Todd:

Either one will drill and bore holes. Which one is better? I don't
know. You might assume that paying more for one would get you some
improvements somewhere, however either one will drill and bore holes
quite well. You may notice that Grizzly sells a model, G3358, which is
virtually identical to the WT 3006-005 for $126 more than the WT
version. This mill (or one which also looks also exactly the same) is
also sold by Harbour Freight (and for that matter by Enco) as the
33686 for as low as $799. I took the low road with the HF and spent
difference on a power feed and a DRO.

If you do have problems or questions after you buy one, Grizzly
certainly provides better support than HF (especially phone support
questions). I don't have experience with WT to compare.

--- In mill_drill@yahoogroups.com, "Todd Wright" <mcleancopuller@y...>
wrote:
> I'm looking at purchasing a mill/drill for my home shop and have
> narrowed my choices down to two models and need some help from some of
> you that have more hands on with the two models.
>
> The two models I'm considering are the:
> Grizzly G1006 and the Wholesale Tool 3006-0005
>
> From what I have been able to find out is that the Grizzly is made by
> Rong Fu while the WT is a mainland chinese knock off.  The Grizzly has
> a larger table (9.5" x 32") vs the WT (8.25" x 28.75"). Other than
> that, I can't tell much difference. From what I've been able to learn
> from others is that the Grizzly is probably a better made machine;
> but, is it worth the extra $350? I will be using the machine for
> mainly drilling and boring with some machining of aluminum. Nothing
> particularly difficult or requiring exceptional accuracy.  Any help
> would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Todd

It's nearly a week after the close of the First Anual CNC-Workshop
and things here at my shop are still not back to normal - Real soon
now, however -

We even got a front page color spread in the local newspaper - Must
have been a slow news-day to write about a gathering of 175 "CNC-
Nerds" -

I want to thank all of the folks who attended and all of the
commercial vendors who came to display their products and answer
questions - It was a real effort, particularly due to the
unseasonably high temperatures -

Also a great big thanks to those who donated products and software
for the raffle, held to help to defray expenses - I never realized
how expensive tents, tables and chairs could be on a temporary basis -

As has been mentioned, the EMC group worked like dogs to get the
MAZAK running but didn't quite complete the project - Ray Henry will
have to get a bigger whip - Seriously though, these guys are
knowledgable and dedicated and deserve a lot of credit - Ray tells me
that some of the EMC crew are planning to return in a couple of
months to complete the project - I'll keep you posted -

Everyone seemed to have a good time and there will definitely be
another CNC-Workshop next year, probably about the second week of
May, I'll post the dates as soon as a decision has been made -

In the next couple of weeks the web page for the CNC-Workshop will be
updated with lots of information, photos, etc., about the "doings" -
Right now I have to catch up on several projects for CNC customers
that were put on hold during the Workshop -

One suggestion that was made was the idea of holding a smaller, more
specialized CNC-Workshop at other times during the year whose purpose
would be to do a "Group Retrofit" of a particular machine - The
benchtop mill that we retrofitted during the Workshop was a Grizzly
G1006 - If 10 to 15 people were interested in such a project, we
would make a group purchase of mills, ball screws, etc., and could
retrofit all of the machines during a week-long "CNC-Workshop-G1006" -
  Other Workshops could be held for other machines or even to build a
batch of CNC Controllers as a group effort -

If anyone has an interest in such a project, send me an E-Mail to
Info@... -

Again, my thanks to everyone for an enjoyable, educational, (and
tiring) week of intense CNC "stuff" -

Roland Friestad

Greetings,
I'm in the process of converting a RF 45 to CNC. This is my second cnc
conversion - first on this style of machine and I was wondering if
anyone knows of a good source for ball screws cut to length with
standard end machining.  I've machined ball screws for an early 80's RF
31 "Packard" knock off conversion I completed awhile back and would
rather not repeat the process; considering my lathe leaves much to be
desired this was very tedious and time consuming.  Industrial Hobbies
estore has some nice RBS stuff fairly resonably priced for "premium"
grade, but no end machining.
Thanks

Contact Industrial Hobbies.  I think Aaron may offer end maching services if you
ask.

Thomas

>
> From: "jpf3079" <jpf3079@...>
> Date: 2005/07/01 Fri AM 10:50:46 EDT
> To: mill_drill@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [mill_drill] RF 45 CNC conversion
>
> Greetings,
> I'm in the process of converting a RF 45 to CNC. This is my second cnc
> conversion - first on this style of machine and I was wondering if
> anyone knows of a good source for ball screws cut to length with
> standard end machining.  I've machined ball screws for an early 80's RF
> 31 "Packard" knock off conversion I completed awhile back and would
> rather not repeat the process; considering my lathe leaves much to be
> desired this was very tedious and time consuming.  Industrial Hobbies
> estore has some nice RBS stuff fairly resonably priced for "premium"
> grade, but no end machining.
> Thanks
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Call Rockford Ballscrew - they will do end machining to your prints for
$65/end, and for small orders, you can get 'precision' grade for the
same price as 'regular'.

