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jbrandt · 11-08-2007, 12:21 PM

I searched around but couldn't find anything about this. Has anyone seen this? I figure it'd be good for the occasional use I'd give it, and at $60, you can't beat that! I figure a good drill press with a end mill bit and this thing could get the job done. I'm planning on building a chassis for my WK, but don't want to spend several hundred (or thousand) dollars on a mill.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94276

any thoughts? Has anyone used this before?

Wrecker · 11-08-2007, 12:30 PM

I've played with it at the store, there's a lot of slop in it.

jbrandt · 11-08-2007, 01:56 PM

hmm, that's no good. I guess you can't expect much more from a $60 mill!!

Would a band saw be a better option for cutting out a chassis? Not as precise as a mill, but would get the job done... What about cutting out pieces inside a chassis, a band saw can't do that...

what type of tool (besides a mill) could to that, a table mounted jigsaw type tool perhaps...???

thanks for the input!

Cslax06 · 11-08-2007, 02:11 PM

A heavy duty scroll saw. Just invest (save) for a better mill.

_BEN_ · 11-08-2007, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrandt

what type of tool (besides a mill) could to that, a table mounted jigsaw type tool perhaps...???

A scroll saw would work good for light materials like acetal and wood. Aluminum may be a little slow depending on the grade but do able provided you have the right blade.

jbrandt · 11-08-2007, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _BEN_

A scroll saw would work good for light materials like acetal and wood. Aluminum may be a little slow depending on the grade but do able provided you have the right blade.

a scroll saw, didn't think of that! that's a pretty good idea.

Hmmm, if my wife is reading this... take a hint - Christmas is coming soon!

Offroader5 · 11-08-2007, 03:06 PM

You could easily get the job done with a jigsaw. It all depends on what you're most comfortable using already really. I am pretty comfortable with my jigsaw on cutting out smaller pieces, so when I did my chassis (3/16" acetal), it worked great. You could use it for say 1/8" aluminum if your using a fine narrow blade in the jigsaw. Can always clean up the edges with a drum sander mounted in your drill press.

Coligny · 11-08-2007, 04:04 PM

Misslabelled item. This thing is awfull as a wannabee mill.

But awsome as a precision scrolling visse. Got one, perfect for hole alignement on small parts. There is usually less slope when you properly screw back everything in place... The shelf sample usually have a few missing parts.

Destroyer · 11-08-2007, 04:19 PM

Drill presses should NOT be used as mills. They are not built to take the stresses.

_BEN_ · 11-08-2007, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Destroyer

Drill presses should NOT be used as mills. They are not built to take the stresses.

That is a good point they are not really designed to take high lateral loads nor will they be able to controll the bit from hunting due to low tolerances. Ruining any accuracy.

But for very light materials like acetal they could pull it off if the project does not require much accruacy. I would not trust it for anything critical.

For what it is worth. I would rather invest into a cheap mill than a drill press.
http://www.billsbest.com/thatlas.html but that is my personal preferance.

jbrandt · 11-08-2007, 05:10 PM

thanks guys! I think I'll save up for the "cheap mill" - much better idea than the crappy adapter thing from Harbor Freight... Plus, you can use the mill as a drill press! ha!

I think a scroll saw is in my near future. I have a jigsaw, but I find it hard to cut small pieces with it.

red jim · 11-11-2007, 05:52 AM

I use a drill press as a milling machine,it works great with delrin but not too good on aluminum.I take it real slow and only remove small amounts of aluminum at a time.If I could afford to I would buy a "cheap" mill like the one shown above,and a lathe,and bandsaw and.........

toy4crawlin · 11-12-2007, 06:47 PM

Harbor frieght is PURE CRap !

Amazon .com Palmgren cross slide vise

also Sears make one that looks identical

My Palmgren is execellent !, No slop, top grade

I use it in my drill press to do mill work, so nice

metomwhou · 11-13-2007, 08:24 AM

Can you post up a pic of your set up, Toy4Crawlin??

