Home› Main Category› Clubhouse

Crappy pic but the best I could manage. Came home today from some errands and found FedEx must not have wanted to lug this heavy ass thing to my door lol. They left it near my garage and had it covered in a plastic bag which I'm grateful for because its been raining like a monsoon here today. Drug it in the garage and got it all unpacked which included cutting steel packaging straps and unbolting it from the crate. First impressions??? Nice! Also, lots and lots of cosmoline. Sinceni didn't want it in the garage I got the pleasure of lugging it (painstakingly) down to my basement to reside by my mini lathe. I could have kept it in my garage with my larger lathe but nah, I wanna sit on my ass on my stool whilst I destroy a few things in learning to use it in the comfort of my basement! And yes, for you that noticed, I do have it sitting on my pellet stove. I have to buy a stand to bolt it down to, but for now it rests here. I haven't used it yet beyond turning it on. Its not the quietest thing but it isn't terribly loud. The bedways are smooth and the handles turn stiff but nice. Haven't trammed it yet but I'll definitely do so before I give it a whirl. Once I actually put it to use, I'll give a full range report. But I have a feeling it will do just fine for smithing projects.
Received mini mill.

Crappy pic but the best I could manage. Came home today from some errands and found FedEx must not have wanted to lug this heavy ass thing to my door lol. They left it near my garage and had it covered in a plastic bag which I'm grateful for because its been raining like a monsoon here today. Drug it in the garage and got it all unpacked which included cutting steel packaging straps and unbolting it from the crate. First impressions??? Nice! Also, lots and lots of cosmoline. Sinceni didn't want it in the garage I got the pleasure of lugging it (painstakingly) down to my basement to reside by my mini lathe. I could have kept it in my garage with my larger lathe but nah, I wanna sit on my ass on my stool whilst I destroy a few things in learning to use it in the comfort of my basement! And yes, for you that noticed, I do have it sitting on my pellet stove. I have to buy a stand to bolt it down to, but for now it rests here. I haven't used it yet beyond turning it on. Its not the quietest thing but it isn't terribly loud. The bedways are smooth and the handles turn stiff but nice. Haven't trammed it yet but I'll definitely do so before I give it a whirl. Once I actually put it to use, I'll give a full range report. But I have a feeling it will do just fine for smithing projects.
Replies
That little motor has a LOT more power that it looks like it would generate.
― Douglas Adams
Awesome and thank you. I'm sure I'll have plenty to ask as I get along with it.
-Mikhail Kalashnikov
Jerry
Generally speaking, two flute end mills are used for plunge cutting, but there are also four flute end mills that also are center cutting and can be used for plunge milling. Looking at the 'bidness end' of the mill will tell you which are suitable, or not, for plunge milling. If the teeth on the end of the cutter go fully to the centerline of the mill they will work. If the cutter end teeth stop short of the center (usually a circular area devoid of cutter teeth) then they are only used for planing cuts at end and side of mill.
Here's a picture I found that shows that center cutting vs. non center cutting. (Click on pic to enlarge)
― Douglas Adams
FIFY! LOL!
Jerry
JAY
If you have any 3/8" dovetail cutters then you're poopin' in high cotton. Dovetail cutters are pretty handy for some projects. If you have some slot cutters (look like gnarly saw blades, shaft mounted or keyed shaft) then you have more handy cutters. Dovetail cutters and slot cutters are STUPID EXPENSIVE, so if you have them, take REALLY good care of them.
― Douglas Adams
Jerry