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Gorton Mill Question (one for sale in my area)

Hello,

There is a Gorton mill for sale in my area. I have been waiting/looking for a hobby mill for a while and this one is in my price range. I have to call back on Monday to get more info as the person was heading out and didn't know the model.

There is a picture (in the paper) and it looks like a 0-16A (compared to

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) The person I spoke to was 99% sure though that it has the Gorton taper spindle and there is no Gorton collets with it. It was used at a custom motorcycle shop with a special fixture designed for the spindle to shave a few thou from engine heads a few times a month. Supposedly this is all it has done for 80% of it's life.

The Questions:

- what are the chances of finding Gorton tamper collets? (at a reasonable price) - I did find the FAMCO WWW site and they still have a catalog of parts and collets but I'm sure they will be pricey

- is the Gorton taper well defined somewhere and could an adapter to another taper be created?

- the mill seems to have the vertical only head. How limiting is it not having a tilting head?

I did a search of the WWW and newsgroups and good things are said about the Gorton mills though I am mainly worried about the Gorton taper in the head.

There is actually a second Gorton mill for sale in the newest Buy & Sell in the area and describes a 0-16A (no picture), maybe it has collets etc (havn't called yet)

Comments Welcome, Thanks, Jeff

Reply to
Jeff Williams
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Hello Again,

Bad form to repy to your own post ...but....

Any idea how large a workspace would be needed for a mill of this size? Need to think where I will have room for it.

Thanks, Jeff

Jeff Williams wrote:

Reply to
Jeff Williams

Gorton collets for this come up on Ebay fairly regularly. They run about $100 or so for the set.

In fact..here is a set that didnt get any bids. Might want to contact the seller.

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Be advised the collets only go to 1/2". They are a special shape and have a three sided shank. It would be hard to make up an adapter.

The table is much smaller than normal mills, though it has a good travel in all three axis. It weighs a lot..oh sweet jesus it weighs a lot.

This is probably the heaviest machine tool Ive ever owned for its footprint. Did I mention I own one?

There are several other owners here, or as lurkers.

Id have to say the footprint, in the typical V shape, is about 40" front to back, and about 40" wide. Fits well in a corner of course and really isnt a space hog. Most didnt have any sort of power feed, but for a table this small, its not a big deal. This would be a great mill for someone who does small stuff, up to about 14" on a side. It makes a marvelous drill press as well.

There are a number of head styles, including a full knuckle head, though the most common type is a fixed head. Ive not yet found a need to move mine, but then, I do own a universal vise that moves in 3 axis.

Its a nice, heavy, rigid mill for smaller work, and is capable of good accuracy if not clapped out. Step pully for 99% of them, they respond well with a VFD on them.

Someone recently posted a Marvelous link to online gorton manuals and maint data for the 1-22 Mastermill (which I also own) and the 0-16A. I cant find it at the moment damit!

Its not as versitile as a bigger mill, but for replacement of your typical mill drill, this Cannot! be beat. Hell of a miller

Gunner

Confronting Liberals with the facts of reality is very much akin to clubbing baby seals. It gets boring after a while, but because Liberals are so stupid it is easy work." Steven M. Barry

Reply to
Gunner

If one of the other owners doesnt give you the dimensions before I go out and measure mine..Ill post it later today.

Gunner

Confronting Liberals with the facts of reality is very much akin to clubbing baby seals. It gets boring after a while, but because Liberals are so stupid it is easy work." Steven M. Barry

Reply to
Gunner

FYI,

Reply to
Peter Grey

I have a Gorton 8 1/2D and had it for about 10 years in HSM service. it is a very fine and capable machine and I have a great respect for it. The spindle taper on mine is a Browne and Sharp number 9. The collet set came with mine. However a few tool companies make tool holders for straight shank tools with the Browne and Sharpe 9 taper so you could still get those and have a useful machine. Mine has a compound tilting head but I never change it from the straight position; I think with tilting tables available you could adapt to an equivalent situation to the tilting head machine. Mine is a 3 phase machine so make sure you are prepared to deal with that if you are not set up for 3 phase. I use a rotary converter. I have used a static converter which is cheaper, but not true 3 phase and I was told there is a risk of damaging the motor so I switched over to the rotary. I am very grateful to have my machine and was the best $2200 I have spent I think. It seems to be beefier than the Bridgeports of similar size. It has power feed on the table and is a very heavy casting. weight is a little over a ton so be prepared to deal with that.

"Jeff Williams" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@rogers.com...

Reply to
desperado

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