Shop Fox M1006 knee mill?

[motoguy]

So, I've run across one of these:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...&cm_ite=334963



The gentleman that owns it is an old timer (near 80 years old) who runs a business rebuilding machines (among other things). He buys scratch and dent units, rebuilds them, sells them, etc etc. Mills, lathes, grinders, etc. No CNC, all manual. He says he mainly deals with the hobbyist / personal shop folks, not a lot of production stuff anymore. Owned a machine shop for years, sold it, retired, does this because "I still have fun at it", etc.

He has this Shop Fox M1006 which he's currently rebuilding. He calls it "new", but I think "very light use" is probably more accurate. It looks like I would be able to pick up this machine for $3400 or so. He said it was mostly a motor bearing, some missing knobs / hardware, etc that needed to be replaced.

Thoughts? It's not Bridgeport, but it's inexpensive, near new, had DRO and X powerfeed, etc. The ability to purchase local-ish (not having to deal with long distance transport, etc) is nice, as is the "if you don't like it, bring it back and I'll refund your money" guarantee. Not often that you can get one of those!

I know it's an imported machine, but I'm curious if anyone has experience with it. Would it be a good machine for that price? How about the feasibility of converting to CNC? What would be involved in that venture? If I've got a manual machine I can use, I don't mind home-building a CNC conversion.

Would that money be better spent elsewhere? Better to try to find a dead CNC machine, and retrofit? Thoughts?

[Davo J]

That is a good solid machine and like you said, it's local. I think if you have got the room for it grab it.
Dave