looking into a tabletop mill

[justjeff]

https://www.grizzly.com/products/Drill-Mill-with-Stand/G0704

The Grizzly g0704 has a great following and then you can CNC it as you learn more.

I plan on picking up one if I can find a coupon or something to get the price down to about 1k.

CNC stuff

[Rosebud22]

I have this HF model for about 10yrs.

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-2-half-horsepower-heavy-duty-milling-drilling-machine-33686.html

I have not done a 80% AR (no need), but I am sure it would do a 80% mill job.
I have used it to make a lots odds and ends. The issue is not the actual size, but motor size to get the job done. This one has a 1-1/2HP. Even so, you will need to go slow and not take too deep a cut. Also having sharp, high quality tooling is a must. HF is NOT the place to buy tooling. I use
Mcmaster.com for end mills.
Best of Luck

[Ahimoth]

While I wanted the grizzly 0704, or any 45 clone, I ended up with an HF purely due to budget at the time. Amongst many other things, I've finished several 80% AR lowers and three 0% AR lowers on this HF unit. http://m.harborfreight.com/two-speed...not%20provided
I added a DIY dro system to it, and restored the pneumatic z assist. Machinery from HF is like a partially assembled kit. You really need to tear it down, clean it out and spend some time setting it up right. I wish it had just one more inch of travel in the z axis to make machining out the buffer tube hole on the AR a bit simpler. Keep in mind, you'll spend more on tooling and accessories than you spent on the machine, I know I have. I think I got this unit shipped to me for just under $500 after digging up some coupons.

[edgerly779]

Thanks for edit. I will keep a lookout for you.

[hemiguy55]

Yea. I'm no machinist so sorry for my lack of knowledge on this subject. I'm learning so bear with me!
As for the grizzly (0759) and the rungfo, do they have standard household outlets? Or do they need 220? I like the grizzly 0759 with the dro. I wonder if they have an upgrade to make it cnc.

[edgerly779]

I bought one on craigslist a heavy duty bench top that weighs 700 lbs. for 600 bucks. The tooling and vise ran me about $150. I have done a few 80% ars and a1911 80% and lots of shop projects. I just made some brake pedal parts for a go cart for the boy scouts. I mad a 24" foot brake for my sheet metal shop. Endless things youy can do once you get some time turning the handles.

[SilentPea]

The grizzly 0759 looks like the 0704 with factory installed DROs, so presumably it has the same 110/115 plug. Well worth the extra over the 0704 IMO. I have had X axis DRO installed on my 0704 for 18 months and still haven't gotten around to making mounts for the Y axis (angles make it a pain in the ***). There is a ton of info on CNC conversions for the 0704 too -- HossMachine used to sell a combination of build instructions and parts kits to do it, but I think he stopped selling kits for some reason.

[kcstott]

Yea. I'm no machinist so sorry for my lack of knowledge on this subject. I'm learning so bear with me!
As for the grizzly (0759) and the rungfo, do they have standard household outlets? Or do they need 220? I like the grizzly 0759 with the dro. I wonder if they have an upgrade to make it cnc.

yeah they come with a 110 volt monkey face plug

[klewan]

yeah they come with a 110 volt monkey face plug

Is that the one that has the two power blades horizontal instead of vertical? 30 amp circuit, so you use 10-2 wire. Never heard it called a monkey face.

[kcstott]

nope standard 15 amp is monkey face, same ones in your house

[Kmullen]

This is from Little Machine shops Web page.

All the mini mills listed on this page are made in the same factory in China. Except where they have different features, the parts are interchangeable. In our experience there is not a noticeable quality difference between the brands.

http://littlemachineshop.com/info/minimill_compare.php

[Wyseguy]

How do Rong fu and Grizzly compare with Shop Fox and Jet?

[generalpetres]

you need to understand that the harbor freight units are really small. if your going to look at a harbor freight style you might as well look into little machine shop mill. they are a bit bigger and more power full than the harbor freight mills. also if your local to socal little machine shop is located down here. ive been by their shop as i was originally interested in their small mill but realized that my needs are for a lot bigger mill as i do automotive work as well. http://littlemachineshop.com/product...ory=1387807683

[kcstott]

Clausing made a bench top mill back in the fifties it was a 8520 model number i believe
look for on on ebay they show up from time to time they weight less then 500 lbs and are cheep to ship all things considered.

[762x39]

All the mini mills listed on this page are made in the same factory in China. Except where they have different features, the parts are interchangeable. In our experience there is not a noticeable quality difference between the brands.

That is correct.
More info on these mills here.

http://www.gunco.net/forums/183-tool-shed/71891-sieg-x2-mini-mill.html