08-10-2006, 03:30 PM
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| | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: us Age: 45
Posts: 1,042
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For The Noobs: Patience Grasshopper! | |
I just wanted to let any noobs who are getting into cnc and machining to have a little patience and good things will come their way. Awhile back I was wanting to purchase a mill and lathe. first I looked at the all in one deals and heard the criticism of those machines(but really if ya don,t have the space I think those are good deals), then I looked at the x1 looked kool at first but after more study toooo small. Then x2 , it looked like a decent mill, but again small. Ahh the x3 looked good, sizable but not too big, but when I was ready(had the money at that particullar time) no one had it in stock. Meantime while I was looking at mills, I checked the local bargain newspaper(The Pennysaver) and wala ! 9x20 lathe $550.00, and I jumped on it. I believe I got a good deal, everything works and still works(even through the 3jaw chuck is outta whack). Kool so I looked online at more stuff and I seen the Atlas 6x20 lathe and just fell in love with it(still love it) but none for sale around here until one day(after reading on CNC zone some of the guys finding deals at garage and estate sales) I go and check out an estate sale, whadda ya know, Atlas 6x20 with milling attchment $350.00 mint and I mean mint shape. Oh I had the urge to pick it up, BUT I already had a lathe and really needed to save the money for a milling machine so I had to let it go.
Meantime I had also started to build a milling machine http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18992
Anyway I had figured I just keep researching and hunting for a good deal on a mill while I was building mine. Then one day in the paper a Gorton for $500.00 about 65 miles away, and I pondered that but realised logistics would be too much of a pain in the butt(plus at my shop I am currently on generator power, SUCKS but economical). So I finally complete my mill to at least working order. Still have some upgrades I want to do but I can add those over time. Then yesterday in the local Pennysaver, an ad for a First Milling Machine plus tooling $250 bucks how can I pass that up? And I,m like kool but not kool as I was financially strapped. Well today I called the guy, he still had it and it works fine, its a RongFu type with a 8x24 table. And after speaking to him I pondered borrowing the money from the wife( a most difficult task as she is Filapina and in the Philippines the husband does not borrow money from the wife, it is unheard of.) So I get phone call from a customer(I own a glass shop) and wala ! Enough money is made in one hour to purchase the mill. BUT as I was getting ready to call the guy I look over at my desk and the power bill is sitting there, with its Hoover sucking sound pulling the mill money out of my hand. So I must past on probably one of those very rare deals but the moral of the story is just when you think you found one good deal another one pops up either right behind it or later down the road. Bills before toys...........  |
I'd say the main thing you need is an understanding wife ie my wife came with me and loaded the trailer and is still supportive of my hobby (I did the dishes tonight as repayment of aforementioned "understanding"... after all i'm completely useless at milling circles any other way :shrug: ) 
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