--C.S.

>> From: "jpf3079" <jpf3079@...>
>> Date: 2005/07/01 Fri AM 10:50:46 EDT
>> To: mill_drill@yahoogroups.com
>> Subject: [mill_drill] RF 45 CNC conversion
>>
>> Greetings,
>> I'm in the process of converting a RF 45 to CNC. This is my second cnc
>> conversion - first on this style of machine and I was wondering if
>> anyone knows of a good source for ball screws cut to length with
>> standard end machining.  I've machined ball screws for an early 80's RF
>> 31 "Packard" knock off conversion I completed awhile back and would
>> rather not repeat the process; considering my lathe leaves much to be
>> desired this was very tedious and time consuming.  Industrial Hobbies
>> estore has some nice RBS stuff fairly resonably priced for "premium"
>> grade, but no end machining.
>> Thanks

--- In mill_drill@yahoogroups.com, "paul_ssm" <Paul_ssm@h...> wrote:
> Rf clone with Align Power Feed, manual hand feed is hard this is
> normal. The gearing in the power feed causes th resistance.
>
> Paul
thnaks paul

I know I saw it on one of my  forums, but for the life of me now, I can't
find it with any searches.

Does anyone know a supplier of VFD's and motors in NY?


Bernie

My 33686 z-AXIS WITH power feed (when in Nutral) is very smooth you can barely
tell a difference. Alignment and back lash is critical.
Adam



mill_drill@yahoogroups.com wrote:

>There is 1 message in this issue.
>
>Topics in this digest:
>
>      1. Re: Re Power Feed
>           From: "John" <plasmabizkit@...>
>
>
>________________________________________________________________________
>________________________________________________________________________
>
>Message: 1
>   Date: Sat, 02 Jul 2005 21:45:16 -0000
>   From: "John" <plasmabizkit@...>
>Subject: Re: Re Power Feed
>
>--- In mill_drill@yahoogroups.com, "paul_ssm" <Paul_ssm@h...> wrote:
>> Rf clone with Align Power Feed, manual hand feed is hard this is
>> normal. The gearing in the power feed causes th resistance.
>>
>> Paul
>thnaks paul
>
>
>
>
>________________________________________________________________________
>________________________________________________________________________
>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>

__________________________________________________________________
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As low as $9.95 a month -- Sign up today at http://isp.netscape.com/register

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----- Original Message -----

From: fnfal5064@...

To: mill_drill@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2005 11:51 AM

Subject: RE: [mill_drill] Digest Number 1446

My 33686 z-AXIS WITH power feed (when in Nutral) is very smooth you can barely tell a difference. Alignment and back lash is critical.
Adam



mill_drill@yahoogroups.com wrote:

>There is 1 message in this issue.
>
>Topics in this digest:
>
>      1. Re: Re Power Feed
>           From: "John" <plasmabizkit@...>
>
>
>________________________________________________________________________
>________________________________________________________________________
>
>Message: 1        
>   Date: Sat, 02 Jul 2005 21:45:16 -0000
>   From: "John" <plasmabizkit@...>
>Subject: Re: Re Power Feed
>
>--- In mill_drill@yahoogroups.com, "paul_ssm" <Paul_ssm@h...> wrote:
>> Rf clone with Align Power Feed, manual hand feed is hard this is
>> normal. The gearing in the power feed causes th resistance.
>>
>> Paul
>thnaks paul
>
>
>
>
>________________________________________________________________________
>________________________________________________________________________
>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>

__________________________________________________________________
Switch to Netscape Internet Service.
As low as $9.95 a month -- Sign up today at http://isp.netscape.com/register

Netscape. Just the Net You Need.

