Hobbyist machining

[thinkracing]

I sit at a desk during the day and dream of owning a race car fabrication shop at night.

So, in my spare time I have been building a race car. It's built, tested and constantly being developed, but I'm ready to move on and learn some new stuff like engine building and machining.

I'm wondering if anyone does any hobbyist milling and other machining and could recommend some light use products. For example, does anyone buy in to the table top mills offered by places like HF? A large mill is just not possible for me given the amount of space needed, etc.

Also, where can I buy a good set of carbide burrs and sanding abrasives for porting heads, intake and exhausts?

 

[wreckercologist]

For the price of one of those table top models, you can get a used Bridgeport IMO. The table top models have very limited travel, limited HP, ect. If you're short on space or don't need a big mill, then maybe it's the best way to go for you. For me, the lack of HP is the killer.

I think Enco has alot of economy burrs and sanding rolls. There are tons of places to get that stuff. Grainger, MSC, ............

 

[Griff93]

I do some hobby machining. It's addictive cause your no longer limited to things you can buy off the shelf. I still want to buy some more tooling and a rotary table for my mill. It's a 1956 Bridgeport J head with a 9x32 table. One of these would be much better than a HF mill/drill but is a bit smaller than a full sized 9x42 machine. You can generally find them in the same price range as a new mill/drill. One downside is they are 3 phase. I built a rotary phase converter myself. It's really not that hard. Figuring out how they work is really the hard part. I've been really wanting a lathe lately. I have access to two at work and my father has a smaller atlas at his house so I haven't gotten one yet.

 

[e-tek]

You need to speak to (PM) OldCarGuy. He has the most incredible set up and knows A LOT about home machining. Hope that helps!

 

[BTG]

I agree with wreckercologist. There are a lot of medium sized mills out there. I saw this mill this morning on CL -Indy. It would be perfect for me, but I am on tool buying suspension till the end of the year.

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/tls/1435670075.html

 

[twostall]

I bought a 1940's lathe this summer. I haven't turned anything yet; it needed a couple of minor adjustments - that turned into a full teardown and rebuild. I don't mind, I'm getting an education in machine tool reconditioning. I have recently been giving the HF chinese stuff a second look, however, because the time I've spent working on the Atlas lathe could be spent making chips. It might be nice to have a new lathe on the bench, even if it is chinese, if only to make some of the bushings etc. that I need for the Atlas.

One thing I've learned is that, while I've been looking ahead toward the day I can acquire a Bridgeport-type mill, there is NO WAY I would spend the money on a 50 year old machine until I have a LOT more knowledge, and the confidence to know what I'm getting for my money.

I think the HF equipment has its place in a home shop. You can learn a lot, and if you outgrow it and need something bigger, you get there knowing just what it is you need, and why.

 

[rsanter]

I have a Bport and 2 lathes
there are some big usability differences between a benchtop mill and a standing knee mill.
ENCO has some economical imported mills that look like they are 3/4 sized standing mills so that me be a good in-between option.

if you can get the HF mill and lathe used for a deal then go fot it because you could always resell them later, but I would not buy them new unless you are willing to adsorb the loss when you sell.
recently there was one of those mills on craigs list for $300

I work during the day and do some side work in the evening. so far this year I have done about $6000 worth of side work with my equipment

bob

 

[Packard V8]

We have to be frank with our friends sometimes

I'm wondering if anyone does any hobbyist milling and other machining and could recommend some light use products. For example, does anyone buy in to the table top mills offered by places like HF? A large mill is just not possible for me given the amount of space needed, etc. Also, where can I buy a good set of carbide burrs and sanding abrasives for porting heads, intake and exhausts?

If you have to ask the above questions, you haven't done your homework and you are too far behind the curve about mills, for one, to understand the answers. Suggest you have about six months of reading all the searched threads on http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/index.php http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/index.php enco.com travers.com http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/ and speedtalk.com before you can know which questions to ask.

Go for the dream, but make sure you understand the challenges involved and don't buy more machinery and stock than you can financially swim with. We're here to support you and give what direction we can.

thnx, jack vines

 

[thinkracing]

We have to be frank with our friends sometimes


If you have to ask the above questions, you haven't done your homework and you are too far behind the curve about mills, for one, to understand the answers. Suggest you have about six months of reading all the searched threads on http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/index.php http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/index.php enco.com travers.com http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/ and speedtalk.com before you can know which questions to ask.

Go for the dream, but make sure you understand the challenges involved and don't buy more machinery and stock than you can financially swim with. We're here to support you and give what direction we can.

thnx, jack vines

Thanks Jack. Posting is part of the homework. I'll read the links with great interest. I know what I want to do, but I admit that I need to figure out what that means exactly. So, I'll keep asking questions, but I'm a fast learner and may know more than I realize given my exposure to the hobby.