Woo Hoo, I just bought me a mill :)

[irving2008]

OK guys, I have a shipping issue...

Vendor is very unhappy about splitting it down (base, column, head) and loading it into my wifes Golf (200kg < 4 heavy men so shouldnt be a problem?)

Is there any reason for this I should know about?

If I palletise it (£65) will they unload and position in my garage or just unload on the roadside? I have no way of moving a 200kg pallet up the drive!

[Robin Hewitt]

Vendor is very unhappy about splitting it down (base, column, head) and loading it into my wifes Golf (200kg < 4 heavy men so shouldnt be a problem?)

Is there any reason for this I should know about?

Mine had been plastered to make it smooth then painted. Taking the lifting handle out to remove the lifting rack shattered the plaster. Maybe that's it. (I chiselled and brushed all the plaster off then repainted).

The X Y nuts were a disappointment, maybe they have improved, I replaced with ball screws.

The Gibbs were nice tapered adjustment. Hassle was the adjustment screws had so much slop in them the table locked when moving left to right if you set them at all tight.

Distinct lack of grease on the spindle spline, mine wore out pdq, suggest grease now.

Beware the column may be full of nasty abrasive casting sand.

Can't remember what other little surprises it came with, you're probably just about to find out :D

[irving2008]

Well seller has agreed to let me pick up tomorrow in car and will split it down... :)

Not sure how I'm going to get it out again :D but will put a couple of large pieces of 18mm MDF or ply in the car to put it on and some rope to tie down with...

Thanks for that info Robin.. I'll keep eyes open and take camera along too :) IIRC you have the bigger (Major) version of a similar vintage - this one's 1994.. I hope I can find enough room in my garage, its quite a big beastie. I'll need to make something suitably robust for it to stand on as well... and then use my chain hoist to get it up there!

[irving2008]

Well the mill is home.... wasn't too bad, took the motor off the head and the head off the column, laid the column on its back in the car.

The place I got it from was an Aladdin's cave of machinery. Here's a pic I took on my phone.... 1 point for each bit of kit you can correctly identify :)