Harbor Freight 1 1/2 HP Milling Machine 33686

There isn't much on YouTube about this mill. I figured I would go ahead and make a video showing a little bit about it. The DRO install would have been as boring as heck to show, but if you have any questions regarding the mill or anything, please feel free to ask.

[jimm]

I just received this mill from HF a couple of days ago. I was able to use a 20% off coupon bringind to price down to $960. It is mounted on a stand I made, leveled and ready to use. I am about to order a DRO and your video has been helpful. Please keep us posted on using and modifying this mill.
As far as I can tell the Central Machinery (Harbor Freight) version of this mill is the same as the Grizzly, Jet, Dayton, and others for much less money, the Dayton costing over 7K! I called Grizzly and asked them what the difference was besides the cost (nearly double) and was told that "customer support and parts availability" are the main difference. Ok, that was helpful now I know where to get parts if needed, lol. I can buy the DRO, Vise, and a lot of tooling for the price difference. Thanks again for the video, please keep them coming.

[joeybobbie]

Thanks for going over the Mill. I just uncreated mine and I’m looking forward to putting a DRO on it. So the sizes you mentioned for the Glass Slides will come in handy. 👍

[hootinouts]

I was lucky enough to find an older HF (Central Machinery) machine similar to your's on CragsList. The machine was brand new and never used, still covered with cosmoline which was a PITA to remove. Now, the interesting part is that my machine has a quill feed and also came with a heavy duty metal stand with a chip pan. I've never seen another drill mill machine either from HF or Grizzly that have a quill feed. This is a great feature for boring. I love my machine and it's been very useful. There are a few negatives. First, the paint job sucked and the paint was peeling so I completely stripped the crappy Chinese paint off and primed and painted it with Rustoleum. I used grey instead of that pea green. The Rustoleum has been holding up great. The cheap vinyl cover that protects the Y axis leadscrew had to go. I replaced it with leather. The dials have painted on graduations and are not engraved. Be careful using solvents on these. I did and the painted lines on the one dial got partial wiped off. Since this machine does not have a knee for the Z axis you need to raise and lower the head. This sucks because you have to loosen two pinch bolts on the right side, then go around to the left side to crank the head up or down, then go back to the right side to tighten the two pinch bolts. The biggest problem thought is that there is nothing to prevent the head from rotating about the round column that supports it while you are raising or lowering it. It would have been nice if the manufacturer had machined a keyway in the column and put a key in the head to keep the head from rotating. I plan on eventually installing a DRO but for now I made a bracket that uses a dial indicator with a 1" travel for the Z axis. Overall, its a good shop tool for a hobbyist or DIY guy like me.
I was a professional machinist years ago and spent a lot of time operating a Bridgeport and I have to say that the HF machine I own is a mere toy compared to the Bridgeport.

[EverettsWorkshop]

Nice new machine! That's cool you put a DRO on it, you'll have a better time with using that vs having to count on the dials all the time. Once reverse is worked out on my machine we'll have to get you set up with it too.

[joeybobbie]

Can you show how you mounted the Y Axis Glass Scale? Actually all three would be nice. Thanks for Posting the Video about the Mill. I just bought one just like it. Mine also came with a 2 HP Motor.

[techniusa]

Hi I've got the same mill. The shaft cover is broken so it's inoperable. Where would you get parts? I've been looking on line to no success. Thx

[bobmacny]

I would love know if my old 1984 vintage central machine is r8 or mt 3. How would i tell on my machine without machine dis assembly

[TON_KROW]

Can you please tell me the travel distance in X & Y axis. Can't find this info anywhere

[honestinsincerity]

Are you using this guy to mainly cut softer metals like aluminum and brass or can it actually handle steel and harder materials?

[earleellis]

What specific needle bearing did you use on the chuck bolt?

[paulbuzanis]

got the base built thanks again for measurements. hope you can help me out again i found a great deal on a dro but need measurements for scales and being that machine is not delivered can you tell me the travel on all three axis, thanks again for the help

[paulbuzanis]

can you tell me the height of machine and the dimensions of the base im waiting on one of these to be delivered and trying to build stand for it while im waiting on it. thanks

[adolfhilter]

HF site says it weighs over 700 lbs, it this true? Thanks

[spartaeus]

Some people on here are saying they used a 20 percent off coupon to buy that mill ? I'd like to know how they did that. I was told harbor freight coupon can not be used on central machinery tools. I tried to use one on the internet. It came up, cannot be used

[ccomito]

How did you convert from 110v to 220v? Do you have a wiring diagram? Thanks and nice video!

[JesusCruz-myob]

Yes... This is the same maching that has been sold by decades as Rutland, MSC, Enco, Jet, central machinery etc, etc. Ooh and Grizzly, good machine for the cost, very universal.

[airgunningyup]

any idea how to pull the drawbar>?? they did not include any tool with mine to get down there to grab the hex

[megaknizzle]

How this holding up? Will it cut steel very well? I know alot of guys get these machines and only work with aluminum.

[robertlozano]

New sub here....thanks for your time and info....what were the demensions needed for the table to support this particular mill

[JimmysTractor]

I'm about to order this mill. They say 5-17 weeks to ship. How long did yours take? I bought the 66164 13x40 metal lathe about 6 years ago and they said somerhing similar on ship time, but they charged me a week later and it arrived another 5 days after that.