Using a mini mill for 80% lower

[gsc3zny]

I have been looking at the so called mini mills for finishing my 80% frames-1911 and ar 15. Has anyone had any experience with these? They are in the $200 range. thx

[Yugo]

you get what you pay for!

[itisagoodname]

If you're doing a lot of them having your own mill will pay itself off. You do get what you pay for. Keeping tolerances on a cheap mini mill is tough. Once it's all dialed in, and you know what you're doing, you can churn an 80 out in a few hours. All depends what your time is worth.

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[umd]

I have been looking at the so called mini mills for finishing my 80% frames-1911 and ar 15. Has anyone had any experience with these? They are in the $200 range. thx

Are you sure it's a mini mill and not a micro mill? I got the Harbor Freight Mini Mill and it was about $500. After a bunch of upgrades and tooling I'm into it about a grand.

I did some AR lowers on it so far and they've come out ok.

I'm happy with it overall but if I did it again I think I would spend the extra on the "little machine shop" fixed column version, or the slightly larger grizzly with the base.

[vw69turbobug]

I have a enco mill. its a little bigger then a mini mill but it works good done a couple projects on it. but i say look on clist for good use one. best investment you'll make getting tools for your shop/garage for current & future projects. ..

[toddh]

This isn't he 1st thread about this subject.

Have you searched for other mill threads for more information ??

[gsc3zny]

This isn't he 1st thread about this subject.

Have you searched for other mill threads for more information ??

Of course. I could find nothing relevant under mill, just ads for group buys. I can try other variations, I suppose

[umd]

Mini mill turned up lots of relevant results for me. Anyway, link to the mill you are looking at?

[gsc3zny]

Mini mill turned up lots of relevant results for me. Anyway, link to the mill you are looking at?

your right. i just tried mill the first time, mini mill turns up more. thx

[Gunsmith Dan]

Pretty much ANY mill would be better than using a Drill Press and jig

[bksa]

where do you see mini mills for 200?

I have a CNC converted harbor freight one and I use it to mill billet lowers from scratch no problems.

[Iminocca]

I've got a Grizzly mini mill and I've done a couple of 80's with no problem...just take your time and you'll be fine...I've got a manual Bridgeport coming later this year and that should open up a world of possibilities!

[croc4]

mini mills work fine, just take your time since they don't the horse power that a larger mill does and they are not as ridgid, but if your patient and go slow they work just fine.


croc4

[asm_]

I have a mini mill and it works fine for 80% build. However, if the only reason you are buying a mini mill is for the 80% build, you'll better off just go rent a CNC session for an hour for $60.

Just as with any vertical milling machine, the price of the mill it self is the small part of the investment. In order to setup a mini mill, you can probably get the mill it self for about $500. Now, for all the end mills, vise, dial indicators, hold down clamps collets etc.... you can expect to spend another $500 minimal. My mini mill setup cost well over $2000. Of course, I have the whole setup for years before I got into 80% build. So, over the year, I built lots other stuff. It's a whole other hobby on its own. It can be as much of money pit as firearm.

Now, with all the money I spent on tooling up Mini Mill, the silver lining is, it will not go to wast if I ever decide to go with a larger mill. Mini Mill from HF does use R8 collets, as with many of the larger mill.

If you do decide to get a mini mill for 80% build, be sure to go slow. Without a digital read out (DRO), it will take you more time to get all the measurement correct. Needless to say, measure twice and and cut once. Once you get the hang of it, crank out 1 80% per hour should be easy.

Good luck!!

[umd]

If you do decide to get a mini mill for 80% build, be sure to go slow. Without a digital read out (DRO), it will take you more time to get all the measurement correct.

You can get a $40 "iGaging" DRO scale for $the critical z-axis on Amazon/ebay. I used that and built the Arduino/Android display for another $50 or so in parts.