Milling Machines

[Phillip GrantParticipant @phillipgrant40491]

For what "my tuppence" is worth, I made the expensive mistake of buying a milling machine with nylon gears. While it had the positive points of a dovetailed pillar etc, the nylon gears were an expensive mistake—- even using very fine passes. I really regretted the purchase and wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy!

I shelved this mistake and went out and purchased a machine with steel gears, nine speeds and a decent motor and have never looked back.

Cheers,

Phill G

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

Quote from NJH (ah well it all passes the time and it's too cold to go out to the workshop anyway)

Come on Norman get a bit of heat in there. Here is a pic of my shed taken yesterday. I have a 2kw fan heater which got the temp up to 18 deg in 2 hours,so a bit of snow ai'nt going to stop me playing.

Cheers Derek.

 

Edited By magpie on 19/01/2013 20:38:46

[alan smith 6Participant @alansmith6]

Ketan,

My comments in the light of your post were pretty accurate. Don`t shoot a friend, I have only supported you so far but I`m beginning to see the other side of you that others have commented on but that doesn`t make you a bad person.

What we are looking at here is that beginners are the future of our hobby and if we want that hobby to continue and flourish we must help them to become proficient and the Forum is doing just that.

Nowadays as you are a fat cat, you probably look on beginners as a pain that has to be endured and now turned away as they may become a liability on your resources.

In all friendliness may I suggest that you redress this negative attitude towards beginners as this will probably be your eventual downfall.

Kind regards,

Alan

[alan smith 6Participant @alansmith6]

Posted by Francis Sykes on 19/01/2013 20:04:43:

My goodness, I thought this was a forum of mature adults!

Francis, I see that you are a beginner on the Forum, You will soon understand what its all about.

Alan

[Ketan SwaliParticipant @ketanswali79440]

Sorry Alan, I dont think I am shooting a friend. The only people on this thread who are seeing the 'so called other side' of me are you, Steve and Donald. There may be others who might still come to light, and that is your and their privilege.

If you really read my my comments here and elsewhere, be they on this forum or others, I have always tried to help beginners. You really dont know me.

The machines we sell are entry level hobby machines. Who do you think buys most of these machines?. We have more beginners buying from us today then we ever did, due to our openness, service and price. There has never been a change in policy. Why would I want to piss them off?

I dont have a negative attitude. As I said before, if a potential sale is going to be hassle pre-sale, it is going to be hassle post sale. I bend over backwards to help people, beginners or otherwise, who come and ask me straight questions in a straight way. I spend hours with them if the situation requires.

I enjoy my business. I am not a fat cat, and I definitely do not consider beginners to be a pain that has to be endured. These are all sentences which you are planting here. I do take exception to unfounded hassle based loaded comments / snide remarks made without knowledge, be they from beginners or from experienced people such as yourself.

You should know better than to continue stirring up various people in every thread in which you participate. I fail to understand what deluded pleasure you get out of it. Still, this is your privilege and I don't really want to deprive you of it. As you feel that you are just seeing the other side of me, I saw the other side of you already on the other thread, so you could say that I saw you coming. . You too have positive attributes which are qualities you should nurture, rather then promote your other idle side.

Respect

Ketan at ARC.

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

When I bought my X2 milling machine, Ketan tried to talk me into buying a cheaper X1 mill because he thought it was a better fit for my needs as I described them.

I still went with the X2 and don't regret it, but I'm sure he was not trying to influnece me for any sinister reason.

Neil

[MadMikeParticipant @madmike]

As I often say when I post here my contributions are few and infrequent, and I do not make mpdel trains etc etc. I use my machines to make full size working parts for running motorcycles of various makes and ages.

I am about to buy a small "hobby" mill to go in my garage with my Myford 254S.

I have looked at numerous machines in the low cost hobby machine sector, from numerous suppliers. Because of my engineering background I am aware of what I am buying and have interrogated anumber of people face to face about their machinery offer.

I can assure you all that my milling machine will be bought from Ketan Swali at ArcEuro. Whenever I have visited him he has been extremely generous with his time and has been totlly open about the limitations of hobby milling machines. I an stunned at the rudeness of some on here towards him, he is in my view honest and open.

I make all the normal disclaimers.

[Francis SykesParticipant @francissykes95134]

Alan, I'm afraid I may be relatively new round here, so let me tell you my first impression, of your hounding responses to Ketan's responses, and yours to mine also, is that you are in fact a trouble maker.

