Milling question

[samsbolt390]

Ok, I used the Search feature like a good little n00b but I found no info, i just picked up a 5" cross slide mill/vise for my bench drill press, can someone or one's give me advise on type of bits i should look into, I figured HS steel in general sizes 1/8th, 1/4, 3/8, and maybe 1/2" should be good? but i also wondered about bit speed and material type/thickness Thanks in advance !

[Forestgnome]

You can successfully mill on some drill presses. Like the rpevious poster said, you need to be able to adjust the speed down. The flexibility of the system will limit your depth of cut. You shouldn't try to use a jacobs chuck that's mounted with a taper, or it will work out of it's taper and go flying. My first "mill" was an old Walker-Turner, which had a collar that locked down the Jacobs taper. If that xy table is a cheap import, you'll have to lock down the gibs fairly tight, and it won't move as smoothly as a real mill. If you're milling aluminum, a hogging mill will be a godsend for your setup. Use that, then finish of with a 2-flute. Don't buy too much at first until you see if it will work for you at all.

[samsbolt390]

ok thanks Freddie and gnome, i gotta try and make this work for me for just hobby stuff cause right now i have baby on he way money. and believe me we have a Bridgeport at work and it just stands there proud in a corner holding down the floor it breaks my heart , so low speed's and let it take its time, do i have to worry about heat? I've only ever milled cast aluminum, should i be quenching it with cutting fluid, i always see people mill dry?

[Jonathan Doe]

I have a Smithy combination machine at my office. I used it couple of times to cut something once, and to make a cut away gun the other time. If you need to do any precision work, it is not the type you need. I used HS mills for all the work. I rarely needed carbide cutter for any work involves gunsmithing. I used to use them because it lasts longer than HS tools. Using cutting fluid will prolong the life of your cutitng tools and keep the surface a little more smooth.

[samsbolt390]

Thanks Topgun, Sound advice.

[SVT-40]

Working on AK type rifles will require Metric bits. I'm lucky as there is a fastener / bolt shop in my area which stocks metric drill bits.

[Forestgnome]

It's best if you use a fluid to cool the tool if you're using HSS on steel to keep the tool alive. I also like to use fluid or WD40 when milling aluminum to prevent the chips from gumming up and smearing back onto the piece.

[samsbolt390]

Hey ! who said anything about AK's... lol yeah i wanna try and mill a 1.6flat as a test run. and that make's sense Gnome, i guess ill have to make a catch pan. i like most if not all of us, am a tinkerer so im gonna try to polish and true all the sliding surfaces of this cross slide to get the most from it, i cant lose i only paid 40 bucks for it.