Another First Mill Question

[moodyj2000]

I know the general logic is to buy the biggest mill you can afford but budget is an issue so I thought I would get some input here.  I want to do custom 1911 work on the slides and frames.  I have done some machining in the past but it was a long time ago.  I have narrowed down my selections to:

The super x2 from www.littlemachineshop.com
The X3 clone from Grizzly G0463
or the G0704 from Grizzly

My concern is tooling.  If I order the super X2 from little machine shop I might have some money left over for digital scales, a vise, parallels, indicators, etc.  If I order either of the other two then it will probably just be a vise purchase and then a long wait of saving up funds.  My main concern is the table travel and the distance from spindle to table when working with frame checkering.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Jason

[Mad Machinist]

I'd hang on to my bucks......and keep an eye out on Craigslist and flea bay for not much more you'll find a vertical knee mill with a DRO.....I just saw one sell locally for around $1600 bucks and it had a Kurt vise....was gonna get it myself...and sell my old non DRO Bridgeport.......

[goober]

I'd hang on to my bucks......and keep an eye out on Craigslist and flea bay for not much more you'll find a vertical knee mill with a DRO.....I just saw one sell locally for around $1600 bucks and it had a Kurt vise....was gonna get it myself...and sell my old non DRO Bridgeport.......

great advice unless space, available power, or ease of moving the machine into place is a concern. if any of those are limiting factors, then get the G0704 (or X3 clone) if you can possibly afford it, even if it means you will have to buy tooling slowly and piecemeal.
i've not fondled a G0704 myself but it looks to be a nice improvement over the X3 clone, unless there are known issues w/ it.

[couch]

Little Machine shop is out of stock on their 3900 Mini Mill...

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/products/product_category.php?category=1387807683

Do you have a set budget? Ballpark figures? May help narrow down what you can get and possibly show you some other options.

[moodyj2000]

Space, power, and budget are all limitations.  I would like to keep my total investment to $1300 starting out and that is with the purchase of a vice, collets, and some tooling.  That is what keeps pushing me towards the super X2 at little machine shop.  I have been in contact with them and they are expecting more within the next few weeks.  The G0704 is out of stock until September also.  The only in stock mill is the X3 clone but I am concerned about space since I also park in the garage where this will be housed.

I can get the SX2 from them shipped to my office for $765.  The other two options will run me about $1050 shipped which leaves little cash for the other items I need.  Right off the bat I know that I want about $400 dollars in tooling, however, the G0704 really appeals to me for the table size, dro on the z axis, and the included stand.  I have read a lot of debates between the G0704 and the X3 clone.  The X3 clone is definitely heavier and more rigid but there are a lot of reviews for the G0704 as being a capable mill.

Thanks for all of the input so far.

[kingjamez]

I've had an X1, X2 and X3. So needless to say I've learned the lesson of buy cheap buy twice (thrice). After having used them all, it's my opinion that I wouldn't go for anything less than the G0704 or X3 for gun smithing. The SX2 is certainly a nice example of it's kind, but it simply doesn't have the travel or the rigidity without serious modification that your going to want.  If your spending that much money, why not save for a little longer and get a machine that's loads better? I know it's easy to spend other peoples money, but I've been there and would have saved myself a good $700.00+++ had I known this at the beginning.

If I were buying a "small" mill right now and wanted it for manual use, the G0704 seems like the obvious answer. However, right now the X3 is easier to do a CNC conversion on, so if CNC is in your future (you are at CNCGuns.com after all), you can't go wrong with the X3. I love mine, it is quite capable after a little loving care from the gorillas that assembled it.

-Jim