STANG KILLA SS · 11-13-2007, 09:58 AM

ive cut lots of 1/8" aluminum with a jigsaw

11-08-2007, 12:21 PM	#1
jbrandt Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sacramento Posts: 338	Harbor Frieght mill I searched around but couldn't find anything about this. Has anyone seen this? I figure it'd be good for the occasional use I'd give it, and at $60, you can't beat that! I figure a good drill press with a end mill bit and this thing could get the job done. I'm planning on building a chassis for my WK, but don't want to spend several hundred (or thousand) dollars on a mill. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94276 any thoughts? Has anyone used this before?

11-08-2007, 05:10 PM	#11
jbrandt Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sacramento Posts: 338	thanks guys! I think I'll save up for the "cheap mill" - much better idea than the crappy adapter thing from Harbor Freight... Plus, you can use the mill as a drill press! ha! I think a scroll saw is in my near future. I have a jigsaw, but I find it hard to cut small pieces with it. Last edited by jbrandt; 11-08-2007 at 05:13 PM.

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11-08-2007, 12:30 PM	#2
Wrecker [HOONIGAN] Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Grand Junction Posts: 4,269	I've played with it at the store, there's a lot of slop in it.

11-08-2007, 01:56 PM	#3
jbrandt Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sacramento Posts: 338	hmm, that's no good. I guess you can't expect much more from a $60 mill!! Would a band saw be a better option for cutting out a chassis? Not as precise as a mill, but would get the job done... What about cutting out pieces inside a chassis, a band saw can't do that... what type of tool (besides a mill) could to that, a table mounted jigsaw type tool perhaps...??? thanks for the input!

11-08-2007, 02:11 PM	#4
Cslax06 Quarry Creeper Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Syracuse Posts: 384	A heavy duty scroll saw. Just invest (save) for a better mill.

11-08-2007, 03:06 PM	#7
Offroader5 Picky Fab'r/Acetal Junky Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Arizona Desert/AJ Posts: 3,073	You could easily get the job done with a jigsaw. It all depends on what you're most comfortable using already really. I am pretty comfortable with my jigsaw on cutting out smaller pieces, so when I did my chassis (3/16" acetal), it worked great. You could use it for say 1/8" aluminum if your using a fine narrow blade in the jigsaw. Can always clean up the edges with a drum sander mounted in your drill press.

11-08-2007, 04:04 PM	#8
Coligny Rock Stacker Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: French #70 living in Toyohashi Posts: 67	Misslabelled item. This thing is awfull as a wannabee mill. But awsome as a precision scrolling visse. Got one, perfect for hole alignement on small parts. There is usually less slope when you properly screw back everything in place... The shelf sample usually have a few missing parts.

11-08-2007, 04:19 PM	#9
Destroyer Rock Crawler Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North GA Posts: 824	Drill presses should NOT be used as mills. They are not built to take the stresses.

11-11-2007, 05:52 AM	#12
red jim Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: I live in my own world,they know me here Posts: 402	I use a drill press as a milling machine,it works great with delrin but not too good on aluminum.I take it real slow and only remove small amounts of aluminum at a time.If I could afford to I would buy a "cheap" mill like the one shown above,and a lathe,and bandsaw and.........

11-12-2007, 06:47 PM	#13
toy4crawlin I wanna be Dave Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Campbell, CA 4 hrs 2Rubicon ! Posts: 2,043	Harbor frieght is PURE CRap ! Amazon .com Palmgren cross slide vise also Sears make one that looks identical My Palmgren is execellent !, No slop, top grade I use it in my drill press to do mill work, so nice

11-13-2007, 08:24 AM	#14
metomwhou Rock Crawler Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 606	Can you post up a pic of your set up, Toy4Crawlin??

11-13-2007, 09:58 AM	#15
STANG KILLA SS ~THE SCALE SHOP~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: KILLEEN TX Posts: 10,056	ive cut lots of 1/8" aluminum with a jigsaw

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