Lathe and Mills

oberkommando · January 7, 2000, 05:15 AM

Could someone tell me what brands are good quality for home shop use. Dont want flimsy or cheaply made and prefer US or European.
Also dont want a sony digital bridgeport type CNC machine listed as there is no way in hell I will ever afford one. Thinking in the area of 10-20,000.00 dollars each. Didnt know if there were any made this cheap that were very good quality.

Would like floor standing

Joe D · January 7, 2000, 07:17 AM

I have a fairly large tool and die shop in my plant. When I saw the need to start replacing some of the old worn out machines the first place I looked was for US made equipment. Talk about sticker shock! I took a chance and bought a Taiwan made Vertical Mill. Think I paid around $5,000 for it. Ten years later it is still going strong. I have since purchased two more verticals and three lathes ranging in size from 12 x 48 to 24 x 120". They are all made in Taiwan. It is my understanding two factories make 90% of the equipment there. One thing I have on all of them is a digital position indicator. For $10,000 you can have a nice vertical mill and lathe.

George Stringer · January 7, 2000, 07:35 AM

Oberkommando, Myford lathes are very good and for a mill I'd go with Bridgeport. You can usually find a good buy on Ebay. Also you might want to check out this site http://www.chaski.com/wwwboard/machine/index.html There are a lot of knowledgeable folks there that have experience with just about every make imaginable. George

Matt · January 7, 2000, 02:03 PM

While on the subject,has anyone had any experiance with these folks? www.smithy.com , Are these good enuogh for a serious "home smith"?
thanks
Matt

George Stringer · January 7, 2000, 09:40 PM

Matt, I'll send you an article on the smithy and let you be the judge. This one comes out of the AGA newsletter. George

Matt · January 8, 2000, 12:25 PM

JEEEEZ!am i glad i asked!thanks once agin,George
Matt

January 7, 2000, 05:15 AM	#1
oberkommando Senior Member Join Date: September 25, 1999 Posts: 1,158	Could someone tell me what brands are good quality for home shop use. Dont want flimsy or cheaply made and prefer US or European. Also dont want a sony digital bridgeport type CNC machine listed as there is no way in hell I will ever afford one. Thinking in the area of 10-20,000.00 dollars each. Didnt know if there were any made this cheap that were very good quality. Would like floor standing

January 7, 2000, 07:17 AM	#2
Joe D Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 1999 Location: Alabama Posts: 455	I have a fairly large tool and die shop in my plant. When I saw the need to start replacing some of the old worn out machines the first place I looked was for US made equipment. Talk about sticker shock! I took a chance and bought a Taiwan made Vertical Mill. Think I paid around $5,000 for it. Ten years later it is still going strong. I have since purchased two more verticals and three lathes ranging in size from 12 x 48 to 24 x 120". They are all made in Taiwan. It is my understanding two factories make 90% of the equipment there. One thing I have on all of them is a digital position indicator. For $10,000 you can have a nice vertical mill and lathe.

January 7, 2000, 07:35 AM	#3
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Oberkommando, Myford lathes are very good and for a mill I'd go with Bridgeport. You can usually find a good buy on Ebay. Also you might want to check out this site http://www.chaski.com/wwwboard/machine/index.html There are a lot of knowledgeable folks there that have experience with just about every make imaginable. George

January 7, 2000, 02:03 PM	#4
Matt Member Join Date: September 14, 1999 Posts: 39	While on the subject,has anyone had any experiance with these folks? www.smithy.com , Are these good enuogh for a serious "home smith"? thanks Matt

January 7, 2000, 09:40 PM	#5
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Matt, I'll send you an article on the smithy and let you be the judge. This one comes out of the AGA newsletter. George

January 8, 2000, 12:25 PM	#6
Matt Member Join Date: September 14, 1999 Posts: 39	JEEEEZ!am i glad i asked!thanks once agin,George Matt