Lincoln Mill Drill Worth Getting ?

barkoguru

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image.jpg image.jpgNot sure if this the correct area to ask this but I have been offered a Lincoln milling drilling machine and the seller would like me to make an offer and I have no clue to what it's worth if even if it worth getting, looks kinda like a jet, his dad purchased it new and was a hobby gun smith, added power feed and comes with some cutters and a set of collets, he also said any other tooling for it was included also but he wasn't sure what all was there, I'll try to include a couple o pics, thanks. image.jpg
 
View attachment 119272 View attachment 119271Not sure if this the correct area to ask this but I have been offered a Lincoln milling drilling machine and the seller would like me to make an offer and I have no clue to what it's worth if even if it worth getting, looks kinda like a jet, his dad purchased it new and was a hobby gun smith, added power feed and comes with some cutters and a set of collets, he also said any other tooling for it was included also but he wasn't sure what all was there, I'll try to include a couple o pics, thanks. View attachment 119286

Looks like a rebadged RF-30. It all depends on the condition and the picture suggests it wasn't taken care of. Not sure what the value is in Lufkin but in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas one like this, in good condition, would probably sell for $400 to $600.

Tom S.
 
in good condition, would probably sell for $400 to $600.

Yeah, in GOOD condition. That one is in maybe $200 condition. Consider what you'd have to do to make it pretty, then wonder what kind of shape it really is in.
 
Hopefully that is mostly surface rust on the table, spindle and column, but I'd sure try to low-ball because of it ;), it does take some effort to clean up.

If you can see it and give it a quick once over.....
-check the table feeds turn and move the table(both x and y); of course they could be rusted too, but it does look like some dark and shiny oil spots on the dovetail ways....
-check that the motor, middle pulley shaft and spindle actually turn
-check the spindle for up/down movement
-if the table moves easy and there is power test the power feeds

Note that a full set of good condition tooling can cost as much as the machine!
Look at the vise, collets, cutters, chuck, a clamp-down set would be useful.

Then it comes down to the value to you. What capabilities does it add to your shop? How much clean-up/repair is required? Are used machines few and far between in your area?

I bet more than a few people here have similar/identical machines, so some support should be available.
It is also likely that a manual is available.

Oh, and be sure to get any special bits like the wrench for the collet nut.

With everything shown above and assuming it's all working, I'd be in the $300 area. But then machines can be hard to find up here.

Good Luck and let us know!

-brino
 
I had one, and man, I HATED that round column.

Unless it's nearly free, I'd pass.
 
I had one, and man, I HATED that round column.

Hey Mike, can you expand on that?
Was it difficult to get the column locked rigidly enough?
Was it chatter?

Thanks,
-brino
 
Hopefully that is mostly surface rust on the table, spindle and column, but I'd sure try to low-ball because of it ;), it does take some effort to clean up.

If you can see it and give it a quick once over.....
-check the table feeds turn and move the table(both x and y); of course they could be rusted too, but it does look like some dark and shiny oil spots on the dovetail ways....
-check that the motor, middle pulley shaft and spindle actually turn
-check the spindle for up/down movement
-if the table moves easy and there is power test the power feeds
-brino
The machine has been sitting in an unheated shed in Texas humidity untouched for years since his dad became ill and passed, surface rust and even a little moldy looking is pretty expected, I have not seen it in person but it is under power and will run and the feed works, the son knows very little about the machinery but says other than the coolest and cut and cutters in the pic there are a bunch more cutters, dies and taps, indicators and misc, and misc stuff he is supposed to get pics of, smaller lathes and mills are few and far between in this area but I don't need something that wasn't decent when it was new.
 
Hey Mike, can you expand on that?
Was it difficult to get the column locked rigidly enough?
Was it chatter?

Thanks,
-brino

Every time you move the Z axis, which would be anytime you change tools, you have to re-tram the head and re-zero your X/Y points to the work. Round-column machines are far less "mill", and really just glorified Drill-Press with a slide table.
 
If you have the time to clean it and fix any problems it will at least get you machining. Any mill is better than no mill until something better comes along.
 
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