Stand for, new to me, mill/drill

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I went and picked up my mill/drill yesterday. It is in great shape with very little use. It didnt come with a stand. I could buy one for around $285 plus shipping, where is the fun in that. I had a significant amount of materials on hand and picked up a piece of 1/8 plate at the scrap yard this morning. This is what I came up with. Not completely finished but close. I still have to cut out the plate for my lower shelf and pick up some hardware to bolt the mill/drill to it. Oh yeah, a coat of paint to.Making as much progress as a one legged duck in the middle of a pond, just going in circles.
Reply:I'm going to tell you something right now so you know.  If you have a lower shelf, you must enclose the sides and put a door on it.  If you don't, you will always be cleaning out swarf.  It gets everywhere.My name's not Jim....
Reply:Put two drawers in the lower part.  Make sure to use expanded metal on the bottom of the drawer, the swarf will fall straight on through.I would suggest at least 1/2" plate on the top for the machine mount.  And cut a hole in the center under the cross slide, this allows swarf to fall on through.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Thanks for the info guys, I was thinking about expanded metal for a shelf.Making as much progress as a one legged duck in the middle of a pond, just going in circles.
Reply:If you use coolant it will run down the Tee slots all over the floor so you might want to think on that alsoNot alone what a cutter is going to throw all over the walls and anything close byBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Got the stand finished and painted. Added levelers to bottom of legs made from 3/4" bolts. Decided to leave it with out a bottom shelf for the time being. Still tossing ideas around. Will probably end up making a shelf out of expanded metal for storage underneath.Making as much progress as a one legged duck in the middle of a pond, just going in circles.
Reply:The stand looks good.  I made mine with the top just a bit bigger, but I didn't need to.Next step, power feed!MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Oh yeah, looking at power feed set ups now. Hopefully have that soon. I have to get a mill vise first. I want a 6". The vise in the pics is one I made. Its only 4", it does ok but isnt real smooth. I looked at ones from Enco that are around $115 for a 6".Making as much progress as a one legged duck in the middle of a pond, just going in circles.
Reply:CDCOTools.comCheapest chinese tooling available.  I think I paid $95 for my 6", but now I sometimes wish I had a 4".  It overhangs the table a long way.This company also has the least expensive power feed too.  Around $278.00.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Nice machine and nice table....I have had a similar model for about 25 years. A great tool, for sure. I built my own x-axis power feed with a windshield wiper motor and homemade power supply. I have not needed anything but x-axis power feed.The first thing you need to build/mount is a digital caliper for accurate z-axis control. You can pick up one for about 15 bucks at Harbor Freight and mount it yourself.Happy milling....HF 151 Dual Mig Welder (with mods)Lincoln 225-S AC WelderBuffalo MM-1 Milling MachineCraftsman/Atlas 6 inch Metal LatheBuffalo RF-115  4 x 6 inch Band-Saw
Reply:Nice set-up!  Something few think of - you can add an old beat up granite surface plate in the space just  below the top to soak up vibrations. The accuracy and finish quality will be better. Small mills are nice but can be susceptible to vibrations.Member, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.