Setting up the Eastwood mini mill — Mini mill episode #1

We previously saw that the @eastwoodco mini lathe was a capable little machine. Now it’s time to test out its sibling, the mini mill!

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[eastwoodco]

Great video Andrew, very informative! You've convinced me, Mini Mill is a must-have 😎🤘

[artisanmakes]

Thankyou for this video, I have the bigger x2.7 model mill, but I am really interested in what this little mill is capable of. Looking forward to more videos with the mill.

[christianmccollum]

Definitely a must -have!!! Thanks for the info 👍

[tomt]

@ 7:48 you’re milling the narrow edge of the bar whereas you’d been making multiple passes on the wide face previously. The end mill is wide enough to cut the narrow side in one pass, so there’s no opportunity for ridges there! That’s where a larger end mill or fly cutter comes in handy! Also noticed that you never trimmed the back to front, and that is every bit as important, especially if you don’t like ridges between passes! A common complaint about the Eastwood, Grizzly, Klutch etc. mini mills is the tilting column, and the latch of rigidity because of it! The Sieg branded mill (I’m 99% sure that’s who makes all of the listed machines) has a rigid column to remove this issue, along with having a much bigger table and an air spring in the column to make raising the head easier. The column/table still has to be trimmed and shimmed, but once it’s there and locked down, yo don’t have to worry about it creeping out of square! Good video about a machine not typically seen on YouTube!

[catherineharris]

Nice! I thought you're supposed to check the levelness of the piece that you're milling after you put it in the vice, at least that's what i was told👍

[cttp]

Andy, so good to see you back :)
I loved the bug and big piece of brass joke :D
Great video man!

[vonfelam]

Yes, love me some new project lab content. Keep up the good work.

[kwiREless]

Hello Sir, Great video you have done an awesome service to promote this Mini Mill. I have had this mill for at least 5 years now, and have made great stuff with it....however it’s broken, the double gears inside have given up...could you make a video on how to replace these parts. Amazon has replacement upgraded metallic gears and i’d wish this content to be able to all. Thank you

[TomKirkman]

I tend to see all these mini-lathes and mills as being all the same and simply sold by various resellers. Is the Eastwood any better than the Grizzly, Emco, Harbor Freight, etc?

[swapnilsule]

Great video ! I was actually thinking of buying one myself 😊. Would you please be able to make a short video showing the noise level on low and high gears may be with some kind of stock metal (I live in an apartment so...) ? That is the only thing which is stopping me to buy one myself. Thanks in advance !!

[hetrodoxly]

As a retired engineer (machine tool fitter) to me any piece of machinery that can be aligned by loosening bolts and tapping with a mallet is going to give you problems and creep if it's not drilled, reamed and doweled, slideways are a bit more forgiving with adjusting screws but gibs are better.

[yertelt]

You might want to pull the mill forward on your bench a little to provide finger clearance for the y axis hand wheel. LMS recommends 3.5 to 4" max from the front edge of the bench to the front mounting hole for their similar sized 3990 model, they both are rebranded Siegs. Your users manual should have some info for machine mounting/hole layout. Enjoy it, as long as, like the lathe, you remember the operative word here is "mini" and adjust your expectations accordingly you shouldn't have any trouble.

[DavZell]

You left us hanging! There was no episode 2 as of 8 months later.

[miguelcastaneda]

Get a better vise and something that clamp directly to table you will pick up vertical space and rigidity...that pivoting part you font need

[eddiesoltero]

Is that the electronic digital indicator from little machine shop? Also, which indicator holder are you using to calibrate the mill?

[pirminkogleck]

First, ! you dont need the lubricating, brass has so called self lubricating properties, and the next time, get u some Alu if u want to learn or test machining, brass is a very brittle metall, and nice for turning on the lathe and also very nice to work with, but not always as easy as many would think ....i think now u already know that there is a big difference in materials and the speeds and depth u need and wich tools work best, ...those titanoxid coated tools are sold as allrounder but the HSS tools work much better on brass ! and get you a ZEUS BOOK and try to source a machining book from engineering school, many people sell them cheap after they finished their exams, and u get a very good basic book at lowest possible cost, mine was new 80 usd and the zeus books somewhere around that, i bought both in used but very nice condition
for 25 usd

[Rusty_Shackleford]

Great video! Look up climb milling vs conventional milling. You generally want to avoid climb milling on a manual machine. Climb milling puts more stress on the tool, leading to unwanted vibration, and ultimately poor surface finish or out of spec parts.

[scotty]

You have your machine trammed "side to side", but it is off tram "front to back". That is why you have a ridge between passes.

[juanochoa]

so i should be able to mill aluminum pieces or brass?

[garageshopminnesota]

Great work, Andy. Milling any parts for your truck?