Re: [MBZ] machine tools
Thanks, Rich, just the kind of information I was looking for. Gerry -- From: Rich Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED] These are similar to Grizzly and HF and I think a couple other brands, the Chinese ones are all made in the same factories from what I can find out, slightly different features on some of them. Smithy might be a bit higher quality (and price) than the G and HF units, but similar. I have been thinking about these things (a lathe and a mill) for awhile, but don't have room right now. FWIW everyone says not to get the combo machine as it ends up being a PITA to use, better to get a separate lathe and mill. These machines are apparently OK for general hobby use but not quite up to precision-type work (which most people probably don't do anyway). The Grizzly's get bit higher marks on quality and support, HF a bit less. I have the Grizzly catalog and keep looking at the small lathe and mill... A buddy of mine bought a little mill and is converting it to CNC, he likes it and has a lot of fun with it. You will also spend quite a bit on tooling, this place has a lot of that, and similar machines too. http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRHM --R archer wrote: Speaking of Chinese machine tools, I've been getting regular flyers from Smithy machine tools in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Their very nice looking lathes, which also have a vertical mill, must be made in China; considering that their prices range from $1500 to only $3500 for relatively complex machines. Has anyone had experience with their lathes? Gerry ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] machine tools
Just another note -- Grizzly has some fairly small mills and lathes, there are quite a few groups that are really into these things, and they are not that expensive. Adding in some tooling, you can get a very nice setup of the smaller tools for $2k, and then down the line think about adding digital readouts and motors for CNC control. My buddy bought one of the smallest benchtop mills for like $500, and has outfitted it with the DROs and motors and CNC controller (which probably adds another $1000, maybe a bit less). These are nice units http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2007/Main/545, similar to a bunch of others, here is some info on CNCing it http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/projects/X3-CNC/ http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0602 --R archer wrote: Thanks, Rich, just the kind of information I was looking for. Gerry -- From: Rich Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED] These are similar to Grizzly and HF and I think a couple other brands, the Chinese ones are all made in the same factories from what I can find out, slightly different features on some of them. Smithy might be a bit higher quality (and price) than the G and HF units, but similar. I have been thinking about these things (a lathe and a mill) for awhile, but don't have room right now. FWIW everyone says not to get the combo machine as it ends up being a PITA to use, better to get a separate lathe and mill. These machines are apparently OK for general hobby use but not quite up to precision-type work (which most people probably don't do anyway). The Grizzly's get bit higher marks on quality and support, HF a bit less. I have the Grizzly catalog and keep looking at the small lathe and mill... A buddy of mine bought a little mill and is converting it to CNC, he likes it and has a lot of fun with it. You will also spend quite a bit on tooling, this place has a lot of that, and similar machines too. http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRHM --R archer wrote: Speaking of Chinese machine tools, I've been getting regular flyers from Smithy machine tools in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Their very nice looking lathes, which also have a vertical mill, must be made in China; considering that their prices range from $1500 to only $3500 for relatively complex machines. Has anyone had experience with their lathes? Gerry ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] machine tools
I don't know exactly, the Chinese stuff has sloppy bearings and screws and stuff (sloppy being relative term to much higher priced machinery) so the pundits say, some users tune them up a bit but they are still not as good as the real stuff. Grizzly has a gun lathe or two in their catalog, they are BIG things and pricey. No idea how those are on precision. I see lathes and mills for auction here in Houston occasionally, they are big Bridgeport mills and some sorts of production machine shop lathes, I guess the guys who are really into it buy those if they have room. There are some other brands that are European or Taiwan or Japanese that are pricey and very good, you can get smaller machines, but you pay for that. --R Alex Chamberlain wrote: On Nov 21, 2007 5:41 AM, Rich Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: These are similar to Grizzly and HF and I think a couple other brands, the Chinese ones are all made in the same factories from what I can find out, slightly different features on some of them. Smithy might be a bit higher quality (and price) than the G and HF units, but similar. I have been thinking about these things (a lathe and a mill) for awhile, but don't have room right now. FWIW everyone says not to get the combo machine as it ends up being a PITA to use, better to get a separate lathe and mill. These machines are apparently OK for general hobby use but not quite up to precision-type work (which most people probably don't do anyway). How precision is precision? Seems to me a lot of people would be in the market for a machine like that to do amateur gunsmithing work on. (I know I would.) Precision is critical there, or you might as well not bother. (Well, OK, not if you're making a Kalashnikov, but for anything else, thousandths of an inch matter.) Alex Chamberlain '87 300D Turbo et al. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] machine tools
On Nov 21, 2007 5:41 AM, Rich Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: These are similar to Grizzly and HF and I think a couple other brands, the Chinese ones are all made in the same factories from what I can find out, slightly different features on some of them. Smithy might be a bit higher quality (and price) than the G and HF units, but similar. I have been thinking about these things (a lathe and a mill) for awhile, but don't have room right now. FWIW everyone says not to get the combo machine as it ends up being a PITA to use, better to get a separate lathe and mill. These machines are apparently OK for general hobby use but not quite up to precision-type work (which most people probably don't do anyway). How precision is precision? Seems to me a lot of people would be in the market for a machine like that to do amateur gunsmithing work on. (I know I would.) Precision is critical there, or you might as well not bother. (Well, OK, not if you're making a Kalashnikov, but for anything else, thousandths of an inch matter.) Alex Chamberlain '87 300D Turbo et al. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] machine tools
Grizzly seems to have a wider range of machine tools, accessories, etc. than Smithy, and since your friend has been satisfied with his Grizzly lathe, that's probably who I will order from. I ordered a Grizzly catalog. Thanks again, Rich. Gerry --- Just another note -- Grizzly has some fairly small mills and lathes, there are quite a few groups that are really into these things, and they are not that expensive. Adding in some tooling, you can get a very nice setup of the smaller tools for $2k, and then down the line think about adding digital readouts and motors for CNC control. My buddy bought one of the smallest benchtop mills for like $500, and has outfitted it with the DROs and motors and CNC controller (which probably adds another $1000, maybe a bit less). These are nice units http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2007/Main/545, similar to a bunch of others, here is some info on CNCing it http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/projects/X3-CNC/ http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0602 --R archer wrote: Thanks, Rich, just the kind of information I was looking for. Gerry -- From: Rich Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED] These are similar to Grizzly and HF and I think a couple other brands, the Chinese ones are all made in the same factories from what I can find out, slightly different features on some of them. Smithy might be a bit higher quality (and price) than the G and HF units, but similar. I have been thinking about these things (a lathe and a mill) for awhile, but don't have room right now. FWIW everyone says not to get the combo machine as it ends up being a PITA to use, better to get a separate lathe and mill. These machines are apparently OK for general hobby use but not quite up to precision-type work (which most people probably don't do anyway). The Grizzly's get bit higher marks on quality and support, HF a bit less. I have the Grizzly catalog and keep looking at the small lathe and mill... A buddy of mine bought a little mill and is converting it to CNC, he likes it and has a lot of fun with it. You will also spend quite a bit on tooling, this place has a lot of that, and similar machines too. http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRHM --R archer wrote: Speaking of Chinese machine tools, I've been getting regular flyers from Smithy machine tools in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Their very nice looking lathes, which also have a vertical mill, must be made in China; considering that their prices range from $1500 to only $3500 for relatively complex machines. Has anyone had experience with their lathes? Gerry ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.2/1142 - Release Date: 11/20/2007 5:44 PM ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
