

Thanks