Ketan – I think your responses have been frank and honest, it looks like the balance of opinion sways a long way to satisfied customers. I would consider doing business with yourself and Arc Euro Trade.

It goes a long way that a supplier is prepared to stand here and air their balanced views, ,many forums will not allow a true no holds barred naming/shaming of suppliers at all.

Time to draw a line under this? I'm an engineer and I'd rather just talk engineering?

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

As a 'metal mangler' I have no valid opinions to offer on machinery qualities – I know what suits my quite definite limitations. However, I can view forum contributions as useful, helpful, supportive etc., or, as in the case of this thread, self-opinionated, trolling drivel! The former category would most definitely include Ketan, JS (not least for the irreverent humour!), NJH et al. The latter, yet again, as in a previous thread, offers nothing but vituperation and self-aggrandisement of a type more usually associated with the moronic 'cult of celebrity'. Trolls on all forums seem to get their kicks by trying to induce irritation in the rest of us. Unfortunately the above-mentioned good guys are feeding this oaf and his over-inflated ego. My advice from the swarf-swamp – ignore the **** (expletive deleted)

Rgds

Bill

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Good grief Derek

I wouldn't go into your shed – it looks very wonky and in danger of falling down – due to weight of snow on LHS no doubt !

I decided to do some strategic planning ( next to the woodburner !) today.

(I must say that, as a retired old git, I can choose my times to do things)

Cheers

Norman

[alan smith 6Participant @alansmith6]

Bill, I look forward to reading a useful post from you.

Alan

[alan smith 6Participant @alansmith6]

Francis,

I think that `ve put forward some valid points in my latest posts, there is no hounding intended. We are all entitled to our opinions and so we must agree to differ.

alan

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Derek,

This was taken about a week ago on one of the rather colder days, probably too cold to snow around here.

Thats degrees C

[steve clark 2Participant @steveclark2]

Posted by Donald Wittmann on 19/01/2013 11:02:06:

Well said Steve Clark, I agree totally with your deductions. As for Arc, the guy is pleasant enough UNTIL someone starts telling the truth about Chinese machines and then you can rest assured that his sidekick Mr S will respond to back him up. The only difference between them and Laurel and Hardy is Laurel and Hardy were a laugh, this pair are a joke.

Ps, if possible look for a second hand Wabeco mill. first class Hobby /Light engineering gear. and then, [ And I don,t mean this offensively] you will be the limitation [ Which will be less and less as you gain experience].

Regards,

Donald.

Thank you, for a minute I thought it must just be me who's seeing it this way, others comments seem to be nothing but praise for the service/advice they have received. I'm not doubting their words/own personal experience but when you have clearly seen what's been posted here, you got to understand how I'm taking it, surely it's not the best way to respond to any new comer.

Ok, let's not dwell on the point any longer, Ketan I accept your apology.

Howard Winwood, I can assure you that I never joined the forum for a slanging match or to upset anyone, why would I want to do that??

I already own & use many different types of tools/machinery, I come from a service engineer background, I've serviced,repaired, stripped down many things over the years so I don't mind having to do some fettling to a mill.

My earlier comment about precision, think of it like this from a newbie's point of view, buy a cheap circular saw for example and you still expect it to cut straight just like an expensive Dewalt would, totally different type of machine I know but you get my drift?

I understand that ones skill level will help no end, not offended by any advice/help on that score, I normally pick things up pretty quick.

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Hi Bill

I do try be positive and, from my limited experience, post on things as I see them. I am pleased then if you have seen something helpful in my comments. ( Now how can I get my wife to see the same I wonder? )

I will, too, try to follow your advice!

Regards

Norman

[mark mcParticipant @markmc72333]

Humm well this is all fun but as i am not a engineer nor trained all i can say is you get what you pay for.I have a lux mill and a comet vs lathe. Thay are not high precision machines as i could not afford to pay tens of thousands but they are still more accurate than me, yes the mill needed a little squaring up on the head but youtube showed me how to do that.

As ketan has been very open about his machines i find that refreshing rather than being told the usual sells spin just to get my money. If you want a rolls royce buy and pay there price, thats just the way the world works.

[GaryMParticipant @garym]

In the time this thread has been running I have taken delivery of my new milling machine (from Arc), taken the packing case off it, been out and bought the wood to make a bench for it, borrowed a mitre saw to cut it up and been to work. Can't wait to get it cutting some metal, however at 160 kg the biggest problem is going to be getting it up onto the bench. Another engineering problem

Hope you enjoy using whatever machine you buy Steve.

