DIYbanter - View Single Post

wrote:
Since there are no places near me that sell used machines of the type I
need, it looks as though I'll have to gamble on ordering something new
over the internet.

At the most extreme, I'll need to be able to drill 1-1/2" holes through
1/4" thick stainless steel, space and weight are a big issue, to the
best of my abilities I've narrowed the choices down to a Grizzly G7943
drill press and a Mini Mill/Drill(if I can find a suitable one).

Since I'll need to make parts of various shapes and sizes I thought
that a mill/drill might be a plausible option. But I've discovered that
there may be books that show how to do milling on a drill press with
the proper jigs and attachments, so I may just stick with that idea.

I hope such books do not exist. I asked the same question not long ago,
and quickly learned that drill presses are not designed to take the
transverse loads of milling. Further, taper mounted chucks are not
designed for transverse loads, and bad things happen (picture sharp
object flying around your shop) when they are subjected to them.

Grizzly is not at the top of my list, but this group is a great source
of recommendations. Ask about square vs. round columns; also look at
some of the smaller knee mills just in case.

IMHO, you will want an ER (probably 32) collet chuck and collets, all
the more so if you get a round column mill-drill. You will also want a
good chuck for some drill bits and non-round shanks on hole saws, etc.
Note that dials come in 0.1 and 0.125 inch/rev; I prefer 0.1, though I
would also find the 0.2 inch/turn of larger mills to be fine. Users of
0.125 dials assure me that one adapts, but it's a process I would rather
skip unless something like a longer travel comes with it.

I considered a mini mill but went with what amounts to a Rong Fu 31.
Use google groups to read archives of this group. The smart answers to
my dumb questions will teach you a lot. Mill-drills are great as long
as you know what you are buying.

Bill