Thanks for the reply, we should have enough space for a separate milling machine, just not a full size one :) thinking of something similar to the Warco economy or rf25 size machine from looking about, just got to find one that's not a 7 hour drive away
Thanks aga


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A friend of mine has a similar machine and they do a better job than first appearance would suggest.

Just watch the max height dimension.

Imagine making a big hole in something.
First the centre drill then a couple of drills in a drill chuck then on to a few taper shank drills and then perhaps a boring head. Add in a vice on the table or a cylinder casting on parrallel strips and you can soon run out of height.

If you have several choices go for the one with the largest capacity.

I bought my warco major mill in 1995 and my warco bh900 lathe in 2001 and both have done a power of work often well above what they were designed to do
Many people don't rate warco machines but I feel for the price they cant be beat
My lathe was only £1600 and you cant even get close to a new myford for that and it came with everything for that price
So my advice is have a look at the warco stuff and make your on mind up
Mark

If you are not in the South of the UK, you may be interested in a Centec 2A type machine - there's one on e bay at the moment in Selby for £1150 or make an offer http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Centec-2A-...3D232037613529 and Cheffins have one in their Harrogate auction next w/ehttp://www.cheffins.co.uk/lot/-1200006-vintage-0

Nice looking small machine but they do have the height problem I mentioned above.

You can add a riser block down the track http://www.lathes.co.uk/centec/page6.html

Another cheap one here

https://www.gumtree.com/p/other-powe...tent=GpB_month

I used to have a Centec myself, they are a super little machine.
At one point I grafted a Bridgeport head onto it !!


Phil

Small desk top machine here,
should be able to strip and carry to the basement OK
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1723022138...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Nick

The mill/drills with the round column have a problem not often mentioned.
You only have accurate vertical travel for the length of the quill.
You can of course go more but you have to unlock the head and raise it on the column.
When you do that you loose your position and have to reset the job.
They work fine for general milling but for boring something or drilling a big hole where you have to start with a center drill
and work up to bigger sizes it can cause problems.
Like I said still fine for general milling.

If you look closely at the one in the Cheffins auction Stephan, - you will se that it has one.

There actually seems to be 2, one fitted and one on the tray.

http://www.cheffins.co.uk/assets/cat...ts/476/109.jpg