Gunsmithing Benchtop mills
- Thread starter K_4c
- Start date
I've been shopping for one as well. I've looked at the Grizzly especially because the price is in my ballpark. I've read mixed reviews, I'm guessing for a hobbyist doing work from time to time it would be ok. Maybe not so much for a busy shop that runs the machine non stop for 6-7hrs a day.
I'm looking for one to do slide milling, rmr cuts, finishing receivers, inletting, etc. I think the Grizzly would fit the bill. The Mathews PM 25 looks like a quality machine, I hadn't heard of them before.
I'm looking for one to do slide milling, rmr cuts, finishing receivers, inletting, etc. I think the Grizzly would fit the bill. The Mathews PM 25 looks like a quality machine, I hadn't heard of them before.
I just got a old unimat that can lathe and mill. Unfortunately it’s to small for me and since I just got laid off I think I might have to sell it before getting to have much fun with it though. You should check em out though, you can find em for about 500-1000. They were made in Austria in the 59s to the 80s? I’m a sucker for older gear too
The Matthews unit looks like a quality little mill. I’ve watch a few demonstrations and it’s quiet compared to gear drive units (big plus since this will be located in my gun room).
I think I’ll save the additional $400 and go that route... then it’s buying all the tooling. That’s where things get messy.
I think I’ll save the additional $400 and go that route... then it’s buying all the tooling. That’s where things get messy.
I use a G0704 for small projects and it works OK. The first one I recieved I had to send back after a faulty motor control board and the ways on the Z-Axis look like they were cut with a chainsaw (which telegraphed into the work). The second one works much better. For making non-precision cuts it works fine. I would NOT use it for anything where I needed to hold a tolerance of .01" or better, the ways are just not square to each other and the machine is not rigid enough to consistently provide high tolerance cuts. I don't regret buying it, I have used it for tons of projects, just manage your expectations it should be fine.
I have added a belt drive to get rid of the noisy gearbox and added a cheap DRO setup which makes life much easier (and quieter).
I have added a belt drive to get rid of the noisy gearbox and added a cheap DRO setup which makes life much easier (and quieter).
I've used little Grizzly's to do front sight dovetail cuts a couple times and some other one-off things. It worked sufficiently, but go slow with the cuts and take several this passes versus larger cuts like what you can do on a Bridgeport or my Tree 2UVR.
Remember one thing:
When it says "1 horsepower" ...
A Shetland pony is a horse, so is a Clydesdale....
Remember one thing:
When it says "1 horsepower" ...
A Shetland pony is a horse, so is a Clydesdale....
I would say you'll want something bigger/heavier.
I'm not sure if it was that model grizzly a busy had when he started out building aks but it was flexy.
Aside from that the travel in x and y are limiting not just to mill longer dimensions but if you have something hanging out the side of your vice.
The biggest limitation I find with small mills is z though.
Say your using a chuck rather than collet and drilling a half inch hole you've got 8-10 inches below the quill now. Add a vice on the table 2-3" and whatever you're working on can't be very tall.
Their smaller knee mills are decent for minor milling, they make perfect drill presses using collets.
If you're working on actions I imagine you'll be using carbide and stuff needs to be solidly in place.
I'm using a g0729 right now is great for my business of building aks which is mostly drilling but not the best for milling anything large.
I kind of regret selling my j-head and plan to pick up another machine that size.
I'm not sure if it was that model grizzly a busy had when he started out building aks but it was flexy.
Aside from that the travel in x and y are limiting not just to mill longer dimensions but if you have something hanging out the side of your vice.
The biggest limitation I find with small mills is z though.
Say your using a chuck rather than collet and drilling a half inch hole you've got 8-10 inches below the quill now. Add a vice on the table 2-3" and whatever you're working on can't be very tall.
Their smaller knee mills are decent for minor milling, they make perfect drill presses using collets.
If you're working on actions I imagine you'll be using carbide and stuff needs to be solidly in place.
I'm using a g0729 right now is great for my business of building aks which is mostly drilling but not the best for milling anything large.
I kind of regret selling my j-head and plan to pick up another machine that size.
I had $2k into a beat up old 600 pound 1963 Rockwell 21-100 from 2004 to 2015.
Then I got a 2000 pound mint condition 1969 Bridgeport for $12k.
It turns out for gunsmithing, the little mill was just as good. All I got that was an improvement was the DRO and auto feed. I could have tacked those on the Rockwell.
Then I got a 2000 pound mint condition 1969 Bridgeport for $12k.
It turns out for gunsmithing, the little mill was just as good. All I got that was an improvement was the DRO and auto feed. I could have tacked those on the Rockwell.
The benchtop mill I've got is a 650lb Bolton ZA45PD 9.5" x 31.5" I picked up locally from a little old lady off craigslist for $1500. Only used on Sundays... It came with a stand, DRO, power feed, endmills, drill bits, angle plates, 3 sets of parallels, R8 and er20 collets, facemills, T-nut clamping kit, several 1-2-3 blocks etc. It was close to a $4000 in retail investment for the original owner.
It has done everything I've needed of it and seems to cut true/square to the limits I've expected. I do like that it does not take much real estate in my garage and if I need a full-sized mill, I have a couple friends with full-sized knee mills who can be bribed with alcohol.
It has done everything I've needed of it and seems to cut true/square to the limits I've expected. I do like that it does not take much real estate in my garage and if I need a full-sized mill, I have a couple friends with full-sized knee mills who can be bribed with alcohol.
