Looking to buy a Warco Mill

[dave trainParticipant @davetrain79096]

After something heavy duty to make car and motor bike parts. Not models

My budget is up to about £3500.

I could probably get a used Bridgeport but dont have the sapce.

So any reccomodations

Edited By dave train on 29/04/2023 11:43:41

[dave trainParticipant @davetrain79096]

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

What sapce do you have? I’m not aware of the space needed for a bridgeport but clearly, whatever it is, you have less than that.

[dave trainParticipant @davetrain79096]

A 6x6ft shed

[HOWARDTParticipant @howardt]

Head height is going to be the restricting factor as well as the floor flex. Any floor standing mill really requires a concrete floor unless you can make a rigid structure to spread the load, as the feet tend to be fairly close together. I have a Warco GH Universal and find it good for what I use it for but wouldn’t want to use it in my shed with wooden floor.

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

I would go for a Warco VMC turret mill, IF it will fit?

Tony

[dave trainParticipant @davetrain79096]

The WM18 is also an option

[Ramon WilsonParticipant @ramonwilson3]

Dave I am intending to put my Amadeal bench mounted mlll up for sale this year. It has had little use since purchase, is in fine condition and comes with a lot of kit.

It's buyer collect only (Suffolk) but if you are interested send me a PM and I'll forward full details.

Tug

[dave trainParticipant @davetrain79096]

Posted by Ramon Wilson on 29/04/2023 14:15:22:

Dave I am intending to put my Amadeal bench mounted mlll up for sale this year. It has had little use since purchase, is in fine condition and comes with a lot of kit.

It's buyer collect only (Suffolk) but if you are interested send me a PM and I'll forward full details.

Tug

Which model is it

[Ramon WilsonParticipant @ramonwilson3]

Current equivalent is VM32LV – R8 taper.

[BC ProfParticipant @bcprof]

Warco VMC is a good machine but check the work envelope meets your needs . It is not as big as you may think .

Brian

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

Have a look for an Axminster SX4 made by SIEG, second habd one might fit the bill…

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The "32" size, VMC and SX4 are probably as big as you are going to get in a 6ft square shed anyway, They are about 1000mm wide with the handles and by the time you have allowed for 250-300mm of movement to either side that won't really leave anything much at the ends. They are also 7-800 mm deep so by the time you have standing room that won't leave a great deal on the opposite side of the shed. The other thing to watch is head room, add at least 900mm for a comfy working height stand or bench to the overall height and then allow for removal of the drawbar if needed, the 32 and SX4 have the advantage here as the head can be lowered to do that unlike the VMC.. If it is a pitched roof shed then really want to go at an end so head is under highest part of the roof

So hopefully it's not too large car parts that you hope to be working on.

Does you budget include for tooling? could easily be 1000-1500 though some can be built up over time.

[WindyParticipant @windy30762]

I bought a few years ago a used Warco mill and lathe from a local private seller.

The round column mill had a few issues that I sorted a cracked motor mounting that I welded.

It was not in the best condition but it could take big milling cuts compared to the new Warco VMC that replaced the round column.

For most model making the VMC is fine but as I'm now into full size engines it has limitations an example was my project crankcases machined from a billet.

I had to take light cuts compared to the old round column mill.

 

Edited By Windy on 30/04/2023 08:17:04

Edited By Windy on 30/04/2023 08:25:50

[Ramon WilsonParticipant @ramonwilson3]

Posted by JasonB on 30/04/2023 07:04:50:

The "32" size, VMC and SX4 are probably as big as you are going to get in a 6ft square shed anyway, They are about 1000mm wide with the handles and by the time you have allowed for 250-300mm of movement to either side that won't really leave anything much at the ends. They are also 7-800 mm deep so by the time you have standing room that won't leave a great deal on the opposite side of the shed. The other thing to watch is head room, add at least 900mm for a comfy working height stand or bench to the overall height and then allow for removal of the drawbar if needed, the 32 and SX4 have the advantage here as the head can be lowered to do that unlike the VMC.. If it is a pitched roof shed then really want to go at an end so head is under highest part of the roof

So hopefully it's not too large car parts that you hope to be working on.

Does you budget include for tooling? could easily be 1000-1500 though some can be built up over time.

