On Feb 9, 2020, at 6:29 PM, Fred Linthicum via Groups.Io <fred.linthicum@...> wrote:

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Hi David:
I'd be interested in your thoughts on the pros and cons of knee vs. bench top mills, and what models of knee mills you'd currently recommend.? It looks like Bridgeports run something like $15K but I wonder if there's something reasonable that is closer to the price of the bench mills you mentioned.? The site you linked lists 5 models that are about a third of the price of a new Bridgeport.


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I still think a bench top mill makes a great alternative to a conventional drill press and also provides many other benefits. ? My RF45 replaced a Grizzly DP that I took to the scrap yard rather than let it frustrate someone else. ? With the XY table and DRO, the bench top mill also replaced my Blum Minipress and it?€?s gang boring fixture. ? It?€?s very much worth considering unless you?€?re drilling into the end of bedposts on a routine basis and actually require the added Z-height flexibility of a conventional DP. ? I have since replaced my RF45 with a Bridgeport-style knee mill which has it?€?s own advantages and disadvantages, but I?€?m happy to say that my RF45 has moved on to another Felder shop and is loving it?€?s new home in Hawaii. ??

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In the market today, the Precision Matthews?PM-932M (Chinese) or the PM-833T (Taiwan like Rong Fu) are the functional equivalents and worth consideration. ?

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If I were in the market today for a conventional drill press, I would be buying the Ellis machine Mac mentioned. ? Ellis makes some terrific equipment and their DP is probably the only USA-made DP still in production.

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David Best