Came across this used Smithy that the guy has for sell. He's asking $450. the machine looks in good condition and is running. Is this a good deal??

See attached photos.

thanks,
Ben

That is the short bed version of the machine Harbor Freight now sells for $1200 or so, Grizzly $1500 or so, and Smithy and ShopFox much more. If both motors are running and everything works I'd say that is a heck of a deal.

That is the short bed version of the machine Harbor Freight now sells for $1200 or so, Grizzly $1500 or so, and Smithy and ShopFox much more. If both motors are running and everything works I'd say that is a heck of a deal.

Thanks 61-63. I checked out the unit on Smithy's web site and that same model retails for $2059. the Grizzly's cheaper as you pointed out.

Ben

I own that machine wish I had paid $450,because it is not worth anymore than that.For the most part it is junk..BUY a mill or a lathe of decent quality.3 in 1 machines suck.The mill part of that smithy really sucks.

I own that machine wish I had paid $450,because it is not worth anymore than that.For the most part it is junk..BUY a mill or a lathe of decent quality.3 in 1 machines suck.The mill part of that smithy really sucks.

I have a bp series II so was just looking for a small lathe to do some aluminum.

thanks for the reply.
Ben

I own the Grizzly version. It will do aluminum just fine. And smaller pieces of steel. I use mine to mill carburetor bodies and to fabricate linkage components.
I'll try to include a picture of a 2x4 setup I do and the linkage was made using my machine. They are a pretty good lathe but as the other poster said only a so so milling machine. If I had to do serious milling I'd get a much larger, dedicated, mill.

I have a guy trying to trade me one of these for a new Harbor freight 44991-6VGA Mini Mill. I had the little mills ways on the X,Y,&Z hard chromed to cut down on wear for a CNC conversion. I advertised it on craigslist and the guy is local. Good trade or ... not? The one he wants to trade is a smithy 1220 XL, I am just not familiar with these.

cncmojo I have never used a 44991 and do not have a 1220xl, I have a Grizzly
that looks like the machine in the posting that started this thread, but mine has a longer bed. But I would think the 1220xl would be as sturdy as the little 44991? However with that said if your 44991 is doing what you want it to do and you have gone to the trouble to cnc it, and you are considering the trade just so you can also have a lathe, I'd recommend just buying a lathe and then having two dedicated machines. My machine does what I want and is a pretty good lathe I think, but the mill head doesn't have the rigidity to do heavy duty milling on steel. I use my little machine as just one tool of many and the steel I cut is small stuff so its limitations don't bother me. If milling and turning were the main thing I did I can see where I would either end up with two machines or would use the Grizzly as a lathe only and get a heavier duty milling machine to go with it.

One big difference I noted between the 44991 and the 1220xl is that the head on the 44991 tilts and the 1220xl head doesn't.