Newbie advice on Myford VM-C

[interferencefitParticipant @interferencefit]

Hi all, noob here.

I’ve recently bought a lovely Myford Super 7 off an old gent my Dad knows, who also has a Myford VM-C milling machine. He’s owned it from new and it’s in lovely, little worn condition and also has a Jones-Shipman boring head and selection of Clarkson auto-lock chuck milling cutters etc.

I’m more than happy to pay a fair market price and I’m not trying to take advantage or anything, but unlike the Lathe, I’m finding it very difficult to find any private sale VM-Cs to assess it’s approximate value.

Is anyone able to give me a ball-park of what would be a fair price to pay for a very clean, one owner, low use machine with the bits as described, as I really have very little idea and don’t want to insult him. It’s not officially for sale so I don’t have an asking price to work from, nor will I get one as it’s a sensitive and delicate situation for reasons I won’t bore you with. I just need to make a fair offer.

I’m confident he’s is pretty clued up on it’s value and don’t want to be seen to low ball.

Any thoughts or suggestions on fair market value as described with the extra bits would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

I’d ask him how much he wants for the mill and if it sounds reasonable then I’d pay it.

To get some idea you could check the price of a similar Warco or Chester machine.

Martin.

[interferencefit]

On 4 February 2026 at 22:07 interferencefit Said:

It’s not officially for sale so I don’t have an asking price to work from, nor will I get one as it’s a sensitive and delicate situation for reasons I won’t bore you with. I just need to make a fair offer.

He just told you he can’t ask.

[interferencefitParticipant @interferencefit]

Yes, sadly the situation prevents asking that question. Having spent an age looking at Warco and lots of other new / Chinese lathes, having now got my hands on an almost ‘as new’ Myford Super 7, I can see night and day the difference in build, construction and overall quality, and suspect the mill is no different. I had a look over it whilst I was collecting the lathe and tney’d make a lovely pair in my workshop. Other then a few small chips in the green paint, it’s near mint.

[interferencefitParticipant @interferencefit]

To give you an idea, this is the lathe he also had from new….

 

 

 

[interferencefitParticipant @interferencefit]

Ah, just found a photo I took on my phone whilst I was there. Still dirty, but would clean up similar to the lathe.

[blowlamp]

On blowlamp Said:

I’d ask him how much he wants for the mill and if it sounds reasonable then I’d pay it.

To get some idea you could check the price of a similar Warco or Chester machine.

Martin.

Agree with Martin.  I’d start by asking the seller what he wants and negotiate from that.  Condition and accessories make a big difference.  If it’s as good as described, £1500 to £3000.

Don’t be embarrassed, this is business.   A low offer might well be attractive if he’s keen to get rid in return for a quick, no fuss, take it away now sale. Your job to buy cheap, his to sell dear, but you may be in a good position to bargain.  Secondhand traditional prices seem to be falling compared with 10 years ago.

Have you seen the machines cut metal?  In the absence of experience, it’s the easiest way of spotting issues.  Good looks don’t guarantee all is well…

Dave

[interferencefitParticipant @interferencefit]

Thanks, that gives me a start.

I can’t ask for a sale price as it’s not officially for sale, I can only make an offer in the hope he decides to sell it. As I say, it’s a complex, delicate and sensitive situation, so the asking a price is not an option on this occasion.

I’ve seen two aero engines designed and made from scratch on this and the lathe that were breathtakingly, incredibly beautiful. The guy is a master machinist and known to my father. Everything he has or makes is utter precision and of aerospace quality and finish. And I say that without exaggeration. I know with absolute confidence that the machine is in absolutely perfect working order and has had little use over the 30 odd years he’s owned it. He was a specialist calibration engineer before he retired and travelled all over the world with his work.

The mill is pictured above, as I found a pic on my phone.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

It doesn’t look the milling-machine has had much heavy use, but I’d rather see it with the table exposed. The machine itself looks to have been repainted fairly recently, when compared to its stand.

