mini mill
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I think a mini mill would be a very useful tool for inletting work. I use to have a full size mill that I use to do some precision mortising with.They are a very handy tool to have around the shop!
One can never have to many tools!!!! :v
One can never have to many tools!!!! :v
I have an older Jet mill drill that I sometimes use for stock inletting and it works very well for some kinds of stock work, though definitely not every branch of it. The one thing to consider is the amount of travel that you have at your disposal. If by mini mill you are speaking of the very small bench top units than they are too small for much stockwork unless you are considering pistol work. These mills do work very well for other forms of machine work on smaller parts however. I would consider one of the mid size mill drills by Jet, Grizzley, Enco long before I would think of these for that task. However, keep in mind that you rarely get more than 19" of travel with any of these.
BlackNet
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well for the barrel channel, the lock itself, the sideplate I can see any mill, even the mini's working out. The problem will be drilling the ramrod hole and the butplate for rifles. However I never considered the midsized mill.
the ramrod pipe wouldn't that best be done with a hand drill?
Ed
the ramrod pipe wouldn't that best be done with a hand drill?
Ed
Yes you can cut dovetails with a mini-mill. I have a mill from grizzly. And love it. Its the one the say is for wood and metal.[url] http://www.grizzly.com/products/G9977[/url]
Though the speed is a bit fast for the big end mills in metal. I havent built much on it yet mostly sights. I do plan on useing it to inlay when i get to it.
Though the speed is a bit fast for the big end mills in metal. I havent built much on it yet mostly sights. I do plan on useing it to inlay when i get to it.
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Mike Brooks
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Fine and dandy fellas, but I'll bet I can inlet 4 locks by hand befor you can get one done with that machine. :winking:
flashpanner
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Sounds like a bet is on! Let's all place our bets on the trading blanket! I'll put up my powder horn. :grin:
I'm sure you could inlet a lock and sideplate with a mini-mill. Just as long as "inlet" is defined as a mortice the part falls into.
Without a tracer attachment on the mill I don't see how you could possible inlet a lockplate or sideplate with any kind of precision. I know from experience trying to turn two handles at once to define a radius is for the birds. Especially on a one try deal like curly maple.
I'd like to have one of these mills but I think I'l limit it to dovetails and maybe sight making.
Without a tracer attachment on the mill I don't see how you could possible inlet a lockplate or sideplate with any kind of precision. I know from experience trying to turn two handles at once to define a radius is for the birds. Especially on a one try deal like curly maple.
I'd like to have one of these mills but I think I'l limit it to dovetails and maybe sight making.
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Mike,
I don't think you're gettin through. No matter who finishes first, theirs will still look like it was inlet with a machine. :nono:
I've also heard of guys thinking they could inlet with a Dremel too. Lot's of nice wood ruined that way. :rotf:
I don't think you're gettin through. No matter who finishes first, theirs will still look like it was inlet with a machine. :nono:
I've also heard of guys thinking they could inlet with a Dremel too. Lot's of nice wood ruined that way. :rotf:
Mike Brooks
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OH, it doesn't really matter, most folks don't realize how fast you can get things like this done by hand when you do it every day. :winking:Smallpatch said:
Funny thing is that I hand inlet my barrels. I figure by the time I start to figure out setting up a router I can have the majority of wood already removed. I fear owning a mill I would be in the same boat as far as wood work goes. :v
I'm kind of wondering what the definitions of a mini mill are on this board. I view mini mills as the small benchtop machines made for making model parts with a slide travel of less than 12". The one link I saw for a Grizzley machine is a knee mill and certainly not what I would place in this category.
As far as the inletting goes I don't mind using one of these machines to inlet a straight octagon barrel, though that is about the limit of what I would consider it good for, other than perhaps drilling holes and cutting a rough mortise for the barrel tang and triggers. Fine inletting is still best done by hand, though I will admit using the dremel tool in a router attachment for some aspects of lock inletting, though again for the plate I would never inlet that with a machine such as this. A stock duplicator is another matter entirely, though I doubt I'll ever have the cash to buy one good enough to trust to work of that nature.
One thought that is often mentioned concerning power tools is the realty that most early smiths had apprentices that they used for some of the more tedious tasks of the project, I tend to think of the power tools available today as a suitable replacement for the apprentice. Plus, I bet if some of these tools had been available to the same early smiths they would not only have used them, but they would have liked them.
As far as the inletting goes I don't mind using one of these machines to inlet a straight octagon barrel, though that is about the limit of what I would consider it good for, other than perhaps drilling holes and cutting a rough mortise for the barrel tang and triggers. Fine inletting is still best done by hand, though I will admit using the dremel tool in a router attachment for some aspects of lock inletting, though again for the plate I would never inlet that with a machine such as this. A stock duplicator is another matter entirely, though I doubt I'll ever have the cash to buy one good enough to trust to work of that nature.
One thought that is often mentioned concerning power tools is the realty that most early smiths had apprentices that they used for some of the more tedious tasks of the project, I tend to think of the power tools available today as a suitable replacement for the apprentice. Plus, I bet if some of these tools had been available to the same early smiths they would not only have used them, but they would have liked them.
BlackNet
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mini mill, being that small drill press/mill in one unit around $500 range.
Setup on units like this is nothing. pop in a drill bit and clamp the object to the vise. Am guessing maybe 1-2 drill bits total for a lock inlet.
Dont want to stir up another power tool vs hand tool debate as I find they are rarely productive. I also make knives and looking at the mini mill to fabricate small parts. Figured I could do some inletting as well.
I have been practicing with some scrap wood and am now down to 2 gaps on the lock base plate. That's 2 small gaps thats just slightly bigger than they should be. I also want to make another pistol and will more than likely have to carve the stock. It's a double barrel pistol with 2 flintlocks and a double trigger so precision is going to be a must.
Ed
Setup on units like this is nothing. pop in a drill bit and clamp the object to the vise. Am guessing maybe 1-2 drill bits total for a lock inlet.
Dont want to stir up another power tool vs hand tool debate as I find they are rarely productive. I also make knives and looking at the mini mill to fabricate small parts. Figured I could do some inletting as well.
I have been practicing with some scrap wood and am now down to 2 gaps on the lock base plate. That's 2 small gaps thats just slightly bigger than they should be. I also want to make another pistol and will more than likely have to carve the stock. It's a double barrel pistol with 2 flintlocks and a double trigger so precision is going to be a must.
Ed
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