New! Netscape Toolbar for Internet Explorer
Search from anywhere on the Web and block those annoying pop-ups.
Download now at http://channels.netscape.com/ns/search/install.jsp

Hi All;  I'm new to the group and i just purchased a Harbor Freight
42976 Mill/Drill and I would like to know if you can put a micrometer
feed on the column for fine adjustment of the head. I tried to open a
file about it in the file section of one of the groups but it must be
broken. Thanks in advance for any and all responses. Ron

Was it SurplusJohn?  Try under the classifieds at
www.practicalmachinist.com  He regularly advertises; right now he has
some scratch&dent VFDs on sale.  Hope that helps.  -  Distracted


--- In mill_drill@yahoogroups.com, bdmail <bdmail@o...> wrote:
> I know I saw it on one of my  forums, but for the life of me now, I
can't
> find it with any searches.
>
> Does anyone know a supplier of VFD's and motors in NY?
>
>
> Bernie

http://www.dealerselectric.com/

They are in Hillside, New Jersey - close.  This is the place most guys
go for the VFD/motor combo

JerryK

Sure it can be done.  You may have to fabricate you own mounts though.  You
can find them on Ebay all the time.

----Original Message Follows----
From: "f111d2000" <rcflyer46@...>
Reply-To: mill_drill@yahoogroups.com
To: mill_drill@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [mill_drill] Micrometer feed
Date: Sun, 03 Jul 2005 22:34:27 -0000

Hi All;  I'm new to the group and i just purchased a Harbor Freight
42976 Mill/Drill and I would like to know if you can put a micrometer
feed on the column for fine adjustment of the head. I tried to open a
file about it in the file section of one of the groups but it must be
broken. Thanks in advance for any and all responses. Ron

--- In mill_drill@yahoogroups.com, "f111d2000" <rcflyer46@p...> wrote:
> Hi All;  I'm new to the group and i just purchased a Harbor Freight
> 42976 Mill/Drill and I would like to know if you can put a micrometer
> feed on the column for fine adjustment of the head.

Hi Ron,

I'm assuming you're asking how to add a fine down feed on the HF 12-
speed "Big Red" Drill/Mill?

Basically, you're going to need to mount a 160:1 worm gear around the
downfeed shaft.  There's a Yahoo group for the HF 42976, and there's
an excellent write-up of the fine downfeed mod with lots of pictures
in this folder:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drillmill/files/Misc.%20Mods/

There's a guy on Ebay selling the worm gears: look at item 7512665892.

Hope that helps,

Robert

Thank you Robert George, that is exactly what I was looking for. Now
if the moderator of the group will speed my approval to join, I will
be able to read up on it. I know I'm impatient but I work out of town
and only get home on weekends, so it doesnt leave much time to play
with my new toys. I also have a new Cummins 7x12 lathe.

Thanks again,Ron

I have a RF31 mill/drill, with a 6" vice. I have noticed that the vice
is approx .006, in 3",  from being parallel. I am milling the T bolt
for my quick change tool holder to fit my lathe. This appears to be
almost perfrct or it tends to bind the compound rest when tightened.
Any suggestions are appreciated.

I just acquired a Grizzly G-1006 and would like to put a power feed on the
table.  I've looked in the Grizzly catalog and web site for the power feed
that goes on this unit to make it the "1007" unit but have not found
it.  Anyone know its part number or if its available separately?  If not,
what other options are there?

Thanks,

Rick

Harbor Freight #39745

cheers,
c

On 7/4/05, Rick Kruger <krugerr@...> wrote:
> I just acquired a Grizzly G-1006 and would like to put a power feed on the
> table.  I've looked in the Grizzly catalog and web site for the power feed
> that goes on this unit to make it the "1007" unit but have not found
> it.  Anyone know its part number or if its available separately?  If not,
> what other options are there?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Rick
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

6" is very very small in terms of working space.  I have a 10" and
it's a nice size for the MD, buy is a royal PITA to move on and off
the table.

So, I guess that means that between the 6 & the 8, I vote for the 8".

cheers,
c

On 6/30/05, John <plasmabizkit@...> wrote:
> do you guys think your better of with 6" or a 8" with a enco 40
>
>

Looks like a nice unit and it appears it would mount without protruding
above the table top surface.  Is this true?  Generally, what is required to
mount it?  It appears to be a right side mount.  Does it allow for the
crank wheel to also be mounted?

Thanks,

Rick


At 03:30 PM 7/4/2005, you wrote:
>Harbor Freight #39745
>
>cheers,
>c
>
>On 7/4/05, Rick Kruger <krugerr@...> wrote:
> > I just acquired a Grizzly G-1006 and would like to put a power feed on the
> > table.  I've looked in the Grizzly catalog and web site for the power feed
> > that goes on this unit to make it the "1007" unit but have not found
> > it.  Anyone know its part number or if its available separately?  If not,
> > what other options are there?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Rick
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

Nice work, Randy.



