Dore Westbury Mill

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember19781]

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[Former MemberParticipant @formermember19781]

Dore Westbury Mill

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Hello Bill,

That is about twice what they fetch in auction deals on ebay so it would have to be exceptional for that price; I suspect a hefty mark up has been added to what he gave the previous owner

I would at least want a chance to go through the whole workings of it myself and see it cut metal before purchase and to have it delivered. They are awkward top heavy things to handle as well.

Why not take someone with you to assess it as you say you are not conversant with milling machines

Regards

Brian

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember19781]

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[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Bill,

I built mine so I know it very well but sadly the kits are no longer available.

I would happily come with you to assess one but it all depends on where and when of you find one to examine I live in Thirsk North Yorkshire but that might be meaningless if you find one in Devon!

Regards

Brian

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember19781]

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[geoff warnerParticipant @geoffwarner]

hi bill

there is a dore westbury for sale on lathes.co.uk i have no connection with either the machine or the seller but thou

ght you may like to know about its existance

geoff

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember19781]

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[Mike E.Participant @mikee-85511]

While on the lathes .co.uk site, scroll down the title page and click on to Dore Westbury under the milling machine section; there is a wealth of information about the mill there.

EDIT: Also, I noticed currently there is a Centec Mill with vertical head for sale on the gandmtools.co.uk site, which may be of interest to you ?

Edited By Mike E. on 15/03/2019 14:10:01

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Bill,

That one is a Mk I, the Mk II has the fine down feed on the right hand side. Judging purely from the pictures it seems to be priced nearer the top end of value, despite the DRO, which is a useful accessory certainly for the table movements, less so in my view for the quill position.

I would still want to see it in use though. Generally, the ads on Tony Griffiths website are better described and likely to be more honest that taking a chance on some of the junk flogged off on ebay

My offer still stands if you find one nearer to where I am based

Regards

Brian

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember19781]

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[Chris TriceParticipant @christrice43267]

Home And Workshop Machinery have just taken in a Dore Westbury. Worth talking to them. Although they're in SE London, they will deliver.

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember19781]

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[Chris TriceParticipant @christrice43267]

I've seen the machine (that's how I know about it) and it's a fine example. I think it has the very useful Dore Westbury design vice to go with it that opens much wider than a lot of commercial vices. I used to own an identical machine many years ago and they're very capable.

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember19781]

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[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Myford Boy, who makes a whole lot of U-toob vids, uses a Raglan mill for his milling requirements. A very good choice if it is big enough.

I don't know what the work piece size limitations are for the Dore Westbury, but being home made the quality of the workmanship can vary from exquisite to rather less than that.

I have a Raglan and it is quite limited, size-wise, but along with my Centec 2B I have managed to sort all the jobs I have attempted.

My Raglan mill is a superb example of the marque. I think Myford Boy's machine may well actually be a Myford version (ie made subsequent to the Myford takeover of Raglan).

Small mills are particularly restricted in head space over the table but I think I prefer to machine small parts on the Raglan (the other machine,often being tied up for other jobs is the likely reason why – as well as being delightfully light in operation).

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Deleted – yet another double post.

Edited By not done it yet on 15/03/2019 18:44:19

[HollowpointParticipant @hollowpoint]

The dore westbury mill is a nice machine, however I think £1000 is a bit strong. Unless it has lots of extras of course. I sold one about 4 years ago for £700 and that was the best example i've ever seen! Almost mint! and very well put together.

Edited By Hollowpoint on 15/03/2019 18:50:50

[Old SchoolParticipant @oldschool]

I think it's expensive, last year my son bought a very nice Dore Westbury mk1 milling machine and a tidy fobco star drilling machine for £500.

Must be said the chap did in the end regret selling it.

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

Even though I had a set of Dore-Westbury castings and drawings before I got my Beaver milling machine, I would say that nowadays one would be better off getting something like the Seig 2 or 3 machines from the likes of Arceuro. Similar price, but more capacity, but still bench mountable if that is a requirement.

[J HancockParticipant @jhancock95746]

That is a lot to ask for a DW and I have one !

Just make sure it is capable of doing the kind of work you expect at that price.

Not for nothing are commercial milling machines made to a different design to the DW.

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Depends on what you want to do with it, how much money, and more importantly, how much space you have. The DW is a very small footprint, and is ok for model size working, but like Myfords, they are now commanding a price well beyond their actual utility, when compared with the larger machines available. I think for around a grand, you could get a Tom senior or similar with the choice of H/v milling, and get something far more versatile than the DW, IF you have the space. Seems like the people who have very small workshops are paying a premium for compact machinery, or just maybe paying a "Brand" price. Interesting comments about the Raglan mill, I have one, but have not used it as it was bought damaged, and is working its way rapidly to the top of my refurb list (or at least it was till I attempted amputation above the knee with an angle grinder and wire cup brush!). I mention this because a Raglan, on its factory stand, is probably a bit more versatile than the DW, and commands a similar premium price, but not as versatile as the Tom Senior (generally cheaper), but has a virtually identical footprint. I am lucky to have a larger workshop, but it seems a tad unfair that people with smaller shops have to pay a premium to buy smaller, and thus less versatile tools, Just my rambling stream of conciousness two pennorth!

Edited By Phil Whitley on 17/03/2019 18:43:03

[Dave Shield 1Participant @daveshield1]

I built a Dore Westbury over 40 years ago, maybe I asked too much of it or my building skill was not good enough, but was a bit disappointed with it.

Bought a Tom Senior and have not looked back. The Dore is a fine bench drill.

[DurhambuilderParticipant @durhambuilder]

I have both a Tom Senior and a Dore Westbury. I didn't build the DW but it is a beautiful bit of kit. Of the two it is my go to mill, i much prefer the quill feed over the vertical table movement of the Tom Senior. Of course for removing lots of metal quickly the Tom Senior is better.

[Maurice Cox 1Participant @mauricecox1]

I got aDore-Westbury some years ago. It was well made i.e. it was as shown in the drawings, and well fitted and finished, and performed fairly well. By a piece of good fortune I was able to change the complete table assembly for a very second hand commercial one by a Portugese maker. It transformed it into a very nice machine. I have found no problem with the quill and motor assembly, but I think the original table tends flex too much.

The really annoying part is the round column design with no keyway. I have to plan jobs so that they may be completed without the need to raise or lower the head, as alignment is lost as soon as it is moved.

Regards Maurice

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