Anyone have any firsthand knowledge of the Mini Mill offered by Cummings Industrial Tools (http://www.cumminstools.com/browse.cfm/4,1485.htm)? It appears to be the much the same as the mini mills offered by Micro-Mark and Grizzly.

Currently Cummings has one of their traveling Truck Load Sales visiting my town today and they will be in my general area thru Friday this week, which gives me a change to go back in a day or two and maybe pick one up. The price for the mill is just $399 plus sales tax, which I think is a good price and saves on shipping costs too.

The mini-mill on display was still in the crate with just a couple small holes cut into two sides of the crate so you could see the mill, but it was hard to get a good look and any of the controls or data labels on the mill. They had a few other mills still fully crated on the truck. They also have their Cummings Mini-Lathe available for $399 (http://www.cumminstools.com/browse.cfm/4,876.htm), but my main interest for now is the mill.

Good deal? Should I go for it? I've never done business with Cummings so I'm not sure how their service is in the unlikely event I needed to contact them. Or would I be better off dealing with one of the other companies and paying more in case I need any follow up service?

If it is the spindle you want (R8 or MT3) go for it.

They are all the same.

Make sure you plug it in ASAP so you know it's not DOA.

-Jeff

If it is the spindle you want (R8 or MT3) go for it.

They are all the same.

Make sure you plug it in ASAP so you know it's not DOA.

-Jeff

Is there any major benefit of one type of spindle over another (R8 or MT3)? It come with the R8.

Good point about trying it out to make sure it is not DOA. I planned to stop back where they are today and check out their policy regarding returns and such. That way if I got it home and found a problem, since they are in the area for the next few days it would give me a chance to get back with them.

Also is there much prep that needs to be done to these mills before trying them out for the first time? I was thinking about requesting to open the crate onsite to try out the table movement and power it up and check for any issues before loading onto my pickup for the trip home?

R8 tooling is more common to come by, so typically its better.


Jon

R8 is also a non locking taper, so you don't have to bash the machine with a hammer everytime you need to change tools.