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What about Benchmasters ?
Feb 28th, 2018 at 2:14pm
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Want a home shop vertical mill, have a good drill press, floor space limited, and prefer American old. Is there any option other than a Benchmaster ?

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Re: What about Benchmasters ?
Reply #1 - Feb 28th, 2018 at 3:02pm
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Hardinge made a vertical/horizontal benchtop machine.
  
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Re: What about Benchmasters ?
Reply #2 - Feb 28th, 2018 at 6:02pm
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The older Bridgeport wasn't all that big. A 32" deck, and footprint of about 24" wide by 32" deep. An old Sharp is even a bit smaller.

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Re: What about Benchmasters ?
Reply #3 - Feb 28th, 2018 at 7:40pm
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In smaller  US made knee mills there was lots of them 2/3 the size of a Bridgeport Burke/Powermatic, these 2 are about 1/2 size clausing,Rockwell, in bench tops Burke. Barker The PM model is to small to put a head on but the AM model was bigger and they sold a head for it. most of the smaller machines are hard to find. heer is a good resource for looking in too all machines  (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) Ken
  
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Re: What about Benchmasters ?
Reply #4 - Mar 1st, 2018 at 9:03am
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kensmachine pretty well sums it up. The Benchmaster is a capable small machine, but lacks a downfeed on the quill, it and the Atlas horizontal milling machine command a premium price due to their small sizes.

The Rockwell/Delta and Clausing mills are floor model knee mills that have the advantage of being capable of east disassembly into components that can be moved by one person into a small or basement shop. These mills have a moveable quill and, if space is at a premium can replace the drill press. 

The Burke/Powermatic is larger and has a large one piece column/base that adds to the difficulty of moving.

The Rockwell machine uses R8 tooling while the Clausing, I believe uses MT tooling. The Burke can be had in either. R8 is the most common.

I had a Benchmaster for several years and was happy with it, but have upgraded to a Rockwell and it is a much more capable machine. I have a bench drill press in my shop, but probably use the mill for 90% of my drilling. It is invaluable for scope and sight mounting and I have half octagoned a couple of barrels with the Rockwell. None of which  I could have accomplished with the Benchmaster.
  
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Re: What about Benchmasters ?
Reply #5 - Mar 1st, 2018 at 11:45am
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As  machinist, the smallest mill that I would recommend is the Powermatic. As I remember, they have a 8 x 36" table but, I don't think the spindle speed is much below 500 rpm. All that I've seen have a R8 spindle. There is more tooling for a R8 than anything else. Other than that, the only thing that they lack, is that the head won't pivot down, to cut angles, only side to side and that limits angle work.

In my early days, I though about getting one as a second mill but, I save up my penney's and got a larger Lagun with 16 x 33 travel. I bought the Lagun new but, still do most of my work on my trusty Bridgeport!

If you can, at all get a Bridgeport in the area that you need, I would highly recommend it. There are millions of them and you can probably get a used one as cheap as any new small mill. But, they weight about 2000 lb.

For myself, anything smaller than a Powermatic, would just be to frustrating to use. Also, I believe the Powermatic will weigh about 1200 lb, not much more than your Logan lathe.

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Re: What about Benchmasters ?
Reply #6 - Mar 1st, 2018 at 4:54pm
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I agree with Frank. Get a Bridgeport you will not be disappointed. Just take your time shopping around, there are some good used one out there.

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Re: What about Benchmasters ?.
Reply #7 - Mar 3rd, 2018 at 9:18am
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Apologies my slow reply, had some pinched nerve surgery last week typing with left thumb.

Lots of good advise. Am passing on the Benchmaster, it’s 800 miles away & while totaly restored priced high at 1695. Space is tight but have been able to move some stuff out, my Son is expanding his shop and able to use a few things.  He’s going to take my Delta ex school shop jigsaw. Nice machine I never use it and the grandkids like it. Lots of little projects they can make.

That will make some floor space. Going to tape out a Bridgeport’s footprint with clearances , see if one will fit  Idea is keep a short list of candidates one pops up days drive in good shape, go have a look. 

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Re: What about Benchmasters ?
Reply #8 - Mar 3rd, 2018 at 2:48pm
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Bridgeport Ms are a little smaller and might be a good choice esp with a Vf drive that's easy to do.
  
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Re: What about Benchmasters ?
Reply #9 - Mar 3rd, 2018 at 4:01pm
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I've had a couple of Bridgeport "M" heads, while a little smaller, they use a #2 MT (morse taper) with a draw bar.  If you can stay with the "J" head, they run an R8 collet, like Frank said there's more R8's out there than you can shake a stick at.  I've made all kinds of #2 MT tooling,  and though I don't have a M head anymore, I have a cherrying head on the reverse of the J head ram that still uses it- when necessary, one can become very creative and get by.
  
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Re: What about Benchmasters ?
Reply #10 - Mar 3rd, 2018 at 8:02pm
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The only thing smaller on a M head bridgeport is the head with the limitations of tooling. Stick with a J head machine. that being said M heads work well on smaller Horizontal  mills like Clausings and Nickolds amd Hardinge tm ken
  
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