Hi Mark

Do you have an overarm for the horizontal function ? if so you need sde and face or face cutters with bore size to match the horizontal arbor in the picture, many cutter outside diameters are available, most need a lot of power if taking heavy cuts.

Emgee

For an insert type face mill I suggest one of two types: one using SE?? inserts and having a 45 deg. lead angle and/or one using APKT inserts having a 90 deg. lead angle. Inserts for both styles are available for steel or polished for aluminum. Both styles are pretty common and the inserts are reasonably priced. I recently purchased some APKT 1604 inserts from Banggood that were designed for aluminum. The finish they produced was beautiful. I got some SE?? inserts from Banggood designed for aluminum but have not tried them yet. ?? means I can't recall the last two letters of the insert code.

The arbor shown in your first photo appears to be a standard milling arbor that was shortened. It is suitable for slitting saws or narrow plain milling cutters.

I don't know if shell mill arbors are available to fit your spindle. If not, you could consider straight shank shell mill arbors held in a collet. You might also0 be able to modify the arbor shown in the first photo to add drive keys for a face mill.

Banggood stuff is cheap and cheerful – until you get something that is totally useless and then the trouble starts. They are a bloody minded lot re reimbursement for totally rubbish items. They just reply by robot and basically ignore the complaint.

Like do not buy anything expecting a true morse taper – you are likely to get a morse taper that only fits, metal to metal, contact at one end of the taper. Disposable/wearing items might be good enough, but not something that you might expect to last as a tool holder or similar.

How do I know? I have a morse taper that only touches at the small end. Wobbles at the working end when in work. Clear to see with marking fluid and also to feel when fitting by hand. Absolute carp.

Banggood are a big reseller of other peoples stuff, do take PayPal, and I have found them to be reliable.

Quality can be variable, but I have not had anything really poor, or that could not be easily fixed. They do carry some lines in an EU warehouse, which usually arrives inside 3 days via Royal Mail.

As for using carbide on hardwood, I’m sure HSS is probably best if sharp, but have turned a few hardwood pens with the polished high rake inserts for aluminium and moved straight onto fine emery to polish.

I bought some lathe tooling from Banggood. I had a problem with a tool holder for WNMG inserts. Apparently the maker had mis-labeled the packaging. I ordered a RH turning tool but got a left hand. It came with 10 inserts. I sent photos and Banggood sent me a replacement. Another LH tool in a box marked RH. It came with 10 more inserts. I considered the price I paid was reasonable for the 20 inserts and did not pursue it further.

I bought insert type threading tools, internal and external, from Banggood and am satisfied.

I bought a boring bar for WNMG from Banggood and am satisfied.

I bought inserts MGMN200, APMT1135, APKT1604, SEMT13 and am satisfied with all.

I bought insert type end mills for APMT1135 in 3 sizes. They listed them as boring tools. Each tool was about 8" long so I cut down the shanks to a more useful length. Except for the excess length I am satisfied with them.

I bought a USB microscope from Banggood that was junk.

That is my experience with Banggood.

I would not buy face mills I saw on their site because all I saw had aluminum bodies. If I found some with steel bodies I might consider buying them.