Good inexpensive lathe and mill for metalworking?

MillenniumFalsehood · Post by **MillenniumFalsehood** » Thu Sep 18, 2014 4:33 am

I remember having a lot of fun in my shop class earning my MTT degree, especially when we made parts on the mill and lathe out of aluminum and steel. I was hoping to find something similar to the Bridgeports I used, but every time I look they're usually a couple thousand at least. Is there something I could use for turning and machining aluminum and steel parts that will be more affordable and last a reasonable amount of time (read: until I get a better-paying job)?

Joseph Osborn · Post by **Joseph Osborn** » Thu Sep 18, 2014 9:07 am

Got a Harbor Freight Tools store nearby?

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Thu Sep 18, 2014 11:41 am

Define "inexpensive".

Mind you, cheap usually means crappy when buying machining equipment.

MillenniumFalsehood · Post by **MillenniumFalsehood** » Thu Sep 18, 2014 6:35 pm

Let's say less than $1k per tool for "inexpensive". I know a good tool will run me a pretty penny, but I don't want to dedicate all the space cash I have for the next four months to getting a mill and a lathe.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Thu Sep 18, 2014 7:05 pm

Keep an eye on the machining trade mags and watch Craigslist like a hawk.

Also, have a heavy duty truck available for transportation.

MillenniumFalsehood · Fri Sep 19, 2014 12:27 am

Hmm. Is this one a good mill?

http://www.micromark.com/MicroLux-High- ... oCPFrw_wcB

It's a little on the small side, but if it can handle steel then I'd probably get it. Space is also a consideration, though if I had to I would put it in my dad's garage.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 11:17 am

Yes but the tooling may be a little hard to find. My Microlux mill, different model, has an odd size taper and is a bitch to find non-Microlux parts for.

You won't be able to work as large of a part as on a Bridgeport.

Andrew Gorman · Post by **Andrew Gorman** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 11:45 am

R8 tooling is common as fleas. Micromark mills and lathes are the standard Harbor Freight/Grizzly ChiCom machines built by Sieg, but with some very useful tweaks. I was just about to buy the Micromark mini lathe when an Atlas 618 with a lot of tooling showed up locally for about the same price. Tweaked and fettled Sieg lathes and mills are also available from https://littlemachineshop.com/
When it came time to buy a mill I just went for the Harbor Freight X2 (on sale and with a coupon less than half the price of the Micromark) and I am happy as a clam with it- nice fit and finish and ready to make accurate cuts just about right out of the box.
Keep watching craigslist, but prices and availability vary widely across the country. Think about how big the parts you want to make are. Three phase power isn't as much of a problem as it used to be- static converters are pretty inexpensive now.