milling machine questions

[buzzinduzzin]

looking at used milling machines. One brand is Tree the other is Index. anything I need to know? suggestions? thank you!
 

[rufus80]

The Tree mills are good. The only problem is they use there own collet system, not the common R-8 like Bridgeport.
 

[Spook]

My dad had a Index. Good machine, a US made copy of the Bridgeport.
 

[Bret4207]

Index is top of the line.
 

[Hogleg]

If this is a hobby machine, stick with common collets. You can buy good used ones on ebay and some good imports from Enco for a reasonable price. R8 seems to be the most common... Even my cheepo Harbor Freight mini-mill uses them.

John
 

[Jim in MN]

Second on the collets. Some of the Tree machines used a ZZ style collets. They are around but not as easy to find as a R8's. I would also check for parts availability with whatever you look at. I've seen a lot of machines go to scrap because they needed parts that are no longer available.
 

[MF294-4]

Looking for a mill also. Been searching for a few months. Bridgeports are the sought after stantard but there are better ones out there. I've run across a Hartford which they say is a Bridgeport clone down to parts that are interchangeable. I've been told that a Wells-Index is a very good mill and they are still in business. I've looked at Enco's. They tell me that the condition and acc is more inportant than brand. I've found some nice ones on ebsy and Craigs list but getting it here would cost more than the mill. Look on Hobby-Machinist.com They have a lot of good info.
 

[Pops1532]

I bought a Tree. I haven't used it yet. They use a quick change collet that if not installed properly will spit the tooling out. Guys that were used to R8 collets didn't want to learn how to use the quick change collets so Trees often sat unused and can be bought at bargain prices.
Watch for industrial auctions. Mills are pretty common at that type of sale and often sell in the $900-$2000 range.
Also give the local scrap yards your number and ask them to call if a mill comes in. Someone tipped me off to a mill in a scrap yard. That particular yard contracted with industry to haul their scrap. They were knowledgeable enough to handle the mill carefully and store it inside. They even had the manual for it. I paid $420 for it last spring. It has a power feed and came with a set of collets.
 

[Bradracer18]

Clausing is also a good mill brand. We run a bridgeport, Clausing, and a Willis. The Clausing seems to be the best of the 3.

Lots of good options if you are going to use it everyday...being, a good vise (Kurt), Power drawbar(Kurt), power feed (x and y), Accurite CNC....etc etc