Looking to buy a mill need some advice
 

Hi guys! I have been looking into getting my own mill. I was told bridgeport mills are top of the line and thats what i should be looking at. I found a good-excellent condition older one Bridgeport Series I 2hp 9x42 with power feed, digital display, 6" kurt vise, collet set and so on. My question is the mill is from 1985 as nice as a newer Enco or other foreign models. I also found a few year old Enco in excellent condition same as the Bridgeport for $3500 and the Bridgeport was $4250. Anyone have some comments or things i should know? My gut is telling me that the Bridgeport will have much better resale since it is 23yrs old and is more than the Enco but if the Enco just as nice i could use that extra money for some more tools:D . Maybe a lathe!

Josh

:) I have been a machinist for over twenty years and can tell you that if you are machining aliminium and plastic and mild steels that the imports work just fine.Bridgeports are a great machine and seem to have a little better bearings in them but are deffinently a little over priced.

What tools does the enco come with? A new 6 inch Kurt will cost you $600 alone. I say go with the bridgeport much easyer to get parts and accesories for then the knock off brands.

I decided I wanted variable speeds, I'm lazy and don't want to change belt grooves manually, so I got a deal on an import. I don't use it much so don't think I'll wear it out. But I'd pay more for a Bridgeport over an import with equal features.
By the way, the import I got was cast Mehanite there is a large "M" cast into the main frame. This is a much stronger form of cast iron.
David

Thanks guys for your insite! I think i will look at the Bridgeport a little closer. I am hoping to buy one before the end of the month. I will post some pics on what i end up getting. Thanks again.

Josh

Josh -- Just watch the power ratings!! I once bid on a nice Baldor grinder - only to get it and find out it was THREE PHASE... so had to resell it!

If you're in a residential "shop" you'll only be able to get single phase power - and if you buy 3 phase stuff - you're going to have to buy a phase convertor to go along with it! JUST FYI.

I have a "mill/drill" from Jet... it works great as a high quality drill press - and I can also mill off stuff that needs some modification etc. I am not making parts - and I'm not working with 10 thousandths of an inch either... so big time Bridgeport multi axis mill wasn't what I needed...

I've spent more money on all the accessories and cutters etc than I did on the original mill.... which was about $1800.... but comes with NOTHING... and you need all manor of stuff once you get the machine itself! But of course the hunting and the gathering is part of the fun!

Go with the bridgeport. Dont worry about 3-phase. All you need is 220 single phase and a phase 3 converter. Youcan buy a cheap for $150 or more expensive for $500.

If you dont get it, let me know where it is. I may buy it.

I have a 1985 Series 1 Bridgeport and a 1988 Lagun. I love both. The Bridgeport will always be worth more if you ever sell it. Replacement parts are also easier to find.

I have both mills and a Grob 36" bandsaw running thru a phase convertor and I haven't had any problems, even running a smaller first and then turning on a larger motor. I contacted a phase convertor company told them my total hp of all the motors, they suggested a 10 hp covertor.

I with you, both of mine are variable speed. My drill press has become a little dusty since I got the two mills.

My Son just bought a couple mist collectors for his CNC machines at a auction and passed on a newer Bridgeport for about 2500. He said it was one that you didn't have to move belts to change the speed. The mist collectors sell for about 7,000.00 each new and he got them for 350.00 each and they were only a couple years old.