First Machine Tool: Manual Mill

[motofool33]

Saw this on craigslist and picked it up for 300$ with small vise and what i think is a rotary indexer, and a few other pieces including a couple collets, a chuck and couple cutters and 4 t nuts.

Never had a mill before so now im off to figure out what else i need.

Its a 1.5hp 120volt unit and i think its got an R8 collet. Previous owner thinks it was a very old Shop Fox brand.

Either way im Excited to get it all setup.

 

[Monkey Milk]

power feed on the X axis, nice. have fun with that round column. now make some chips.

 

[rsanter]

Not a bad deal,for what you got.

Btw....that's know as a spin index fixture

Bob

 

[motofool33]

Thx guys, looking for a bigger vise and a smaller chuck so I can use it to drill stuff too.

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[zkling]

It will certainly get your feet wet!!!

 

[astroracer]

Nice buy for 300 bucks! To check out tooling go to Enco.com. They will ahve most everything you'll need.
Mark

 

[IndyGarage]

Good for getting started. If it's go an R-8 that's a big plus. I also like the power feed.

I had one similar, Some of them lose accuracy because of the rigidity of the column mounts and locks.

You'll need to buy or build something sturdy to mount it on - those things weight several hundred pounds.

 

[DocsMachine]

Its a 1.5hp 120volt unit and i think its got an R8 collet. Previous owner thinks it was a very old Shop Fox brand.

-That's a generic Rong-Fu 31, a basic mill-drill that's been sold under just about every name from Harbor Freight to Jet to Grizzly. They're not bad machines, generally, but they're still cheap, basic, imported mill-drills so don't expect stellar results.

First thing to do is clean it thoroughly. It looks like it's had kind of a hard life, and in dirty conditions, so it couldn't hurt to dismantle the table, thoroughly clean the screws, nuts, bearings and ways, and carefully reassemble with lots of oil.

Machine tools live in oil. You can't overoil it.

And yes, you need a bigger vise, I suggest a 4" Kurt-style. 5" might be a bit big for it, but it's always handy to have the extra gripping room.

Doc.

 

[gearhead1]

Nice buy for 300 bucks! To check out tooling go to Enco.com. They will ahve most everything you'll need.
Mark

+1. Worth what you paid for it. I use Encourage a lot as well. You'll find all kind of uses and things you can do once you get rolling with it.

 

[alpaca]

now you need a bunch of 80% lowers

 

[OccupantRJ]

The spin indexer is a handy device which normally uses 5C collets to hold parts. It likely is adjustable in 1 degree increments by placing the locking pin in the proper hole. Always tighten the locking screw before using, unless spin grinding. It can be used to create six flats on a round item for example, or 360 facets on an item, or a flat spot on a shaft for a setscrew to clamp.

 

[motofool33]

thanks for the responses guys, couple questions what do you guys recommend for way oil?

and maybe anyone have a diagram to what speeds these pulleys might be?

im gonna search for the Rong-Fu 31 as stated above as i want to buy the missing parts and covers for this thing.

and any suggestions for a cleaner to cut the grime?

today i bought the 4" Harbor freight drill vise. terrible but its a start(15$).
went to hardware store and found some bolts for the t Nuts they only had 3 so ill hit another tomorrow.

it has a stand already you can see it in the first photos, heavy duty steel needs a fresh coat of paint though. ill solve that for it.

 

[royesses]

Don't know if you've been to hobby-machinist.com, great machinist forum full of great knowledgeable machinists. Here is the Rong Fu link:
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/forums/jet-enco-rong-fu-imports.135/

 

[motofool33]

now you need a bunch of 80% lowers

not sure what you mean, are you talking about AR-15 lowers?

 

[motofool33]

Don't know if you've been to hobby-machinist.com, great machinist forum full of great knowledgeable machinists. Here is the Rong Fu link:
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/forums/jet-enco-rong-fu-imports.135/

just signed up and posted, hoping to find the front panel and a pulley diagram that matches this machine.

 

[DocsMachine]

and any suggestions for a cleaner to cut the grime?

