Hi folks

In persuit of my dream I am building a robust bench, upon which I would like to put a milling machine. However the room is only 1200 across, so a bench 500mm deep would be big enough for the space.

Looking at the likely candidates, it seems they have a significant distance between the front feet and the rearmost plane of the machine (i.e. against the wall). Some won't fit.

I don't need a big machine, I love small engines like GE Mercers and 3 1/2" Tiches, so I don't need to make big items, but a decent bed to fit chassis rails and stuff on would help.

I would like a DRO or three. It is possible to put it elsewhere but I would prefer not to.

Which is a good buy, why, and how deep a bench is required?

Just found Derek Cottiss's thread – great!

Next numpty question – how important is it to be able to tip the head, I am thinking about drilling awkward steam channels, is a tilting table just easier?

Obviously this is a differentiator between Sieg and Warco models. I am torn between the big and expensive Axminster 2.7 or the WM14 or WM16,

Roger Benson – ta

Hi chaps, thanks for all your replies.

You have me persuaded on tilting, I won't worry either way.

Interesting to see that the small Warco base is so much smaller than its listed footprint Journeyman– the handle obviously sticks out a long way. That's why I asked, they all have a smaller base than the outside dimension across the handle.

The folding handle tip is very pertinent Clive, ta.

My workshop is a corridor Not done it yet, or more precisely a side alley, with bedroom four extended above. I could put a machine at the end but would have to get my bicycle past it, an even worse problem than having it on the bench. There is a door at either end and the bike end is a good size and swings out, but the other swings into the work space and has to miss the bench. So all in all plan A is the best one. The bench will be over 2m long, so plenty of traverse space, I just have to get a machine that does the job, fits and will last to repay the investment.

Its a massive door, its over-height too. The door was over £2k and there is another grand of stainless in the wall to avoid having a return in the wall, but it will last me out and I can get anything in or out, so that's fine.

When I sell the place I will advertise this as a motorbike garage, I am not sure if "small traction engine garage" has a significant Market.

Thanks Stuart – it looks like a '16 would be appropriate and a bigger machine would need plan B.

Edited By Roger Best on 04/07/2020 12:58:58

The other end is dominated by my WW2 South Bend Heavy 10 with taper turning attachment. It sticks out 27", 690mm, so well in the way for getting past.

So back to the problem in hand –

I have been graciously told that the WM 14 machines are fine on a 500 bench. The metal drawers are actually 18" 460mm deep, but I think I can steal a little room.

The VM16 is a bit bigger and needs at least 500, plus sticks out a good bit, so perhaps it is the practical limit of this bench design.

The Axminster SX2.7 is illustrated mounted flush on a 515mm table top, so I suspect that it, and its SIEG brothers need a bit more space than I have. They are 30mm deeper than the VM16 and probably would need plan B – to take the space used by the Drummond – unless I do something special.

SX3 variants seem to have the same base as the SX2.7, and the VM 18 is getting big too.

The Drummond is no micro- lathe, it is about 42" 1070mm long, so takes up a lot of bench. However it is not going to be working soon, so perhaps its best place is on the back of the bench stripped down for restoration.

That would leave me with a space of 1.4m, 55" between the South Bend and the door for a second bench on which I could put a milling machine. So I haven't made a decision at all.

Actually I have – I will build this bench around 490-500 deep, checking the crush gap between the bench and door. Whichever milling machine I get will go where it fits.

So on the basis that I don't want to have to upgrade in the future, I want good quality, I want to buy new, rather than fix up an old machine, I will be keeping to the smaller end of the model engineering, 3 1/2" gauge rail and probably 2" or smaller 3" scale traction engines, what machine should I get??

Thanks for all of your advice.