HF Mini Mill

[FMC1959]

http://www.harborfreight.com/two-speed-variable-bench-mill-drill-machine-44991.html

I know about many of the cons of this unit, and I know of the many alternatives. The one big advantage of this unit is the price, when you have coupons.

I am not buying soon necessarily, and just considering for now, I just want to ask any of the HF experts, what would be a good deal on this?

I know there are 25% off, and maybe 30% off also. Then there are specific product coupons also, but can they be combined with the % off coupons?

Between now and the end of this year, with Father's Day, Black Friday and Christmas, what can I expect as a good?

 

[FMC1959]

I got mine for about $500 shipped with a 20% off coupon.

It's pretty hard to do anything with it unless you have a ton of tooling. You might want to look for a used one that's being sold as a package deal.

Personally I wouldn't recommend one at all. I've spent way more time fixing stuff that was wonky from the factory than I have even using the thing. And I still have to turn a blind eye to the fact the tram is pretty muchi in adjustable and way off from the factory.

Yeah, I know about the many shortcomings, but I have seen many guys that have found ways to get around them, I will do the same.

It is easy to go from the HF unit and then for a few hundred more I can get the LMS 3990, or another jump and get a PM-25 and so on. Before you know it, the price is in the couple of thousand range, then tooling.

Used market is difficult, they are few and far between for any mini mills used for sale. As you get up in size, you have to have the means to transport 1000+ pounds of machinery, and have room to put it, electrical, all stuff I do not have time and money for at the moment.

So I figured to spend a small amount on an HF unit, not a lot of money and it works for many people, they sell tons of them...and I don't see them for sale, so they can't be that bad. This will give me some experience, if I like it, in a year or 2, I can see about a much larger and serious unit, and would have the motivation to rearrange everything to make room for it. Plus, being the HF has an R8 taper, not all the tooling is lost. If I do not like it, I can sell it and not have lost a lot of money.

SO often I start small, then look at the next model up and before you know it the budget has gone up 5 or 10 fold. This time I want to stick to small, if I make the plunge, I will get this unit and see what happens down the road.

Right now, I want to have a pretty good idea of what would be the best deal on these from someone who follows the HF coupons and sales....thanks

 

[FlightParamedic]

Not sure about the mill specifically going on sale but the best coupon I have ever personally seen is 25%. Only happens a handful of times a year. 20% at least every month. Never seen 30%.

 

[mike93lx]

Not sure about the mill specifically going on sale but the best coupon I have ever personally seen is 25%. Only happens a handful of times a year. 20% at least every month. Never seen 30%.

Same. And you can't stack coupons. Your best bet is to use a 20% when/if it is on sale

 

[FMC1959]

Not sure about the mill specifically going on sale but the best coupon I have ever personally seen is 25%. Only happens a handful of times a year. 20% at least every month. Never seen 30%.

Same. And you can't stack coupons. Your best bet is to use a 20% when/if it is on sale

Thanks

 

[pwhittle]

I've had one for over 15 years. I initially purchased it to put my own pool cue tips on. I could find anyone convenient after moving to Atlanta from Phoenix.

I am a self-taught amateur lathe operator.

I find it OK for aluminum and plastic, but hard to do anything with steel. I have cut threads, and the last thing I made was a seal installer out of aluminum. You need to remove material in small passes. About 10 thou max.

I also had a HF 12x36 lathe and a HF gear head mill for a while which allowed me to make bigger things, but sold them when I moved and had nowhere to put them at the new house.

I would much rather have a real lathe in my garage than the mini lathe. I would much rather have the mini lathe in my garage than to have nothing.

I miss my mill.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[gungatim]

I haven't seen a 30% off coupon in the wild for a few years, but there is a 25% off one day only for Easter they are handing out now...best advice I can give is use a coupon when it is also on sale...

and be careful if paying by credit card, I got screwed yesterday when I tried to buy something and card was declined for no reason. got home only to see they ran someone elses transaction on my card and emailed me a receipt....needless to say I am heading there today to rip them a new a-hole...their new chip readers ****...

 

[Professur]

The real question is how much is your time worth. Yeah, maybe you can make it 'acceptable', but if you charge yourself $10/h, you'll soon find a better starting point saves you money. If you've got time to burn and just want a project, ... you'll find plenty to keep you busy, and by the time you're done, you'll be ready to take a real mill and tune that up. That said, they are neat little tools to have as a talking point.