WHAT DO YOU USE?

[Noddy]

Hi Laurie_B
Just looked up the centec on the Lathes UK site. What a fantastic looking tool...
Keith

[Myford Matt]

Centec's are really nice and the 2A is ideal for ME, if a little tight on the head/chuck-table clearance.

If you want a vertical mill don't be tempted to buy a cheap horizontal one for a couple of hundred, thinking the vertical quill will turn for the same amount. They are much the most valuable part and good ones go for £400-£700 each. I know, I've been on the hunt for one for a while.

MM

[John Lee]

A horizontal mill in itself being pretty useful Matt if you have room for one, I do not unless something else, probably a workbench, goes.

Regards,

John

[Myford Matt]

Hi JL

Not knocking HMs - I'd love one - just a bit of advice about purchasing Centec 2As. I see plenty of horizontal-only ones going really cheap, but the vertical quills are hard to find and very dear.

Cheers

MM

[dscott]

Two very useful companies I have found are www.routoutcnc and Merchant Dice, the latter has an E-bay shop and sells the best priced ball screws but the nuts at £50 a piece puts you off somewhat. Both do a plug in and play, but Routout do their own softwear and some melt in boiling water plastic which would be great for try outs. Now the wear on parts can be worked out on the drawing when cutting out recesses, it is better to get the table to keep moving instead of the x and y together as there is extra strain on the stepper motor as well.
I added up about £800 needed on top of the £750 for the mill and decided to look at another home build based loosely on Dave Gingerys design but idealy suited for model engineers.
Lots of little parts then several long bits that need to be of polished steel.

Anyone interested?

David.

[Laurie_B]

myfordmatt said:

Not knocking HMs - I'd love one - just a bit of advice about purchasing Centec 2As. I see plenty of horizontal-only ones going really cheap, but the vertical quills are hard to find and very dear.

Keith,
Yes the Centec were very good machines,versatile too as they could be set up as a vertical miller as well as a horizontal,and could be used for drilling too.Pity the company folded in the 1980's.

Matt,
Yes,the vertical head on its own is very hard to find,very occasionally something might turn up on Home Workshop.In this months ads I see someone from Germany is looking for a Centec 2A/B/C.There is also a Centec 2 mill currently for sale.

[starspider]

keithanderson said:

One is now divorced, the other is now a spinster....

good luck...
Keith

;D ;D

I had a Centec a few years ago wish I had not parted with it couldn't find one when I returned to the hobby so ended up with the Chester as a "stop gap" but to be honest unless something comes along thats really good I will be keeping it. Only major problem compared to the centec is you can't use it as a chucking lathe
I think the thread has developed into a nice discussion keep it up guys
colin

[starspider]

There is a Centec 2A on the home workshop pages at the moment
colin

[Alan]

I just cant imagine milling on anything else but a milling machine.
I can only suggest the following.Purchase a bigger shed, Extend shed or convert kitchen into workshop and live off takeaways. Just dont sell the mill.

Alan