I've narrowed down the mill purchase to two mills.

Option #1 is the Grizzly 1005Z round column vertical mill

Option #2 is the Grizzly G0463 Dovetail column vertical mill

The advantage to the dovetail mill that I can see is the head will slide up and down the column giving a greater range. The round column is naturally fixed at least in this price range machine. The head on the Round column does swivel however and not on the dovetail column.

The dovetail machine does not have a dedicated fine down feed but the round column does and the round column has a 1 hp motor as opposed to a 3/4 hp for the other.

There is no angle tilt on either machine.

Price is not an issue here since they are within $25.00 of each other. Weight is also close with the dovetail machine weighing a 20 pounds less.

Intended usage will be hobby gunsmithing and small parts manufacture for various and sundry projects that come up.

Thanks for the opportunity to garner some info from the folks here.

BTW-Other manufacturers are not an option since I have the ability to go to the Grizzly store and "Kick the Tires" and speak to someone who knows the line. Also I like their customer service. I realize that by going to Harbor Freight I might be able to get the mill for less money, but the Harbor Freight store here has people staffing the store that really do not know the machines they carry.

Your option 2 is the SIEG X3 mill and is used by a lot of people here. I have never heard of anyone complain about the accuracy of the Z axis on it.

Changing tools on a round collumn mill might be a problem as you can end up loosing your zero (not enough room for toolchange).

PS. Option 1 has this: G1005Z number. You forgot the G.

Since you are communicating in this CNC forum, I assume that you will ultimately want to convert whichever machine you buy. The Round column is not as good an option for this as the dovetail X3.

You would be limited to the length of the quill for Z CNC. To change a tool, you would have to raise the column which will lose the height, but also may allow the column to swivel--Neither is good for consistent machining.

The X3 allows FULL CNC movement of the Z axis while maintaining all alignment. The X3 also has half again more table travel and its electronic variable speed is easily adaptable (cnc4Pc C6 board) to CNC control with no belts to change.

BTW: The X3 DOES have a manual fine quill adjustment.

CR.

Blight--yes I did eliminate the "G" in the model nmber. Thanks for the reply

Reamer,

Thought this was the general metalworking machine spot. In any event I have no need to convert to CNC mode, so I have no isses with belt changing, although the simple turn of a dial is certainly easier.

In any event I have no need to convert to CNC mode....

LOL! I thought that TOO once. Funny how these things tend to change.

CR.

LOL! I thought that TOO once. Funny how these things tend to change.

CR.

CR

I really don't envision a need for CNC. There will be no production line assemblies here. Just one off parts, sight installs, and such. Maybe making some jigs for tool grinding and other simple projects.

I've checked the manuals on both machines. The G0463 seems not to have the fine feed but the upgraded model, the G0619 , which looks to be the same machine with upgrades, has it. The upgrade also has a tilting head and a 1 HP motor as opposed to a 3/4 HP motor for the G0463.

update on specs

The upgraded x-3 from Griz might win the blue ribbon here, but not because of the potential for CNC. The head swivels with the capability to make this a horizontal mill also. Additionally, it has a tapping feature.

Actually, the basic X3 is the better CNC candidate. The Super X3 is a good mill--I have one. That tilting head opens up all kinds of possibilities. You will also like the DRO on the quill. The 100 RPM tapping feature is not so easily implemented without it becoming a breakomatic.

On either X3 you can easily add 1"" to the Z travel and 2" to the X travel. But just to be clear: If you look BEHIND the quill handles on the X3, you will see the same quill fine feed knob that is in the FRONT on the SX3.

CR.

There have been several user complaints about vibration in the round column mill.

From what they describe It seems that the vibration is a factor in the overall surface finish quality.

They also mention a expensive belt that can be used that helps however does not completely eliminate the issue.

Link with lots of pictures and detailed description.

http://tinyurl.com/yw6bxm

Hope this helps.

CR-Th DRO is definately a plus. Still, a detaled read of the Griz manual for the G0463 still reveals no fine feed. The knob to the rear and slightly above the main downfeed is listed as a speed range selector. (High / low)

Jalessi-Thanks for the link. I think I would have looked at spindle bearing pre-load first, but I'm just monay morning wuarterbacking here.

I've pretty much decided on the Griz G0619 even though it's more than I wanted to spend. I think for the money it will do everything I want to do and more. It seems like a very versatile machine.

Thanks for all the input.

...a detaled read of the Griz manual for the G0463 still reveals no fine feed. The knob to the rear and slightly above the main downfeed is listed as a speed range selector. (High / low)

Whoops! You are RIGHT sir. I guess I was thinking of the X2. Actually, $300 more just for the belt drive, more powerful motor and tilting head is a bargain--The fine feed and Quill DRO are a bonus.

I'm sure the SX3 will suit your needs very well. The crate weighs 420 LBs. If you have a loading dock, Griz shipping by UPS Freight is $84. If you need a liftgate, then curbside delivery is only $32 extra. If you can't get a semi-trailer into your location, then you will have to pick it up at the depot.

In my case, I live 1/4 mile down a lane that the semi could not negotiate. My neighbor was kind enough to lend the use of his Kubota tractor w/highlift, and that brought the crate right to my door.

CR.

CR

Thanks for the verification. Thought I was missing something. Delivery is not a problem for me with access for a tractor trailer and a backhoe on the property to do the heavy lifting. My bandsaw was delivered that way. In ay event I will probably go to the store and pick it up myself. I get to inspect the crate before any additional handling that way.

Now to decide...which first..the lathe or the mill and to collect the funds necessary to purchase.

Okay, for clarification:

The G1005Z HAS to have a fine feed, because there is no other way to move the tool up and down but the quill levers. So you are limited to the 3 inches or so of Z movement. I would bet that the fine feed is graduated in increments of .001 inch.

The G0463 has no fine feed on the quill, but it DOES have a handwheel to raise and lower the entire head. This handwheel is graduated in increments of .001 inch. So you would MILL with the .001 Z handwheel and DRILL with the quill levers.

The G0619 HAS a fine feed for the quill, which has NO graduations or scale at all. It relies on the DRO. But it ALSO has a hand wheel to move the entire head up and down. THIS handwheel is graduated in increments of .0005 inch.

CR.