HF Mini Mill/Drill…

[tmac1956]

This is addressed primarily to david, but anyone with experience using a mini dill/mill please join in…

I am now putting together an order with Harbor Freight for the HF mini mill/drill (which per my luck, is on back order) and I need to budget for the basic attachments to get me started. I know that I’ll need a good set of clamps.

In addition, I’m thinking of a set of boring bars, fly cutters, a R8 collet holder, a set of collets, and an end mill set. Unfortunately, there are so many tools/attachments out there and I am such a beginner, that I don’t even know where to start. All I have is a set of drill bits and that’s pretty much it.

Oh… I still have the link for the company that you bought your vise from.
http://stores.ebay.com/CME-TOOLS?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

Thanks!
tmac

[david pierce]

Tom,
I just spent over an hour typing in a list of accessories for your Harbor Freight mill. When I hit the SUBMIT button all of that work went into never never land. I will see if I can re-type it next week.
david

[tmac1956]

@david pierce wrote:

Tom,
I just spent over an hour typing in a list of accessories for your Harbor Freight mill. When I hit the SUBMIT button all of that work went into never never land. I will see if I can re-type it next week.
david

david:

I can’t tell you how many times that has happened to me recently just posting on various sites – including Facebook. I’ve learned to press CTRL + A / CTRL + C occasionally so that I won’t lose everything. It’s either that, or spend a little time typing the posting into a Word document first so I can have a copy in case that happens. It REALLY gets under my skin because having to take those steps sorta’ kills the spontaneity of the Internet.

Thanks for trying to answer it anyway. I hope you get time to repost. But, no hurry as those are on back order anyway, so I won’t order until the end of June.

I appreciate you taking the time to respond to me.

tmac

[tmac1956]

david:

I’m getting close on ordering the HB drill mill and I have a question…

Do I need an R8 collet holder and collets for doing drill press work? On the other hand, does the machine come with the holder for milling? I appologize for the dumb questions.

Should I need the R8 stuff, here’s a set that I found..

http://www.grizzly.com/products/8-Piece-Quick-Change-Collet-Set-R8/SB1348

Thanks!

Tom

[david pierce]

Tom,
For drilling I prefer the Jacobs Ball Bearing Super Chucks for the larger size drill bits and the Albrecht keyless chucks for the tiny sizes. As luck would have it, Enco has the 8 1/2 N .040-.250 Ball Bearing chuck on sale for $80.00. You will only need the 3/16 and 3/8 end mill holder for that size mill and they are $15.95 each. A 13 piece R-8 collet set is $65.00 including the tool tray. Their 3/8-16 step block and clamp set is $65.95.
david

[tmac1956]

David:

Thanks buddy!

Tom

[tmac1956]

David:

I think I found some of the parts you mentioned. The Enco 8 1/2 N .040-.250 Ball Bearing chuck and 3/16 and 3/8 end mill holders aren’t comming up as a search result.

Here’s what I’ve found.

Collet Sets; Type: R8; Inside Diameter Range (Inch): 1/8 – 3/4; Number of Pieces: 11
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INLMKD&PMPXNO=3905715&PMAKA=891-6076

Clamping Sets; Type: Step Block and Clamp Set; Number of Pieces:
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INLMKD&PMPXNO=951285&PMAKA=400-2501

Drill Chuck Parts; Style: Jaw & Nut Unit
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=319-2812&PMPXNO=19506222&PARTPG=INLMK32

3/8 end mill holder
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INSRAR2&PMAKA=368-7022&PMPXNO=21379465

I know the first two are probably wrong.

Thanks!
Tom

[tmac1956]

David:

I got clarification from ENCO on some of the things you recommended and they gave me a quote on them. In addition to those items, I’ll be getting the vise that you recommended as well. This should get me started with drilling. So what will I need to start for the milling end of things?

Thanks!
Tom

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