-Most anything works. If you have the ventilation, just use some diesel or kerosene, and some rags. (Wear gloves, eye protection, keep a fire extinguisher handy, you know the drill.) It's cheap and it works.

Water-based stuff works too, just keep an eye out for water infiltration into seams and nooks, where it can cause rust. A post-cleanser blast of WD-40 works too.

If anything's rusty, use WD or kerosene, and some 3-0 or 4-0 steel wool. For nonprecision surfaces, like the front of the table, fine Scotchbrite works like a champ.

Once the top of the table is cleaned, check it for nicks and dings- it looks like there'll be plenty. Use a fine honing stone, like you'd use to sharpen a pocketknife, to 'stone' the nicks and dings down.

today i bought the 4" Harbor freight drill vise. terrible but its a start(15$).

-Be extremely careful when using a drill press vise in the mill. They do NOT have the holding power or rigidity of a proper mill vise, nor the accuracy. I very strongly do NOT recommend using it with your mill- and I say that with the voice of experience. I used a cheap drill-press vise in a mill-drill for several years. It worked, as long as I was very careful with it, but it also cost me some broken cutters and more than a few spoiled jobs.

Grab a cheap 4" milling vise from Enco or whoever you like. It'll cost you more than $15, but it'll be a damn sight better than a drill press vise.

went to hardware store and found some bolts for the t Nuts they only had 3 so ill hit another tomorrow.

-T bolts and T nuts can be had cheaply and easily off eBay too. Hold-downs are a key part, don't skimp on 'em.

Doc.

 

[Lotek]

For way oil, you want...way oil. They sell it at Enco. I have the same mill/drill from Grizzly, For guards and covers, you can probably get something that will work from them. I picked up a used 6" Kurt vise for $125, might be overkill, but I can't see outgrowing it.

 

[motofool33]

-Most anything works. If you have the ventilation, just use some diesel or kerosene, and some rags. (Wear gloves, eye protection, keep a fire extinguisher handy, you know the drill.) It's cheap and it works.

Water-based stuff works too, just keep an eye out for water infiltration into seams and nooks, where it can cause rust. A post-cleanser blast of WD-40 works too.

If anything's rusty, use WD or kerosene, and some 3-0 or 4-0 steel wool. For nonprecision surfaces, like the front of the table, fine Scotchbrite works like a champ.

Once the top of the table is cleaned, check it for nicks and dings- it looks like there'll be plenty. Use a fine honing stone, like you'd use to sharpen a pocketknife, to 'stone' the nicks and dings down.



-Be extremely careful when using a drill press vise in the mill. They do NOT have the holding power or rigidity of a proper mill vise, nor the accuracy. I very strongly do NOT recommend using it with your mill- and I say that with the voice of experience. I used a cheap drill-press vise in a mill-drill for several years. It worked, as long as I was very careful with it, but it also cost me some broken cutters and more than a few spoiled jobs.

Grab a cheap 4" milling vise from Enco or whoever you like. It'll cost you more than $15, but it'll be a damn sight better than a drill press vise.



-T bolts and T nuts can be had cheaply and easily off eBay too. Hold-downs are a key part, don't skimp on 'em.

Doc.

noted on the vise,


i got 6 Nuts from the previous owner, just had no bolts to utilize them.

 

[motofool33]

For way oil, you want...way oil. They sell it at Enco. I have the same mill/drill from Grizzly, For guards and covers, you can probably get something that will work from them.

try typing that into Enco search function, doesn't work ill continue trying to find it on their terrible site.

edit found one listed under 100$ per container
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INLMKD&PMPXNO=945479&PMAKA=505-1987

 

[SeattleKent]

ill continue trying to find it on their terrible site.

+1 to that. I can never find anything on their site. I finally downloaded their complete catalog. Searching the PDF is easier and less frustrating.

 

[Lotek]

Easiest way to find stuff is use the key word to get close, then click on the Master Catalog Page and scroll back and forth...or get the paper catalog.

 

[Jawn]

-That's a generic Rong-Fu 31, a basic mill-drill that's been sold under just about every name from Harbor Freight to Jet to Grizzly. They're not bad machines, generally, but they're still cheap, basic, imported mill-drills so don't expect stellar results.