The lathe looks so new I wonder if it’s a recent Myford rebuild that had had virtually no use by the seller.

 

I treated my ML7 and VM-C to Newton-Tesla 3-ph conversions, and the mill to an Allendale DRO. If you do buy the mill and consider those modifications they are expensive but worthwhile (I used the mill today, even!); but fitting a 3-axis DRO to a machine not designed for such things is a challenge.

[interferencefitParticipant @interferencefit]

Cheers, that does sound like a project!

Neither have been refurbished or repainted. He’s owned them both from new, with correct paperwork and handbooks. The lathe looked similar to the mill when I collected it. The photo is after I cleaned it up. The mill should come up in similar condition. The stand is dirtier as the gent is elderly and could not bend down that far to clean it as he could the upper areas. Neither have had heavy use.

Just trying to gauge it’s fair value – let’s assume it’s totally genuine, very little wear and working perfectly. (I know for a fact it is and does, beyond doubt or question).

Found a few more photos. Only cosmetic defects are the few paint chips. It’s just a little dirty and dusty. The chap is in poor health and in his 90s.

 

[interferencefit]

On interferencefit Said:

Having spent an age looking at Warco and lots of other new / Chinese lathes, having now got my hands on an almost ‘as new’ Myford Super 7, I can see night and day the difference in build, construction and overall quality.

Careful, there’s some on here that will take offence at that. Some will even argue that it’s racist to notice the difference! 😅

Anyway. In answer to your question. The last 2 Myford VMC’s to sell on ebay fetched £1170 and £1570 neither looked as nice as the one in your pictures, though one did have a DRO.

The Myford VMC is made in Taiwan, inspected by Myford and rebadged.

The Warco VMC is essential the same machine, but the new ones are made in China rather than Taiwan. They are currently about £3k new and regularly fetch between £1000-2000 used depending on condition, tooling and spec.

The Myford name will always add a premium, but to me it doesn’t matter that much.

My gut instinct is that £1500 would be fair.

 

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

Yes I would say offer £1500.

Tony

[Charles Lamont]

On Charles Lamont Said:

On 4 February 2026 at 22:07 interferencefit Said:

It’s not officially for sale so I don’t have an asking price to work from, nor will I get one as it’s a sensitive and delicate situation for reasons I won’t bore you with. I just need to make a fair offer.

He just told you he can’t ask.

Of course he can.  And should.

If it’s not for sale and the situation really is that sensitive and delicate,  then raising the subject at all will cause offence. I don’t think offering a “fair price” makes any difference.  We have no idea what the seller thinks it’s worth, and it might have sentimental value to him, that’s irrelevant to everyone else.  Offering well over the top, say £6000, might sweeten the pill, but clearly isn’t in the purchasers interest. Value depends on what purchasers are prepared to pay, not what the seller wants!  Offering a “fair price” in the low-range, less than, say, £1500 might cause considerable offence.  (The accessories add value)

As I said, this is business, just ask tactfully and back off if need be.  Don’t ask, don’t get.  If a deal can’t be done, there are alternative mills.

Dave

 

 

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Of course he can.  And should.

 

The current owner may no longer have the mental ability to know what is a fair price or not. The OP may even be dealing with another family member who may also have no idea of machine values.

[Glyn DaviesParticipant @glyndavies49417]

Just bear in mind that compared with the Warco VMC machine, the Myford has no quill fine feed and a smaller table. It wouldn’t do to buy it and then find the lack of quill fine feed a real pain.

I bought a new Warco VMC in 2017 for £1900 and have since added a 3 phase motor and VFD, X&Y axis DRO, battery quill DRO and a 100mm column riser block. Very happy with it now.

[DurhambuilderParticipant @durhambuilder]

In 1987 a new Myford super seven was £1639, the Myford VMC was £1896 so about 15% dearer than the lathe. Depending on accessories offer 15-20% more than was acceptable for the lathe.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Does the table not provide an effective fine feed to put on a cut? I though that was standard method on knee mills. a good number of which don’t even have a quill let alone one with fine feed.

