Should I pick up this milling machine?

[coma13]

I've had my eyes open for a reasonably priced vertical mill for a while, and this one caught my eye. I emailed to see if I could go check it out.

Any experience with these? Things I should look out for? I'm not familiar with Westbury but I learned on a manual Bridgeport so familiarity would be nice for a garage tool.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/tls/4903193992.html

 

[Troutsqueezer]

No way are you gonna pick up a machine that weighs that much...

 

[bczygan]

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general/wesbury-mill-195351/

Ummmmm......Hell Yeah!

Might be made by Induma.

 

[coma13]

No way are you gonna pick up a machine that weighs that much...

Do you even lift bro? I could overhead press that no prob. Haha

 

[astroracer]

Go check it out. If the seller is motivated he should let you fire it up. Check the spindle bearings for growling and any slop. Check the table for backlash in X and Y. If you find a "few" things out of spec you may get a better deal...
Mark

 

[rsanter]

Seems a little bit high on price for condition to me but you will never know if you do not go look......so I will say maybe......

Bob

 

[Farmall450]

Seems a little bit high on price for condition to me but you will never know if you do not go look......so I will say maybe......

Bob

I agree but it would probably clean up pretty well.

 

[nine4gmc]

That thing would be $4500 around here, definitely grab it if you didn't miss out by posting it here and waiting for replies...

 

[iajonesy]

Mill looks good and comes with some nice add-ons that make it a pretty good bargain if it checks out okay.Like 94 said,they bring a lot more than that in my part of the universe,too.I'd be all over it if the spindle,backlash and motor are good.Lot of bang for your buck.

Mike

 

[Bobf]

Go check it out. Check X/Y play, run the table out one side look up under and check the lead screw for wear in the middle(flash light) grab the end of the table and see if it moves front to back when you gently push on it.
Check the spindle for wobble and bearing noise if you can power it up.
If it comes with the tooling in the pix it's a good start.
Any mill is useless without the tooling you need for whatever you intend to make.

 

[coma13]

That thing would be $4500 around here, definitely grab it if you didn't miss out by posting it here and waiting for replies...

I sent him an email before I posted. Hopefully he gets back to me.

-Eric

 

[Caman]

I will add, Run your finger inside the spindle where the collet goes and make sure it is smooth and not all rusted or galled from a spun collet. Also check the drawbar for stripped threads.

 

[gearhead1]

Look for the things others have mentioned, but IMO, yes it's worth it. You won't find one around NC for that. I paid $800 for my Bridgeport but had to go two states away to get it. It had slop in the table, but still worth it.

 

[sgs236]

I'm thinking that Kurt 6" vise might be worth between 150-250 (depending on condition) by itself. Collet set maybe another 50 dollars or so.

 

[coma13]

Going to check it out after work today. I'm 1st in line but there are other interested parties.

 

[ttpete]

What's the spindle taper? If it's not R-8, you'll have a tough time finding tooling for it.

 

[KMScott]

The table is the short version, maybe 32" check the low range too. See how it drops into back gear. might want to check out the down feed also, see if it the down feed goes into gear and try the three different feed settings and if the feed reverses too. If from a shop then it is being sold because of something. Well worth $1,300.0 if everything checks out. Good luck.

 

[DocsMachine]

A better question might be "why haven't you already gone to pick up this milling machine?"

Doc.

 

[coma13]

It's mine! Put a deposit down on it after checking it out today. Going to pick it up this weekend.

Being sold by an individual who had it in his metal fab shop for the last 25 years and closed his doors a couple years ago. It's covered in grime but feels tight, R8 collets, very quiet as far as bearing noise is concerned, some backlash but no play in the table.

 

[bczygan]

Was it a made by Induma version?

 

[coma13]

Was it a made by Induma version?

Yup.

 

[bczygan]

Yup.

Oh MAN!

You ****.

Especially with the other things included.

Now, my advice to you is to use a drop deck trailer to haul it home, unless there are forklifts at both ends.

 

[coma13]

He's digging through his other workbench to see what other tooling he might be able to throw in. I'm pretty excited.

I have a buddy at Hertz who I will be renting a drop deck trailer from this weekend.

 

[Strouty]

Oh MAN!

You ****.

Especially with the other things included.

Now, my advice to you is to use a drop deck trailer to haul it home, unless there are forklifts at both ends.

Where did you ever get that idea????

 

[bczygan]

Where did you ever get that idea????

I read the above.....and when I looked over at the avatar, I busted out laughing!

Where indeed!

 

[ttpete]

When you go to bring it home, drop the knee all the way and rotate the head down until it touches the table. It'll be a LOT less top heavy.

 

[bczygan]

When you go to bring it home, drop the knee all the way and rotate the head down until it touches the table. It'll be a LOT less top heavy.

And support the head as you rotate it.

And lock the table in both directions.

Use a chain and chain binder on the base, but not on the knee.

Ratchet straps from the eye or ram to trailer corners.

Check that handles are secure, or remove them.

When you get home, and it is safely in the garage, stand back and chuckle out loud, realizing how great it is to have your very own mill!

 

[coma13]

Thanks for the tips fellows. The gentleman I'm buying it from had moved it 4 times in the course of his ownership and we are both on the same page as far as moving methods are concerned

 

[930dreamer]

Let us know how the mill move goes, and yes more pics.

 

[Troutsqueezer]

It's a good thing you saved money on the purchase cause you're going to need a lot more for the tooling. What do you plan to use it for?

 

[coma13]

It's a good thing you saved money on the purchase cause you're going to need a lot more for the tooling. What do you plan to use it for?

Don't I know it! Every tool purchased triggers the need for about 10 more. I need a horizontal band saw now, something fierce.

I build custom motorcycles and work on old bikes so it will be used mostly for fabricating parts, repairs, and possibly some engine work.

 

[Strouty]

Any updates?

 

[coma13]

The move was a success. I did it by myself using a come along/rolling it on pipes and a rented scissor lift equipment trailer. The unload was a bit scary due to a steep exit angle at the edge of my garage, but I was able to roll it into the center on Friday.

I got some steel wheels and heavy duty steel casters from a local recycling yard and I will be building a mobile base for the mill before it gets shoehorned into it's semi final resting place.

I have a manual on order and will be going through the machine and doing a more thorough clean and lube next week but today I am just giving it a wipe down to remove a few decades of shop grime and expose the 58 year old Italian machine underneath.

 

[Strouty]

Nice.

I am interested to see your mobile setup, I have been thinking about making mine mobile, of course I own a forklift, but sometimes access is a pain.