First thing to do is clean it thoroughly. It looks like it's had kind of a hard life, and in dirty conditions, so it couldn't hurt to dismantle the table, thoroughly clean the screws, nuts, bearings and ways, and carefully reassemble with lots of oil.

Machine tools live in oil. You can't overoil it.

And yes, you need a bigger vise, I suggest a 4" Kurt-style. 5" might be a bit big for it, but it's always handy to have the extra gripping room.

Doc.

I have the Harbor Freight version, bought new for $600 (crazy sale + 25% coupon). Not bad for what you paid.

For way oil, buy a jug of ISO68 Vactra 2, it's about $20 at Enco.

As to the vise, I bought a 4" Interstate mill vise (chinese Kurt clone) for about $70. Seems to work quite well for this machine.

 

[BlueBomb]

just signed up and posted, hoping to find the front panel and a pulley diagram that matches this machine.

Congrats, Looks just like my Jet-16 I got at an auction early in the year. Got it for 400 as you see it with a bunch of tooling and an indexer also.

Here's a plaque mine came with that has the pulley configuration.

If you want, PM your email and I'll send you the manual I have for it.

Congrats again. Clean her up and start flinging chips!!

 

[theoldwizard1]

Start looking for DRO for all 3 axis.

 

[royesses]

try typing that into Enco search function, doesn't work ill continue trying to find it on their terrible site.

edit found one listed under 100$ per container
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INLMKD&PMPXNO=945479&PMAKA=505-1987

I use Mobil vactra#2 on my lathe and mill. Good stuff. On the hobby-machinist you can find the latest discount codes for Enco and others before you purchase:
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/forums/discount-codes-enco-hf-others.195/

Enco's web store can be a little trying, but after a little bit of time using it you'll have no trouble finding it.

If you want low cost but good quality DRO'S try Igaging absolute dro's:
http://www.igaging.com/
You can find them discounted on the for sale links at the hobby-machinist.
Also find them on ebay, I use Taylor Toolworks on ebay. The photo shows my mini-mill with 3 dro's and a MachTach.

 

[IndyGarage]

Even less expensive for tooling than Enco is CDCO machinery in Chicago. Same china made tools for less money.

 

[motofool33]

got the table off, glad i did was so nasty under there with some wood dust mixed in with the grease and metal.

found i need to replace one of the lock down screws that holds the table Y direction from moving. its bent, also measured the shaft diameter of the broken handle to get a new one.

gonna search locally for some way oil. What kind of grease you guys think on the Screws?

 

[royesses]

I've used molybdenum di-sulfide grease as it's really good on high pressure low speed areas. Now I use mobil 1 5w30 oil as it isn't so messy. Way oil would work also.

 

[motofool33]

need some help locating one of these they are the table locks i guess

M8x1.25 threads

 

[Jawn]

Try Grizzly... they tend to carry parts for those type of machines, might get lucky and find one that'll fit yours.

 

[motofool33]

Try Grizzly... they tend to carry parts for those type of machines, might get lucky and find one that'll fit yours.

grizzly does have a screw i can order, just doesn't look anything like this one.

 

[bdk1976]

I'll probably get run out of here for saying this, but I use bar and chain oil as way oil.


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[royesses]

I'll probably get run out of here for saying this, but I use bar and chain oil as way oil.


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Why would you get run out of here. Many guys use bar and chain oil for way oil.

motofool33
There was a thread on those style lock screws on hobby machinist. I think they are called lever lock screws. You could also use these:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B012T9S0JW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[bdk1976]

Why would you get run out of here. Many guys use bar and chain oil for way oil.

If I advocated it on Practical Machinist it would probably start WWIII and bring claims that Vactra #2 cures cancer.

 

[royesses]

if i advocated it on practical machinist it would probably start wwiii and bring claims that vactra #2 cures cancer.

lol.

 

[motofool33]

Got the base painted with first coat. There were 4 different colors on this thing and under that was this bondo looking ****.

Got the base painted also

Think I might be modifying the base it needs leveling feet.

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