Gary

(a beginner with one year's experience)

[Gone AwayParticipant @goneaway]

Posted by NJH on 19/01/2013 11:39:59:

I don't recall any enquiiries about bog rolls though ………….. do you have any recommendations in that area?

Get the widest and longest you can afford and/or have room for. Whatever you buy you'll find situations when you need it just that bit bigger.

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

Norman, the shed looks that way on purpose so thiefing sods will think there is nowt in there worth nicking.

John, that is too tropical for me. I am too old to work in my undies.

Everyone else, this is a great thread (best one since "not fit for purpose" thread) please keep it going.

Ketan, you are doing a great job of showing us who to avoid at the shows.

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Hi Gary,

I'm afraid your experience is typical of the problems experienced by purchasers of far-eastern machines. They simply refuse to hoist themselves up on to the bench – a complete contrast with under-priced home-grown products that will, quite literally, dabnce around the workshop, the lathe performing a graceful pas de deux with the mill, before leaping, in perfect alignment to the ideal resting place.

Of course, this is the ONE thing the sellers of these recalitrant machines won't tell you as they slip you another mug of their so-called 'tea'.

Neil

[GaryMParticipant @garym]

Posted by Stub Mandrel on 20/01/2013 09:50:41:

Hi Gary,

I'm afraid your experience is typical of the problems experienced by purchasers of far-eastern machines. They simply refuse to hoist themselves up on to the bench – a complete contrast with under-priced home-grown products that will, quite literally, dabnce around the workshop, the lathe performing a graceful pas de deux with the mill, before leaping, in perfect alignment to the ideal resting place.

Of course, this is the ONE thing the sellers of these recalitrant machines won't tell you as they slip you another mug of their so-called 'tea'.

Neil

Hi Neil,

No mention at all in the catalogue

"pas de deux" ? Isn't that "father of twins" ?

Gary

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Hi Gary,

Ballet and French are not two of my strengths…

Neil

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Tea? Nobody offered me free tea at the show yesterday.

Reading this thread about 'interrogation' of suppliers and responses from various directons makes me wonder about my own responses to Customers in my (unrelated) professional life. Should I be more honest?
"No sir, the product is not defective it's just that because you pay for road tax does not mean you can have exclusive use of the M25 in the rush hour."
"Sorry sir but we did not implement this energy saving feature because actual tests showed that 30% of people are so stupid they complained it was broken instead of reading the leaflet explaining it".

[alan smith 6Participant @alansmith6]

Well done Gary you`ve bitten the bullet, let us know how the machine performs.

Now the other side of the coin! I just bought a Raglan milling machine on fleabay for a hundred pounds more than a SX2, it looks immaculate! I haven`t seen it running but this is quite often the case when buying second hand machinery. Just think, all I will probably have to do to it is to dismantle the slides and clean up the slideways and leadscrews, It`s not a pretty machine but has an extremely rigid column and substantial slides and comes with it`s own cabinet/stand.

So what`s good about this you ask! well it was built in the UK around 1969 by pipe smoking craftsmen that went down to the pub, not semi or quarter skilled labour that do tai chi three times a day, eat a lot of rice and still get it wrong.

I will be able to take nice meaty cuts, won`t have to brace and fill the column with concrete to increase rigidity and stop vibration, won`t have to replace burnt out motor control boards at £75 quid a time.

I do feel a little regret that I won`t be immersed in rebuilding the SX2 but as Ketan quite plainly said, the SX2 would not be accurate enough for me.

So dear Forum members, this could be the way to go.

Alan

[Ketan SwaliParticipant @ketanswali79440]

Posted by Bazyle on 20/01/2013 11:28:49:

Tea? Nobody offered me free tea at the show yesterday.

With reference to 'tea', I think Neil is referring to his visit to ARC . When I was around 20 years of age, I used to go to sell dyes (colour) to various countries. Some of these trips were to various cities in Egypt. Don't know about now, but then it was customary wether you were buying or selling to offer each other kawa (strong black coffee – sludge) and hukka (similar to shisha), but can be more intoxicating. Either way, by the time you left the building, the buyer was always well out of pocket. I find Egyptian retailers to be very imaginative, especially as they have to work in a very competitive environment. Unfortunately, or otherwise, ARC cannot offer kawa or hukka. So tea or normal coffee it is

Edited By Ketan Swali on 20/01/2013 12:03:10

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