Doug Pfaff

--- Randy <Rswart1@...> wrote:

> Finally finished my complete set of turning tools.
> Plus one for profiling .. ( which was truly the
> toughest to make )
>
<http://community.webshots.com/photo/216430675/384920989idEtZr#>
> hope the link works ok .. LOL ..
>
> Randy
>
>
> " The difference between Genuis and Stupidity is
> that Genius has its limits"

----- Original Message -----

From: Doug Pfaff

To: mill_drill@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2005 5:42 PM

Subject: Re: [mill_drill] Lathe set Done

Nice work, Randy.



Doug Pfaff

--- Randy <Rswart1@...> wrote:

> Finally finished my complete set of turning tools.
> Plus one for profiling .. ( which was truly the
> toughest to make )
>
<http://community.webshots.com/photo/216430675/384920989idEtZr#>
> hope the link works ok .. LOL ..
>
> Randy
>
>
> " The difference between Genuis and Stupidity is
> that Genius has its limits"

Hi all

just put a RF 45 on ebay if anyone's interested no reserve.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7528991876
thanks

Consider what types of projects you will do in the future.  I've got
an 8", I ordered a 6" and they sent the wrong one, I just kept it.
Anyway, I really hate lifting that thing ~80 lbs onto and off from my
table.  Too big can be just as limiting as too small.

Dave

--- In mill_drill@yahoogroups.com, "John" <plasmabizkit@y...> wrote:
> do you guys think your better of with 6" or a 8" with a enco 40

I also have an 8" rotary table. I bought the 8" w/indexing from
Harbor Freight. I haven't used it a lot, but it seems to work fine. I
bought this one because it has indexing and I can mount a 6" chuck to
an 8" plate and bolt it to the table. It is heavy, and I'm thinking
about getting a 6" w/indexing also, to mount my 4" chuck that's
mounted to a 6" plate. But until then, the 8" will handle both.

Cheers, Mark


--- In mill_drill@yahoogroups.com, "David Christianson"
<dpc_home@s...> wrote:
> Consider what types of projects you will do in the future.  I've got
> an 8", I ordered a 6" and they sent the wrong one, I just kept it.
> Anyway, I really hate lifting that thing ~80 lbs onto and off from
my
> table.  Too big can be just as limiting as too small.
>
> Dave
>
> --- In mill_drill@yahoogroups.com, "John" <plasmabizkit@y...> wrote:
> > do you guys think your better of with 6" or a 8" with a enco 40

A friend gave me an 8" Craftsman/Palmgren 8" XY table. I think the table itself
is just the right size, but would not recommend an XY table for any serious
milling. An XY table is perfect for a drill press application where you don't
have a proper mill table, but redundant on a mill-drill. While suitable for
drilling, the X slide and Y slide just add too much slop for chatter-free
milling. I removed one of the axes (fortunately the dovetails are the same on
both axes), cinched down the gib, and haven't messed with the remaining
too-tight cross-slide. The table produces acceptable radius mill cuts (slight
surface irregularities).

If I were buying, I wouldn't get one of these, but the price sure was right for
me. And as I said, the 8" table is a very good size for my RF-30. I've got a
plate to hold a 3" chuck on there right now. I made the backing plate out of a
barbell weight, which I heartily recommend as a great cheap source for all your
cast iron backing plate needs.

--William A.

gmiller243 wrote:
> I also have an 8" rotary table. I bought the 8" w/indexing from
> Harbor Freight. I haven't used it a lot, but it seems to work fine. I
> bought this one because it has indexing and I can mount a 6" chuck to
> an 8" plate and bolt it to the table. It is heavy, and I'm thinking
> about getting a 6" w/indexing also, to mount my 4" chuck that's
> mounted to a 6" plate. But until then, the 8" will handle both.
>
> Cheers, Mark
>
>
> --- In mill_drill@yahoogroups.com, "David Christianson"
> <dpc_home@s...> wrote:
>
>>Consider what types of projects you will do in the future.  I've got
>>an 8", I ordered a 6" and they sent the wrong one, I just kept it.
>>Anyway, I really hate lifting that thing ~80 lbs onto and off from
>
> my
>
>>table.  Too big can be just as limiting as too small.
>>
>>Dave
>>
>>--- In mill_drill@yahoogroups.com, "John" <plasmabizkit@y...> wrote:
>>
>>>do you guys think your better of with 6" or a 8" with a enco 40

>

A friend gave me an 8" Craftsman/Palmgren 8" XY table. I think the table itself
is just the right size, but would not recommend an XY table for any serious
milling. An XY table is perfect for a drill press application where you don't
have a proper mill table, but redundant on a mill-drill. While suitable for
drilling, the X slide and Y slide just add too much slop for chatter-free
milling. I removed one of the axes (fortunately the dovetails are the same on
both axes), cinched down the gib, and haven't messed with the remaining
too-tight cross-slide. The table produces acceptable radius mill cuts (slight
surface irregularities).

