Just picked up my first mill

This topic has 8 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 24 April 2021 at 16:50 by old mart.

Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

Author

Posts
24 April 2021 at 13:10 #541369
drum maker
Participant
@drummaker82202
Just collected my first milling machine, yup it’s a round column mill/drill, was told it was a Chester, buts actually the warco version a Zx-15

I know round column are not a fave of many, but i think I got a fair deal, I’m no model engineer but It will come in handy in my wood workshop.

had to break it down to get it back to my workshop, but it’s pristine, the guy bought it new 16 years ago and then never used it, it’s never made a cut, was wrapped up in its original plastic and still covered in quite a bit of the protective gunk, just sat in an outhouse…. got loads of extras with it, just no cutters. Can’t wait to get it built back up.
Advert

24 April 2021 at 13:10 #14238
drum maker
Participant
@drummaker82202
Yup it’s a round column i
24 April 2021 at 13:43 #541374
old mart
Participant
@oldmart
We have a large round column mill at the museum, and as it is larger 500mm X travel and more Z and Y than the refurbished Tom Senior, it is definitely staying. You have to carefully plan jobs when using one as raising the column halfway through can be a bother. I have fitted a laser sight to the right side of the head which reflects off a window back and helps to get things within 0.002". I may change the sight for something with a better focussed beam some time.
24 April 2021 at 13:52 #541376
Dave Halford
Participant
@davehalford22513
Don't forget to treat it to a milling cutter chuck, they are only supplied with a drill chuck from new.
24 April 2021 at 14:16 #541381
drum maker
Participant
@drummaker82202
Posted by old mart on 24/04/2021 13:43:32:

We have a large round column mill at the museum, and as it is larger 500mm X travel and more Z and Y than the refurbished Tom Senior, it is definitely staying. You have to carefully plan jobs when using one as raising the column halfway through can be a bother. I have fitted a laser sight to the right side of the head which reflects off a window back and helps to get things within 0.002". I may change the sight for something with a better focussed beam some time.

I have a few mods planed for keeping the alignment, the rotating column may actually provide beneficial I tend to want to do awkward things with my machinery.
24 April 2021 at 14:17 #541382
drum maker
Participant
@drummaker82202
Posted by Dave Halford on 24/04/2021 13:52:08:

Don't forget to treat it to a milling cutter chuck, they are only supplied with a drill chuck from new.

There is a new unused one in the wood box on the bench… loads of extras such as vices and rotary tables etc thrown in, he just never got round to buying cutters
24 April 2021 at 16:25 #541398
Dave Wootton
Participant
@davewootton
Congratulations thats a very good find, nice little rotary table included, an almost ready to go set up, there's been lots of very good work carried out on the smaller round column machines. As Old Mart rightly says just needs a little planning. I imagine you'll have lots of fun with that little lot.

Dave
24 April 2021 at 16:33 #541400
Brian Hutchings
Participant
@brianhutchings
Excellent find. Mine is a round column maching and I've never had any problems with the head moving, even under heavy cuts.There are a number of mods around that allow up and down movement of the head without losing register and I keep meaning to get around to a modification but other things keep getting in the way.

Brian
24 April 2021 at 16:50 #541403
old mart
Participant
@oldmart
We bought the drill mill as a basket case and it required a lot of work before getting it going. One problem that surfaced was sand left in the column falling out even after trying to stop it. I didn't want anything getting in the base joint when it was bolted up, so I found a huge cork (some helicopter part, don't ask me what) and pared it to size with a wood chisel ans stuffed it up the tube.
Author

Posts