Picked up a "Parts making" machine ;)......

[Dirtcrasher]

I picked this up yesterday to add to my homeowners machine shop with my Southbend lathe. For those who don't know what the heck it is, it is a Bridgeport milling machine with a J head. (Ronnie can appreciate this!!) They are used for accurately milling, drilling and boring anything you can clamp to the 48" long table or place inside the vice. It came with some tooling and a Kurt angle lock vise. Last thing I made on it 5 years ago was an exhaust manifold for a 3-53 Detroit Diesel engine. It was hard to find anywhere and they wanted 500$ used for manifold so I made it. I used 3" square stock and mig welded it to gas pipe and a 4" flange that I also made on the mill with a 3.25" bore and 4 - 3/8-24 threads.

I don't even know how I have survived without this machine. I have a tabletop chinese mill but it is nothing compared to this. An easy way to explain it's usefulness is that any screw that is snapped off in anything can be drilled out accurately/dead nuts without any damage to the actual part. You can get it so close that you can spin the damaged screw out with a pick. It's worth it's weight in gold.

When my machinist job went overseas they retired this to the warehouse, I offered them a decent amount for it about 2 years ago and they wouldn't sell. I got a call last week and jumped on it. I basically bought it for the price of the vice alone:w00t: It weighs about a ton and I took it apart a bit and then unloaded it with my backhoe. Took 3 guys and some pipes to roll it into it's final resting place.

I finally have enough "real" equipment that I can take on some sidework. I just need to build a 3PH converter or retrofit a 2HP single phase motor to the Bridgeport, I may be able to make an adapter plate.

Anyhow, once I'm running I hope to be able to get some snapped off screws off for you guys instead of you having to buy another part. Not to mention custom brackets, spacers and plates etc etc etc.............

[Bryan Raffa]

Nice bridgeport! sweet machine to have!

[dizasterzrfun69]

:drool: im jealous, i've been wanting a mill for several years but i just cant afford one, i see them occasionally for right around $1000 -$1500 around here.

[motoman110]

wow thats a steal for shure, almost thought it was a TEXTRON ahhahahaha..... (absolute garbage)

[Bryan Raffa]

even the older ones go for good money,, there that good!

[SYKO]

I got a drill press and a vice....dose that count?

[Dirtcrasher]

I got it for 100$ :crazy: :lol: :D :crazy: :lol: :D

You can't buy the vice handle and a V belt for that....

And take my advice, don't EVER by a chinese table top knock off. The head raise and lowers not the table so anything indicated in is lost when you move the head. Not to mention that you can't angle the head or slide it back and forth. I paid 750$ for my table top mill and they are about 1500$ new but worth nothing in my opinion.

Looks nice but virtually useless.... Here is a shot of my old junk. I feel bad even selling it but someone convinced me to buy it....

[oldsking86]

So what ya got in mind to make?!

[storm_impulse]

can u make a turbo exhaust manifold for my car? what about diffrent gearing for my 200x? custom swinger? grab bar?

[Bryan Raffa]

I got a drill press and a vice....dose that count?

better than me.. I got a cordless and my foot!:lol: :lol:

[Dirtcrasher]

can u make a turbo exhaust manifold for my car? what about diffrent gearing for my 200x? custom swinger? grab bar?


If your talking about the flat flange against the head for the turbo - no problem. But the pipes that weld to it and curve/cross whatever are a different story. No, I can't cut a gear. Custom swinger? Of course :D The pieces can all be made in a mill including a bore that accepts needle bearings for the pivot. Grab bar? easy to make sideplates.

Nothing out there is built by "one" machine. Typically a mill makes the flat crap and perfect holes for quite a good depth. Lathes thread and turn round items. Presses and benders curve pipes and flat plates. Welders put it all together. A mill is just one of the few machines that are needed to build parts.

[slugger]

that is a sweet set up and you got it for a song!! :w00t:

I wish they were a little less anal at my work about letting us do "home projects"

we have 3 vert. mills a lathe, 2 hoss milling machines about a dozen drill presses, 4 brakes, 2 laser cutters, a plasma cutter and assorted machines that weld and cut and melt metal.

yes I am jealous, I want one of those in my garage/shop!!


slugger

[super90]

How about some custom wheel spacers? That would sure be nice, but I dont need 2'' on each side like alot are. More like 1'', that would be fine for me.

[oldsking86]

hmmm I could possibly be interested in some flanges for a T-3 or T-4 turbo in the near future :)

[Red Rider]

I got a drill press and a vice....dose that count?With some patience & ingenuity, you'd be surprised what you can make with those 2 items. ;)

Nice score Dirtcrasher.

[jcraig]

:beer damn, you'll never have to buy another beer again :beer

[honda250sx]

Steve!
Sweet bridgeport man! Totally jealous. $100 bucks! What! what kind of shape is the draw bar in? How about the keyway in the spindle that holds the collets? Is that still there? Most of the time those get buggerd up. R8 style collets? I have been eyeing up some of those myself. I want a nice one with power knee and table. GET A NICE DIGITAL READ OUT!!!! Then you will really be loving life! Hows the backlash? And the scraping still present on the ways? Looks like a killer score for sure. Take that lube system apart and fit it with new lines. They get clogged and become useless. I would also check the gibs on the table of that thing. If you got backlash thats why. Any questions about that animal feel free to email me man you know the drill!!!!

[Red Rider]

:beer damn, you'll never have to buy another beer again :beerIt makes beer too? :w00t: Wow, that is a nice machine!

[oldsking86]

Dang I need to get me one of them if they make beer! LOL

[Dirtcrasher]

Steve!
Sweet bridgeport man! Totally jealous. $100 bucks! What! what kind of shape is the draw bar in? How about the keyway in the spindle that holds the collets? Is that still there? Most of the time those get buggerd up. R8 style collets? I have been eyeing up some of those myself. I want a nice one with power knee and table. GET A NICE DIGITAL READ OUT!!!! Then you will really be loving life! Hows the backlash? And the scraping still present on the ways? Looks like a killer score for sure. Take that lube system apart and fit it with new lines. They get clogged and become useless. I would also check the gibs on the table of that thing. If you got backlash thats why. Any questions about that animal feel free to email me man you know the drill!!!!

Hey bud, I knew you'd like it!! Key is there for the R8's and the draw bar is perfect. I used this machine more than anyone before it got retired just before I got laid off. They bought a 10,000$ mill just as I was sent packin. I'd love a DRO, but for my use I'm comfortable with the backlash. As long as you know how to dial it in and zero it out, then backlash isn't a problem - you already know that.... It got scraped yaers back and it's still present, we really didn't use it all that much as I was one of only 2 guys that could run it.

I've actually had the J head all torn down in this mill. The quill skirt was binding and I had to tear it all down. Everything was in great shape when I tore into it.

So..... Now I may just sell the Southbend lathe I have and pick up a heavy ten with a quick change gear box. It would really compliment this mill and I have seen many for under a grand. So, 2 machines for about a grand? Thats good buyin :w00t:

[Tri-ZNate]

Dude you made out awesome on that. If I ever need anything done I just go back to my high school and use their mill, or If i want a nice part made i use the cnc one ;). Thats means CHEAP! But you stepped in *Edited**Edited**Edited**Edited* and came out smelling like roses on that one.