Thread: 45 mill-drill z axis

Nice one Mike. I have the same issue with my 45. Sometimes I turn the wheel and have no idea if it has moved, even though it has a cheap DRO on the quill. An indicator mounted like you have would be much better.

Not too sure about reading an indicator, I find reading a DRO far easier.

Agree that attaching it to the quill collar is a good move, I did the same with the Z DRO, see here

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/ad...1/#post1640654

As for pride in workmanship, I guess I wouldn't have much of that if I was paid $10 a day either.

Hi

I don't have any luck with DRO's ... they seem to be sensitive to dampness or moisture intrusion , I had a couple of the cheap digital verniers die after 12 months . Maybe the better quality DRO's would be worth it, but they cost quite a bit more

The mechanical dials do have advantages - there isn't that much that goes wrong with them , and if you look after them they will last for years

The 45 mill drill does have its quirks, like any other machine does . I just wish they had spent some more time on the finish . They have painted over the grunge and bogged up the outside of the castings ........ you would think it would be worth their time to get the casting process neater

Mike

It must be the colour of the mill. Looks awful as well as terrible quill feed. I was using mine again today and had no problems with the quill movement at all. I was using the graduations to cut to a set depth. Was making a boring bar for the mill in 3/4 stainless, with adjustable cutting diam. I need to cut 25mm holes in 50mm rhs to press in bushes. The cream paint colour of my mill is much more restful!

Those people who lack pride did not expect you to pull the mill apart Mike.

Dean

Originally Posted by Big Shed

As for pride in workmanship, I guess I wouldn't have much of that if I was paid $10 a day either.

Yes that's true. Makes you wonder how much the Australian importers pay for these Asian built machines , the mark up must be in the order of 100% or more for the retail price we mugs finally have to pay .

Mike

Originally Posted by morrisman

Yes that's true. Makes you wonder how much the Australian importers pay for these Asian built machines , the mark up must be in the order of 100% or more for the retail price we mugs finally have to pay .

Mike

I think they cost in the order of $600-$800. Doesn't include extra for freight costs/import etc costs but for a single unit purchase price in China that is a rough figure. Better prices for bulk.

Actually pretty incredible they can make them for that price.

The subject of quality, quill feed and 45 size mills has been raised numerous times. I share your frustration at the quality (lack of) but I have come to thinking that if these type of mills were not on the market then I for one would not be able to afford such a hobby. While they certainly do have their quirks and sure I too would have been happy to pay a few hundy more for a better finished machine, at the end of it all, it does not take long to learn to work around most of their short comings and still produce good quality projects. The slop in my quill feed was so bad that the feed dial was next to useless. Installing a basic vertical DRO attached to the quill collar, and keeping a small amount of tension on the quill lock fixed all my problems.

The DRO on the quill feed was the single best mod I have made. I so badly want a DRO for X and Y but I really can't afford or justify a wiz bang one so I think I will do the same as Big Shed. It's an excellent example of a great compromise and a sensible approach.

Simon