Mill suitability and movement

This topic has 8 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 15 November 2015 at 10:44 by Ian S C.

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13 November 2015 at 22:07 #212081
Keith Matheson
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@keithmatheson47708
Hi I'm afraid this is one of those beginners questions that is basically how long is a piece of string and will not doubt raise more questions than these two questions.

I plan to make bits and pieces for motorcycles and would like to know from anyone who has a warco major (or similar size)if they think this is possible? oK the easy answer is just buy a bigger one but I do not have the money and one has come up that is in my low price range.

The second is transportation of a mill of this size. I have managed to split up my box ford C get it in a estate by myself and get it home. Am I into a new level of difficulty with something of this size? Would a van and two people manage it or do I need lifts.

Apologies for my daft questions but I may have found a cheap enough mill that will get me out of the world of only making round things! Best regards keith mm
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13 November 2015 at 22:07 #7868
Keith Matheson
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@keithmatheson47708
14 November 2015 at 08:45 #212134
Chris Evans 6
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@chrisevans6
I make motorcycle parts on a 14×40 lathe and Bridgeport turret mill. I am sure you will cope with most parts on your chosen machinery. You will struggle however with daylight (table to quill) on the mill if say boring crankcases where the height of set up and tooling are restricted. A friend of mine does use a major for the same work and very rarely does he need to borrow my mill ( I do have a spacer to give increased height). The other frustration you will get on occasion is the spindle bore size on your lathe to pass fork legs etc. through. I did cope for 45 years with an old South Bend lathe similar to your Boxford. Have fun it is a great way to pass the time.
14 November 2015 at 09:04 #212140
John Rudd
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@johnrudd16576
I have the Chester Eagle30, very similar in size to the Warco offering.

In terms of relocating it to its new home, yes it will break down, but re assembly could bite you..

Headroom could be a limiting factor if you remove the top works and try replacing on the column, with base/column already on a stand…In the end, I hired a 1 tonne engine crane to lift mine onto its stand, all in one assembly…about 250kg….
14 November 2015 at 09:22 #212144
Nigel McBurney 1
Participant
@nigelmcburney1
Take ii to pieces,and bring it home in bits, easier with two people, I once brought home a tom senior M1 mill,in pieces on a very small trailer and the boot of an mk1 escort. if you use a van borrow or hire an engine crane, if its on a stand make sure it can be tied securely to the side of a van,and the crane has sufficient lifting height, mills on stands are very top heavy. I sold my mill drill years ago,useless bit of kit. the buyer came with a Merc van, no rope, and virtually no where to tie it to the van sides ,and not a clue how to load or secure a load. I would have rethink,try to get a small mill which does not have a round column,they are a pain in the backside.
14 November 2015 at 10:40 #212167
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
If splitting a mill, watch out for any shims that may have been fitted to align the column. Don't assume that just putting these back in the same place will guarantee alignment, but it is the best place to start.

Neil
14 November 2015 at 12:51 #212214
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
If the previous owner has already got it off the bench onto the ground you might think two men can lift the top off. Well they might be able to but then they have a problem to lower it to the ground – which is where they would put their backs out. So you do need an engine crane.
If you get an engine crane you don't need to take it apart. Remove chuck, place wood block on table and lower head onto table to lower c of g.
14 November 2015 at 14:30 #212229
Keith Matheson
Participant
@keithmatheson47708
Hi, incredibly useful posts thank you all. I feel I really need to access a engine crane before I go any further! Renting looks like £40 for a weekend at HSS so I think I will keep an eye open for a second hand one, use it for transportation And then final positioning/ reassembly. Would probably sell it on as have no desire to take car engines out! Should work out not too expensive that way. I'm going a bit cold on the two options I'm currently looking at as they are too far away. I would rather hire a van for a day maybe a couple of hours away, two hours loading and two hours max, then return van in a day. Hopefully something will turn up in the next few weeks.

Round columns do seem to be universally critisised. However, I may compromise if I can get something slightly bigger and in my price range. A laser and a plumb line seems a neat work around.

Best regards

Keith MM in a very cold and wet SE London
15 November 2015 at 10:44 #212399
Ian S C
Participant
@iansc
When I first got my mill I was able to get it on the bench as is (took the motor off), when I enlarged the workshop and moved it I took the motor, table and column off (still a bit of a struggle), I wish I had just taken the head off and left the column on the bed. The column was shimmed with some sort of paper, and it tore when the joint was separated. It's now shimmed with aluminium kitchen foil, what B****Y awfull job that was, a bit here and try it,a bit the other side, try it, took most of the day.

You live and learn (some times).

Ian S C
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