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

Before going in with an offer, it may be more polite to first ask the owner if he would consider selling to you. If he seems agreeable, then it’s easier to ask how much he would like for it.

As Dave Says, no one but the owner really knows what value HE places on it.

 

Martin.

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

Just to add a little more information about this machine, as I happen to own one with certain modifications.

The first mod was to fit a 3ph motor and inverter. This got around a lot of faffing with moving the drive belts around.

I bought a genuine Myford head riser block kit to increase Z axis workspace.

I fitted a three axis DRO which included the knee.

Finally, I modified the quill to give fine-feed adjustment.

 

Martin.

[interferencefitParticipant @interferencefit]

Thanks everyone for your input, as I say the indirect link to the seller, and the seller himself are in delicate positions, however I have made some progress.

The mill is available including the head and other tooling mentioned plus other bits and pieces for £2,000 which is more than the numbers suggested above.

Whilst I’m not trying to influence the gratefully received opinions, I can categorically guarantee it has had very little use and the use it has had has been light duty whilst also being taken care of by a meticulous owner. It is dirty through lack of use only.

The sensitivities remain and a counter offer is not possible, nor willingly facilitated by the contact chain so this is a taker it or leave it situation.

It sounds like it is not worth that much. If that is the case, where am I best looking and what am I best looking for, in order to replicate the same capability, quality and guaranteed condition / wear / tooling for £1,500?  I’m not as familiar with mills as I am lathes (which isn’t much) so will need some guidance. Last thing I want is to buy something that is worn out, not working as it should or in some other way ‘for sale for a reason’.

Appreciate the help so far.

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

The mill is worth what you want to pay, your decision! Have a look on eBay etc to get a feel for what is about, a mill is a machine tool the same as a lathe so you will have some idea even looking at the pictures. When buying a hands on inspection is essential. Update – I’ve just had a look on eBay and there is such a variation of mills and prices that I can’t see that avenue helping much.

Tony

[interferencefitParticipant @interferencefit]

Thanks Tony, I have seen the mill and had a good look over it when I bought the lathe. It’s in great condition, maybe not quote as good as the lathe, but with a clean not for off and with the same treatment. My issue is that what I’m willing to pay will depend on the valuer proposition. If it’s a bargain it’s worth more to me than if it’s overpriced, as if I ever decide to sell it down the line, I’m more likely to get my money back or thereabouts.

The lack of fine quill adjustment has been a school day for me and has taught me that my own existing mill already has that feature and I can’t imagine how you’d easily take another 10 thou’ off without having to remeasure everything? Or have I got that wrong.

My existing mill is a Tiwainese no-brand as pictured below. It’s ok but has excessive backlash on the Y axis lead screw which if I adjust out in the middle of travel, makes it tight toward the ends of the travel telling me it’s heavily worn. It might be operator error, but I observe some chatter too which made me want to upgrade it. The lack of fine quill though does sound a faff if my understanding is correct?

Here are pics of the current one I have. Perhaps the enlightened amongst you could help identify what I have?

 

[HollowpointParticipant @hollowpoint]

The lack of fine feed isn’t that big of a deal really. You just raise the knee. Raising the knee retains rigidity better than lowering the quill anyway.

I’ve had both versions (Taiwanese Myford and Chinese Warco) of the VMC. Not much to choose between them but the the Taiwanese version is slightly better build quality and better finished. Both are good rigid machines.

IMO £2000 is the top end of what it’s worth so it would need to be in very good condition.

For the same money you could probably get a good used example of the Warco version with a DRO and/or power feed/s.

[interferencefitParticipant @interferencefit]

Thanks. Does the boring head and cutters help the value? Not sure what they cost new.

How precisely can you raise the knee and how easy is it to achieve repeatability for multiple cuts or holes etc?

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

You raise the knee by cranking the big handle to the left of the y feed. It’s much harder work than using a quill if you’re drilling several holes, anx only works for vertical holes. A quill makes life easier.

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