Garage bridgeport

[drummingpariah]

I'm heading down to have a look at this Bridgeport tonight, and it looks like I have JUST the right place for it. I had been looking for a benchtop press, but ... come on, a $500 Bridgeport? How could I NOT get excited about that? I'm slightly concerned about it not being complete/assembled, but these seem like fairly straightforward machines to me (please, correct me if I'm wrong). If the motor is dead, it looks like they're relatively universal, even if I have to fabricate some motor mounts for it (again, correct me if I'm wrong). Also, I only have 110 in my current garage (rental, so that won't change until I move) so I'm guessing I'd have to swap motors for that anyway.

I'm mostly concerned about loading/unloading it. I'm guessing these things are 1/2 ton or 1 ton or so, and I'd have to find some way to load it into a pickup without a forklift. Suggestions?

I hate when people link to a Craigslist posting on forums, since that link will be dead in a week and can't be referenced by anyone in the future, so please just see the attached screenshot for the details I have. Any suggestions/feedback/etc are greatly appreciated.

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

Too rich for my blood.

The only thing more expensive than an expensive Bridgeport is a cobbled together cheap Bridgeport.

Looks like a J-head but it's a round ram, according to the ad the base isn't even Bridgeport. And it's missing a table feed screw and likely other little bits.

There might be $500 in parts there but I wouldn't buy it expecting to put it together and use it.

 

[rsanter]

Round ram machines are not worth as much money, it's apart and do you know how to identify if all the parts are there?.
Depends on your area but I think there are better deals out there.
I would give $1000 for a complete running dovetail machine before I would give $500 on a round ram question mark.

If you can get it for $200 and it runs you could always use it as a drill press

Bob

 

[drummingpariah]

The goal is definitely to be able to use it as a metal drill press, anything else it can do is a bonus. I don't mind putting some time (a month or two of calling it my primary project) and money into it, but I can definitely see the logic behind "do it right if you're going to do it". Making a table feed screw looks straightforward enough, but the 'other little bits' are absolutely a concern. I'm perfectly comfortable with buying a basket case motorcycle and having it running within a few weeks' worth of nights/weekends, but I'm totally out of my element here. I don't know what I don't know ... I had to google the difference between a J-head and round ram, based on your comment.

Your advice is well received, but I'm still interested to hear what the rest of the community advises.

 

[DenisG]

I'm heading down to have a look at this Bridgeport tonight, and it looks like I have JUST the right place for it. I had been looking for a benchtop press, but ... come on, a $500 Bridgeport? How could I NOT get excited about that? I'm slightly concerned about it not being complete/assembled, but these seem like fairly straightforward machines to me (please, correct me if I'm wrong). If the motor is dead, it looks like they're relatively universal, even if I have to fabricate some motor mounts for it (again, correct me if I'm wrong). Also, I only have 110 in my current garage (rental, so that won't change until I move) so I'm guessing I'd have to swap motors for that anyway.

I'm mostly concerned about loading/unloading it. I'm guessing these things are 1/2 ton or 1 ton or so, and I'd have to find some way to load it into a pickup without a forklift. Suggestions?

I hate when people link to a Craigslist posting on forums, since that link will be dead in a week and can't be referenced by anyone in the future, so please just see the attached screenshot for the details I have. Any suggestions/feedback/etc are greatly appreciated.

It looks like an M-head: Morse taper collets instead of R8. Still not a bad price, but you should make sure that you can get the collets for it.

For transport, see if you can find a local towing company with a roll-back (ramp truck). Maybe you can work out a deal and hire them to deliver it. The Bridgeport that I bought was delivered that way. I put it on a pallet and was able to move it around with my pallet jack.

 

[A_Pmech]

You can buy a pristine round ram M-head for $500 to $800.

It's a cobbled together pile of junk that will make somebody a long and frustrating hobby project. I wouldn't touch that thing with a 10 foot pole.

P.S. The motors are custom-made for Bridgeport. Standard C-frame motors can be adapted to Brigeport milling heads, but machining is required.

 

[454ragtop]

Plug and play one in RI for $850 http://providence.craigslist.org/tls/4213836601.html

 

[ez-duzit]

That machine is garbage.

And you're going to need 220 volt power.

