Milling machines

[teakfreak]

I currently have a Warco Economy mill that I have had for years and would like to upgrade to a turret mill. Can anyone give me advice about the Myford VM30, please? was this simply Myford's badge-engineered version of the ubiquitous Warco/Chester/Engineers Toolroom taiwanese machine? Is the Boxford VM30 (which seem to be more common) essentially the same machine?

Thanks in advance for feedback.

[wayne]

Whilst at myford a couple of weeks ago I looked at one of these mills according to the man there the units are striped on arrival and rebuilt to a higher standard

Note I have no association with myford and cannot guarantee what the man said is true, however I have no reason to doubt the statement. As every thing I have purchased from the factory has been first class whether it was new or second hand.

Also if going to the factory, I go either on a Friday afternoon or Saturday morning and you will be probably served by one of the shop floor or store lads who are definitely more knowledgeable.

[Nigel Bennett]

The Boxford VM30 is nothing llike the Taiwanese/Chinese milling machines. It's usually fitted with an ISO 30 taper in the spindle. It's quite substantially built, but tends to be expensive if in good condition. I've never owned one, but seem a couple for sale recently.
I've got the Chester Lux mill, which I'm very happy with. It too has (by request) an ISo 30 taper, which I find makes for much more civilised removal of tooling. R8 would be similar. Battering out a Morse taper at frequent intervals does nobody any good.

[Jo]

I think the fact that so few of the machine tool dealers are offering any of the various branded foreign inports second hand says volumes...... I know a friend of mine had problems selling his Myford VME30.

If you are considering the Boxford VM30, you may also wish to consider the Harrison vertical/horizontal machine. I've had one for years excellent machine, power feed on the bed, 30INT. And normally cheaper than the Boxford. Only negative no quill feed.

Jo

[chris vine]

Yes the no-quill feed is a bore on the Harrison and I would much prefer to have had the R8 taper. No need for milling chucks most of the time, just use the collets. The biggest plus is that the overhang is almost zero.

Chris.

[teakfreak]

Thanks for the advice folks, I'll bear it in mind when I come to make the choice.