Gunsmithing Grizzly Mills?

[weazer]

Does anyone here use Grizzly Vertical Mills? I am looking into the G3103 http://www.grizzly.com/products/Vertical-Mill-w-Table-Power-Feed/G3103 Looks like a good combination of not too big and not too small.

It would just be for home/hobby use, nothing big. I know everyone say's to get a used Bridgeport, but I just cannot get one of those to the basement and I don't think it would fair to well in the garage during the winters, with the wife coming and going with her car.

Thanks

 

[JWArmory]

Re: Grizzly Mills?

I've got a Grizzly similar to that. Slightly bigger I believe. They work for hobby type machining and quick repairs. I use mine for everything from pulling bullets to valve grinding. A big downside is the belt drive. It has enough power but changing speeds sucks. I think I paid about $900 for it. I wouldn't give a lot more than that for one. For basically 3k I'd get a bridgeport or a sharp. Why won't it fit in your basment?

 

[weazer]

Re: Grizzly Mills?

All I have is a standard stairway through the house, no way I am going to get a BP or similar size machine down there.

 

[JimT]

Re: Grizzly Mills?

You are gonna need an engine hoist to move the thing. Keep that in mind. It weighs about a grand. I have one. I think you would play hell getting it into a basement.

 

[JWArmory]

Re: Grizzly Mills?

I agree. They're still heavy. I used a big ole johnson bar and set the mill on pipes to act as rollers to get it moved out of the guys garage I bought it from and into mine.

What is your concern about having it in the garage? Hot and cold, or your wife not knowing where the front of her car is?

 

[weazer]

Re: Grizzly Mills?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jwarmory</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I agree. They're still heavy. I used a big ole johnson bar and set the mill on pipes to act as rollers to get it moved out of the guys garage I bought it from and into mine.

What is your concern about having it in the garage? Hot and cold, or your wife not knowing where the front of her car is? </div></div>

She will not run into it, I was just worried about the rusting.

 

[JWArmory]

Re: Grizzly Mills?

I wouldn't be terribly concerned with rust. If you live in a wintery area buy one of those mats to park on that doesn't let the road crap flow everywhere when in melts off the car. Other than that, you're gonna be keeping the ways and such well oiled anyway, plus the oil you'll probably be using with your tooling. Just clean with compressed air after use and don't be afraid to spray some WD-40 on the table when your done.

 

[Clark]

Re: Grizzly Mills?

That Grizzly, and maybe another mill are in many ways copies of a Clausing 8520.

Clausing 8520 mills are hard to find second hand, and they are pricey.

I helped move an 8520 out of a basement. The two of us took it apart, and transported the pieces in a passenger car.

What makes them worth so much money is that they are a real knee mill that can do gunsmithing, and yet then can be moved into a garage without hiring a rigger.

 

[weazer]

Re: Grizzly Mills?

Thanks for the helps everyone. With Clark's suggestion I am looking into the Clausing 8520/8530. If anyone comes across one for sale just let me know.