 

[drummingpariah]

I knew you guys would come through for me, I'm so glad I asked beforehand. I love the idea of a bridgeport in my garage, but really don't need it. I've been having a hard time finding an inexpensive (but not cheap) drill press that'll go low-rpm enough for deep metal cuts. I know there were a few threads with recommendations out there, but I'm having a hard time digging them up. There's a ton of information on these boards, but absorbing it in bite-sized chunks is a challenge. Point me toward a few older brands that I can start hunting for, and I'd really appreciate it. I've been looking at a few benchtop Atlas units, but I don't know what else I should be looking for.

Let's be clear, though - I'm not looking for a dissertation on drill presses, machining presses, etc. Those already exist and are already great. I'm looking for a handful of commonplace brands and/or models that a neophyte like me would have a tough time screwing up (+10 points if you get the pun!). Yes, I'm asking you awesome folks to help me shop for my first drill press. I'm also happy to research, but I have around 5 hours this month that I can dedicate to that research: please help me focus that time as much as possible.

 

[MotoDave]

The hard part about it being apart is you don't know for sure that all the parts are there, and some of the little parts for these machines can be shockingly expensive. I'd wait for one that's complete and can be run before buying.

 

[zkling]

The missing feed screw (and associated parts), plus the potentially bad motor are what really kills it for me. If it truly just needed to be assembled it would be a great drill press for $500. BUT the missing parts are going to add up super quick for a complete mill. If you could get it for ~$250 it might end up with a good drill press, depending, but would require time effort money and possibly ingenuity to piece it together.

 

[drummingpariah]

How about a Clausing #1759 for $250 that apparently runs?

 

[zkling]

Very good machine. Depending on how it is configured. Honestly I'd almost rather have the step pulley model over the VS model. The VS machines can be nice, but if something goes wrong $$$$ and a pain to fix. Clausing thinks their parts are of gold.

Edit, Oops, spoke before I finished my thought.
*VS = variable speed reeves drive.

 

[kazlx]

I'd buy a Clausing 1759 if it runs for $250. However, if you could swing a mill, it would be a much more versatile purchase...even a small one. I sold my drill press because I never used it after getting a mill and space is at a premium in my garage. If I had the room, I would have kept it.

However, you could probably buy that DP and sell it for what you pay for it down the road.

 

[scaron]

that is a nice drill press and i personally feel $250 is a straight price for it. i'd be seriously tempted myself at that price if it was local and i was able to arrange transport for it to my basement, even though i don't even need a drill press!! that clausing would definitely one-up my dad's old enco, LOL. but i guess it depends, whether or not you really need a vertical mill to get where you want to go, or if a DP would suffice.

 

[35 Dodge]

I have owned a round ram mill it served me well for what I needed. Sold it when I had a chance to by my new B-port mill with a DRO that I could afford. I was almost going to go and look at the mill myself Was going to offer them $300. You can take it all a part right down to the column be easier to move

 

[oldldh]

35 Dodge---You need a bigger motor in that pick-em-up....

 

[35 Dodge]

35 Dodge---You need a bigger motor in that pick-em-up....

It will be bigger next fall when I get the blower for it.

Back to the bridgeport at question, if you are willing to take your time you can get a lot of parts for it off of ebay.

 

[ez-duzit]

How about a Clausing #1759 for $250 that apparently runs?

You seem to have your sights set very low. Why not free?

Seriously, if you can only bottom feed you must actually desire a major overhaul project. Parts for that project could easily exceed the cost of a good complete machine. This is mostly why these machines are virtually valueless--because it costs more to repair them than it is worth.

Better to be patient and watch for a machine in good working condition and including a bunch of tooling.

 

[drummingpariah]

You seem to have your sights set very low. Why not free?

Primarily because I don't know what I should be budgeting. This forum, in particular, makes it difficult to gauge prices. That's there are such plentiful anecdotal stories about getting the highest-quality-ever-made-machine for $22.76 and a half-empty bottle of beer.

Seriously, if you can only bottom feed you must actually desire a major overhaul project. Parts for that project could easily exceed the cost of a good complete machine. This is mostly why these machines are virtually valueless--because it costs more to repair them than it is worth.

Better to be patient and watch for a machine in good working condition and including a bunch of tooling.

In practical terms, I'm being stingy about everything right now because I'm getting ready to buy a garage or barn ... and I suppose some kind of house nearby, to keep my girlfriend happy. I see enough value in a drill/machine press to spend a few hundred dollars, but if it makes more sense to spend more I'll wait a year or two to get into the swing of a mortgage payment and home repairs. I'm looking forward to having a nice space to work on my Datsuns more than anything else.