If I were buying, I wouldn't get one of these, but the price sure was right for
me. And as I said, the 8" table is a very good size for my RF-30. I've got a
plate to hold a 3" chuck on there right now. I made the backing plate out of a
barbell weight, which I heartily recommend as a great cheap source for all your
cast iron backing plate needs.

--William A.

gmiller243 wrote:
> I also have an 8" rotary table. I bought the 8" w/indexing from
> Harbor Freight. I haven't used it a lot, but it seems to work fine. I
> bought this one because it has indexing and I can mount a 6" chuck to
> an 8" plate and bolt it to the table. It is heavy, and I'm thinking
> about getting a 6" w/indexing also, to mount my 4" chuck that's
> mounted to a 6" plate. But until then, the 8" will handle both.
>
> Cheers, Mark

I downloaded the manual and found the answers to my questions.  From the
picture, it appears to be a vertical mount for the right side of the
table.  Looking at the manual, it is quite clear that it is a horizontal
mount on the left side, just like the unit that makes a Grizzly G1006 into
a G1007.  I have talked with Grizzly tech support and their unit is
available as a "replacement part" at a price over $500.  It appears to be
identical to the HF unit for $220.

One thing that leaves me wondering tho, is the way the mounting bracket and
part of the housing protrude above the table surface.  Anyone run into a
situation where this interferes with securing a part on the table?

Rick

At 04:06 PM 7/4/2005, you wrote:
>Looks like a nice unit and it appears it would mount without protruding
>above the table top surface.  Is this true?  Generally, what is required to
>mount it?  It appears to be a right side mount.  Does it allow for the
>crank wheel to also be mounted?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Rick
>
>
>At 03:30 PM 7/4/2005, you wrote:
> >Harbor Freight #39745
> >
> >cheers,
> >c
> >
> >On 7/4/05, Rick Kruger <krugerr@...> wrote:
> > > I just acquired a Grizzly G-1006 and would like to put a power feed
> on the
> > > table.  I've looked in the Grizzly catalog and web site for the power
> feed
> > > that goes on this unit to make it the "1007" unit but have not found
> > > it.  Anyone know its part number or if its available separately?  If not,
> > > what other options are there?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > >
> > > Rick

Prior to removing the second axis, the table shook pretty badly when I tried
rotating it under power to mill radii. Tightening the gibs did not eliminate the
problem. As I mentioned, removing the bottom axis and cinching down the top axis
tightly in the bottom dovetails has given me acceptable, though not perfect
finishes.

--William A.

bdmail wrote:
> Hello William,
>
> Great idea with the removal of the X or Y axis!
>
> That actually could be useful, having one axis left.  It would be like
> having a milling table that turns a few degrees, like the old Hardinge
> Horizontal mills.
>
> I think I will try removing one axis as well.
>
> Did you observe a noticeable change in the finish and stability removing
> that axis?
>
> Thanks
>
> Bernie
>
>     A friend gave me an 8" Craftsman/Palmgren 8" XY table. I think the
>     table itself
>     is just the right size, but would not recommend an XY table for any
>     serious
>     milling. An XY table is perfect for a drill press application where
>     you don't
>     have a proper mill table, but redundant on a mill-drill. While
>     suitable for
>     drilling, the X slide and Y slide just add too much slop for
>     chatter-free
>     milling. I removed one of the axes (fortunately the dovetails are
>     the same on
>     both axes), cinched down the gib, and haven't messed with the remaining
>     too-tight cross-slide. The table produces acceptable radius mill
>     cuts (slight
>     surface irregularities).
>
>     If I were buying, I wouldn't get one of these, but the price sure
>     was right for
>     me. And as I said, the 8" table is a very good size for my RF-30.
>     I've got a
>     plate to hold a 3" chuck on there right now. I made the backing
>     plate out of a
>     barbell weight, which I heartily recommend as a great cheap source
>     for all your
>     cast iron backing plate needs.
>
>     --William A.
>
>     gmiller243 wrote:
>>  I also have an 8" rotary table. I bought the 8" w/indexing from
>>  Harbor Freight. I haven't used it a lot, but it seems to work fine. I
>>  bought this one because it has indexing and I can mount a 6" chuck to
>>  an 8" plate and bolt it to the table. It is heavy, and I'm thinking
>>  about getting a 6" w/indexing also, to mount my 4" chuck that's
>>  mounted to a 6" plate. But until then, the 8" will handle both.
>>
>>  Cheers, Mark