Jason makes good points about the space available particularly the head room, and certainly something to be considered from a working point of view

The mill I have for sale is little used and comes fully tooled and equipped with accessories including many cutters.

I will try to find time this week to take images and finally get it up for sale

Tug

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

In the hope that this 6’ x 6’ does not yet exist … May I suggest a big concrete slab

Do things in the right order:

1. prepare the slab
2. position the mill
3. build the shed around it

That is, of course, a very brief ‘project summary’ … the devil will be in the detail.

MichaelG.

[dave trainParticipant @davetrain79096]

Posted by Ramon Wilson on 29/04/2023 19:26:16:

Current equivalent is VM32LV – R8 taper.

Looks very similar to the Warco WM18

[dave trainParticipant @davetrain79096]

Posted by JasonB on 30/04/2023 07:04:50:

Does you budget include for tooling? could easily be 1000-1500 though some can be built up over time.

No

[dave trainParticipant @davetrain79096]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 30/04/2023 09:29:49:

In the hope that this 6’ x 6’ does not yet exist … May I suggest a big concrete slab

Do things in the right order:

1. prepare the slab
2. position the mill
3. build the shed around it

That is, of course, a very brief ‘project summary’ … the devil will be in the detail.

MichaelG.

Its on a concrete slab

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

If it has a supplied wooden flor sitting on the slab you will probably find that a bit weak and what "joists" there are quite widely spread. No so bad if it is just walls and roof.

Michael makes a good point as lifting these things onto a bench or stand usually needs an engine crane or similar so you need room to move one of them about unless it is easy to take a side wall out.

Edited By JasonB on 30/04/2023 10:03:07

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Looking back I see you already have a WM18 so these other mills being suggested don't really offer any more capacity to what you already have? Could be time for a bigger shed or smaller cars.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by dave train on 30/04/2023 09:57:04:

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 30/04/2023 09:29:49:

In the hope that this 6’ x 6’ does not yet exist … May I suggest a big concrete slab

Do things in the right order:

1. prepare the slab
2. position the mill
3. build the shed around it

That is, of course, a very brief ‘project summary’ … the devil will be in the detail.

MichaelG.

Its on a concrete slab

.

So … take note of Jason’s comment, and proceed accordingly.

MichaelG.

[dave trainParticipant @davetrain79096]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 30/04/2023 10:08:16:

Posted by dave train on 30/04/2023 09:57:04:

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 30/04/2023 09:29:49:

In the hope that this 6’ x 6’ does not yet exist … May I suggest a big concrete slab

Do things in the right order:

1. prepare the slab
2. position the mill
3. build the shed around it

That is, of course, a very brief ‘project summary’ … the devil will be in the detail.

MichaelG.

Its on a concrete slab

.

So … take note of Jason’s comment, and proceed accordingly.

MichaelG.

Yes, I will need to

Edited By dave train on 30/04/2023 10:40:00

[dave trainParticipant @davetrain79096]

Posted by JasonB on 30/04/2023 10:07:49:

Looking back I see you already have a WM18 so these other mills being suggested don't really offer any more capacity to what you already have? Could be time for a bigger shed or smaller cars.

Long story but I had to sell the WM18 due to financial circumstances.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

I have a WM18 because it's the biggest I could get into my workshop. Although it does all I need of it, it's not the best of all possible machines. For example, I'm 6' tall, which means the table is a little low (backache). If I lifted it, I'd have a longer stretch to reach the Z hand-wheel (tippy toes). Ergonomically, the WM18 is about as big as this style of mill will go. Others fit power assist, and it's a good idea.

It does fit in the space though! Headroom a small problem – it's 350mm less than my 2.3m ceiling, so I had to be a little careful about lights and the up and over door. With the head fully down, there's space for an engine crane to lift it on to the stand. Otherwise, I'd have needed more manpower! Once installed, side movement of the table is an issue: full travel including the hand wheels is 1.7m. Although unlikely to be moved full travel, the machine would take up a fair whack of 6' x 6' shed space, not leaving much room for anything else, like a bench! Do-able, but a bigger mill would be more challenging, and perhaps impracticable.

I'd really like a bigger mill too, but it's not going to happen.

Dave

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