I have an opportunity to pick up an old Jet mill. Model 15 built in 1986. Fully manual, 2hp 3 phase motor, round column and a quite large head/pulley system to drive this spindle. The wheel handles that move the table have been bumped and the hard plastic is broken off in some places so they will need to be replaced eventually, but nothing looks bent. I noticed that in one direction the handle turned a full 10 thousands before it engages and moves the table and a full 20 thousands in the other. (Backlash?) Once engages it seems to move smoothly in both directions. The table looks good.
I thought this might be a good machine to learn on as I have not done any milling on my own yet and want something to use to get my feet week. They want a $1000 for it, but that seems kind of high. (I have hints that they would take $800) Is that reasonable? Can the play (backlash) on the mill table be corrected or improved? Would this be a good machine to learn on? I do have a freq drive that I can use to power it so I am not worried about the 3 phase power. I appriciate any advice.
I thought this might be a good machine to learn on as I have not done any milling on my own yet and want something to use to get my feet week. They want a $1000 for it, but that seems kind of high. (I have hints that they would take $800) Is that reasonable? Can the play (backlash) on the mill table be corrected or improved? Would this be a good machine to learn on? I do have a freq drive that I can use to power it so I am not worried about the 3 phase power. I appriciate any advice.