New for 08: 3-in-1 Smithy - Experience?

[Farmall450]

So I have a Smithy Midas 1220 LTD and have used it for years. To be completely honest, for small projects it has worked fine for me but anytime I need to do milling or precision turning, the quality is not there. I got this lathe/ mill for free so it was a no brainer. When I move and build out a new shop, I will be buying a used Monarch Lathe and Bridgeport Mill. I see both of these used on FBMP all the time and rebuilding an old tool is something I like to do. I would not spend 6k on anything from China. Heck I bet an old Craftsman Atlas lathe is way more accurate with way less runout than my Smithy. Just my opinion.

Fortunately, I spent way less than 6k

Don't have the space for a Bridgeport and lathe...or either. Also, no 3 phase (could get a rotary phase convertor or find a single phase). I'm not looking to make production parts....001 is fine, heck .01 is fine

For reference, that's the heaviest cut your Midas could mill?

 

[11b30b4]

Fortunately, I spent way less than 6k

Don't have the space for a Bridgeport and lathe...or either. Also, no 3 phase (could get a rotary phase convertor or find a single phase). I'm not looking to make production parts....001 is fine, heck .01 is fine

For reference, that's the heaviest cut your Midas could mill?

I am not sure, I can say that milling aluminum is really the only milling that I have done over the years. For example, Milling out an 80% lower receive was slow and tedious but it did an ok job. However, just aluminum was giving the mill a hard time compared to "real" mills that I have seen cut through steel like it was butter.
Most (like 98%) of the time I only do turning and for that it does an ok job. The real issues I have with the machine is the lack of reliable repeatability. For example if I take multiple passes while threading a rod. The Chinese machines do not have reliable repeatability that old full size machines have. Measurements are off so much that at this point I just about eyeball everything.

But, if you have limited space and need both a lathe and a mill, it will probably work for your needs. I believe most if not all of the Chinese machines are made at the same factory so the difference between Smithy, harbor freight, grizzly, etc... is likely just the name and the price.

 

[Farmall450]

I am not sure, I can say that milling aluminum is really the only milling that I have done over the years. For example, Milling out an 80% lower receive was slow and tedious but it did an ok job. However, just aluminum was giving the mill a hard time compared to "real" mills that I have seen cut through steel like it was butter.
Most (like 98%) of the time I only do turning and for that it does an ok job. The real issues I have with the machine is the lack of reliable repeatability. For example if I take multiple passes while threading a rod. The Chinese machines do not have reliable repeatability that old full size machines have. Measurements are off so much that at this point I just about eyeball everything.

But, if you have limited space and need both a lathe and a mill, it will probably work for your needs. I believe most if not all of the Chinese machines are made at the same factory so the difference between Smithy, harbor freight, grizzly, etc... is likely just the name and the price.

Glad you mentioned a lower, should be no problemo on a Granite then.

I figured I bought a light duty lathe w/ a drill press. Someday a real knee mill would be nice, but, I can get close enough with other things then clean it up with this.