11-08-2007, 11:21 AM | #1 |
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? |
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11-08-2007, 11:30 AM | #2 |
[HOONIGAN] Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Grand Junction
Posts: 4,269
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I've played with it at the store, there's a lot of slop in it.
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11-08-2007, 12:56 PM | #3 |
Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sacramento
Posts: 338
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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, 01:11 PM | #4 |
Quarry Creeper Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Syracuse
Posts: 384
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A heavy duty scroll saw. Just invest (save) for a better mill.
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11-08-2007, 01:22 PM | #5 |
Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Torrance, CA.
Posts: 282
| 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.
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11-08-2007, 02:01 PM | #6 | |
Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sacramento
Posts: 338
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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! | |
11-08-2007, 02:06 PM | #7 |
Picky Fab'r/Acetal Junky Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Arizona Desert/AJ
Posts: 3,073
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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.
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11-08-2007, 03:04 PM | #8 |
Rock Stacker Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: French #70 living in Toyohashi
Posts: 67
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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, 03:19 PM | #9 |
Rock Crawler Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North GA
Posts: 824
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Drill presses should NOT be used as mills. They are not built to take the stresses. |
11-08-2007, 03:35 PM | #10 | |
Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Torrance, CA.
Posts: 282
| Quote:
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. Last edited by _BEN_; 11-08-2007 at 03:42 PM. | |
11-08-2007, 04:10 PM | #11 |
Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sacramento
Posts: 338
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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 04:13 PM. |
11-11-2007, 04:52 AM | #12 |
Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: I live in my own world,they know me here
Posts: 402
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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.........
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11-12-2007, 05:47 PM | #13 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Campbell, CA 4 hrs 2Rubicon !
Posts: 2,044
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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, 07:24 AM | #14 |
Rock Crawler Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 606
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Can you post up a pic of your set up, Toy4Crawlin??
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11-13-2007, 08:58 AM | #15 |
~THE SCALE SHOP~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: KILLEEN TX
Posts: 10,056
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ive cut lots of 1/8" aluminum with a jigsaw
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