ElDorado upgrades

[sstec]

Guy's
Long time Lurker.............
I've read just about every post about ST here and else where on the web.

I bought a just slightly used ST Eldorado last year on eBay for next to nothing.
DRO and tooling, no ball screw or CNC.....
Since then I have turned a few things and made chips, trying to teach myself and reading everything I can when I can.

I have ordered Dan's CNC kit, should be here by the end of the week.

So here is the question for those of you who have been there, done that.
Scott
Bloy
dahui
rainman
And others

Of all the things you have done to make your ST better, what would you do different if you had it to do over again?

Most went to 1.5 HP VFD's is that enough? 2 HP?
Stuff like that............
Thanks for all your shared input you have posted for the rest of us to learn from.

sstec

[mixdenny]

Do you have a Quadralift installed? That is a huge improvement in the milling operation. At any rate, they are no longer available as I got the last one from the factory several years ago. Hopefully you do have the Quadralift, so the next thing to add is the fifth arm to make it into a bridgemill. This is an incredible stiffening effect and makes milling steel a pleasure. It takes a bit of effort to make one and set it up accurately, but you will love it. Then add a power drive to the Quadralift and an auto belt tensioner to the mill motor. These are both things that just make it so much nicer when you are milling. I find that I have to move the head up and down quite a bit when going from drills to end mill, etc, and the powered lift is great. I have a web page that shows my homemade bridegmill, powered lift and a few other mods at:

http://home.wowway.com/~dthompson4389/Shoptask.html