cautery Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 OK... I have the ready funds to get EITHER a new 2011 Open pistol OR a Smithy Granite 1324/1340(I) Mill/Drill/Lathe. I WANT both... (of course). The Open pistol... what can I say. I REALLY want one... Already have the holster/mag setup and reloading stuff for it. The Machine: Besides having wanted one for years, I might actually make some money with it. Or AT LEAST save all the money I have been giving to machine shops to do my prototyping. I have several projects that I could move along right now, if I had the machine and a few tools. Can't do both... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Sweeney Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 Mill first. With a mill you can make an Open gun. The only way you can get a mill with an Open gun....well, let's not go there. Besides, with a mill of your own, you'll mkae friends you never knew you had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRT Driver Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 X2 - Mill first. the mill can pay for itself... an open gun..usually doesn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 Mill. (though...EVERYBODY says not to get the smithy combo unit?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cautery Posted October 11, 2005 Author Share Posted October 11, 2005 Why not the Smithy Kyle? This isn't the "Midas", but the Granite version... Maybe I should go search... Obviously, I would prefer to get separate machines, from bridgeport et al. but that simply isn't possible... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry White Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 My open guns probaly paid for a couple of mills, for other people.-----Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 Might be fine. I sure don't know much about it. I know that I've read, on other forums, that people often would rather skip the combo smithy. Worth a search on some forums maybe? http://www.homegunsmith.com/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTOSHootr Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 (edited) I just went to an sale at a business downsizing. They were practically giving away the Bridgeports to whoever would move them out. Some were better than others but there were still some well maintained machines. I picked up two Clausing lathes with tons of tooling, rests, etc for $500 each. Look around for auctions and forclosures. Everyone is going CNC (or replacing their older CNC) or sending work overseas so you should be able to find some good deals. Steve Edited October 11, 2005 by GTOSHootr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cautery Posted October 11, 2005 Author Share Posted October 11, 2005 Wow... Great forum Kyle... Thanks... Yeah, they almost ALL say skip the combos, and I agree from a setup standpoint. Sure gets a lot more expensive when you go dedicated though. I've posted on that forum to try and get some help picking machines. I guess this thread is pretty much done... The machines need to come first. I DO after al need to be able to make some supplementary money to support my shooting habit(s). Should have bought the CNC Mill I found in Hanford before I left... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putty Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 Open Gun.........the mill will sit and mock you whilst the open gun will smile upon thou grand judgement and good fortune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cautery Posted October 12, 2005 Author Share Posted October 12, 2005 Sandoz - Where were you when I needed the push to buy the pistol first.... BEFORE these guys talked me into the "sensible" thing in getting the machines first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icchan Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 Sandoz - Where were you when I needed the push to buy the pistol first.... BEFORE these guys talked me into the "sensible" thing in getting the machines first. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You know, as long as you can haul it away, go look at Government Liquidations for some deals. Everything, and I mean everything, tarts at a minimum of $35, and I saw a $69,000 Cincinnati mill go for $70 - perfect condition, and everything. Happy searching! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhunter Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 Let the mill pay for the gun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cautery Posted October 12, 2005 Author Share Posted October 12, 2005 Icchan - Nice site... I'll have to keep an eye out there. No mills that I'd want right now (as I need one that I don't have to rebuild), but awesome site... zhunter - yeah... I don't like it, but the ONLY sensible thing is to get the machines first... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 Get the gun! The mill will cost you a ton more in accesories and tooling and raw material and time and ... Way more than a new Open rig, mags and ammo.. I got a mini CNC a little while ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cautery Posted October 12, 2005 Author Share Posted October 12, 2005 Heh... what I wouldn't do for a fully functional CNC mill right now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 Better off getting a used Bridgeport, J heads can be had for under $1000. Same thing with lathes. Combo tools are just compromises. Another way to look at it, buy the mill and use the mill to build the open gun. Mori-Seiki has a nice 12 axis turning center. I wouldn't mind having one of their 5 axis milling centers. I found out they don't offer employee discounts when I interviewed at their design center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cautery Posted October 13, 2005 Author Share Posted October 13, 2005 Scooter - A Bridgeport WOULD be the way to go, but I don't want to have to spend a lot of time reworking/rebuilding one once I have it. I want to be able to use it right away... Maybe I should go talk to the local Lockheed machine outfit here... Maybe they could clue me in on a BP locally that would be up and running... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Orr Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 Buy a mill and then you can carve up all of your friend's Open guns...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Gaines Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 get the gun and some bullets, then get your mill. hehe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blkbrd Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 You will find in the North East mills and laiths can be found easily as small machine shops have taken quite a hit and many older machinists and tool/die makers are selling things off. The rest of the country is hit and miss. Not a fan of the combo machines although they can be made to work for some jobs as a hobby. If you keep your eyes peeled you may find one at an auction or from something like the Lockheed boneyard if its anything like boeing surplus in Seattle. Buy the open gun from a specialist and enjoy it. Save up a cash reserve and go to auctions to find a kneemill and laith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 Either look for a machine shop going under or some times you can find tool shops that sell used ones. The fullsize mills from Taiwan like Jet are pretty good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamar Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 I just sold two J head Bridgeports with tooling for $500. I would not buy a combo unit such as the Smithy. You will outgrow it's usefullness and find it's limitations a bother. Buy the open gun and have fun instead of sitting in your basement cursing at a machine that wont leave a nice finish........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cautery Posted October 13, 2005 Author Share Posted October 13, 2005 No basements here... But I get your point. The combo machine is definitely out. I'll be going dedicated mill and lathe. Sure wish I would have known you had those BP mills... That's been worth the trip to MA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamar Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 Good to hear you wont be going the combo route. We sold off the Bridgeports and bought a brandy new Prototrak DPM3. I wish you luck with whatever you do purchase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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