Any acceptable bridgeport clones? Reccomendations?

[ripslider]

I have been having a look at a few mills recently, and I've decided that heading along the route of something like the Bridgeport Mk I or II would seem to be the way to go. I may as well get a "full size" straight off.

Sadly, from my point of view as a buyer, bridgeports hold their price incredibly well. I don't doubt that they are good machines, but I have a feeling that your also, to some extent, buying the name as well. Similar to buying the "Myford Super 7" lathe - but often not worth £1000 or more than a similar lathe by a different maker.

Bridgeport licensed out their designs to a few companies, and a load of other companies seem to have made very close clones. These vary greatly in price, but do seem somewhat cheaper.

I was wondering if anyone could suggest one or more bridgeport clones which have a good reputation? Has anyone uses any of the clones and found them as good, or close to as good as "the real deal"?

Many thanks for any advice

Steve

[classicsteve]

Don't know if it helps - but I was in Chester UK (chinese importer) and got chatting to a guy buying big mills - 2 years ago I think. Two things came out - one is that the quality has been improving, but I also asked what is was like if you needed spares given the models seem to change so frequently. His response was that at 1/3rd the price of European equivalents he doesn't repair them, just junks them and gets a new one !

This is all based on a single conversation, so could be baloney, but I get the impression that European tooling changes less frequently so there is better parts availability, but the Far East versions are changed far more often.

For a private individual the equation might be different from this chap, and it may be quite a blow to find you have old kit in what has become a disposable society. Buy a Bridgeport clone cheap, and can you get parts, and what is its re-sale value ?

Personally I think we are going in the wrong direction, and I am sure the tree huggers would want us to build the kit once and keep it going, not scrap it and buy a new one. In this respect I am a bit of a Victorian ... build it to last, and to be repaired. The designs that have gone on for years unchanged are great for parts and ancillaries, the ML7, the Land Rover, and maybe the Bridgeport.

Steve

[johnstevo]

Sorry Steve but I can't follow that line of thinking.
If you buy a new clone now and it get thru it's guarantee period proving it's no lemon then what is liable to go on it that requires spares?
The major castings are no problem, short of breaking [ unlikely ] they will go for the life of the machine so we are then faced with gears, bearings etc which are probably off the shelf or easily made, you have a lathe and mill ?

Myfords are in the state they are in because no one is buying new, they are repairing old machines which has forced the prices up. Horrible to say but firms need continuing sales to exist.

I have a large TOS lathe and virtually every past is obtainable as a spare, problem is I can't afford them.
Colchesters are the same £600 for a cross slide screw and nut, £2,000 for the spindles and gears to refurb an apron.

If industry takes this buy it and throw it approach it will help the hobby as only a small proportion of users will buy new anyway, most buying cast offs and there will be more about.

John S.

[alanstepney]

Although not exactly a clone, an alternative to Bridgeports were the Beaver machines.
When they come on the market, they are usually much cheaper than Bridgeports, and, if the only one I have used is any guide, they are a superb machine that is the equal of Bridgeports.