Combo Machine Quality

The one thing that I didn't like is why didn't Smithy or the others put a larger spindle hole in their machines along with a 5C collet taper, to accept collets directly without the need of an adapter? If you need to put something between centers, install a 5C adapter with a 60 deg. center in the spindle. This is what stopped me from buying one of these machines. If you buy a three in one machine, get the Smithy Granite, as others have mention.
 
I have 16 linear ft of wall along which to place equipment. I have a 6' workbench, a drill press, a belt sander a grinder and a chop saw.

I keep my chop saw under the bench and my small belt sander stored in a corner. The large sander is in the basement by the furnace.

My work area is 17' x 9'. I made a diagram before I moved anything in.

workshop layout blank s.jpg

My work bench has two sections that are 4 and 8 feet respectively, though I ended up switching their positions from the drawing.

work bench 3 s.jpg work bench 1 s.jpg

In the 12 feet I have my tool boxes, work area (where the drawer is pulled out and the yellow box is), South Bend 9A, HF mill drill, power hacksaw, and my vise on the out rigger. The horizontal mill on the end takes another 3 feet. Obviously it's crowded and I'd love more room. Still, with some planning you could probably fit a mill and a lathe.
 
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The Smithy served me well for years but I did eventually outgrow it. At the time of purchase space was my biggest issue so the Smithy was a good compromise. I have since moved on to a PM-932 converted to CNC and am currently waiting for a PM-1440GT to arrive soon. The Smithy or any 3-1 would not be a good candidate for a CNC conversion. I've seen video of a few conversions but never a part made with one.

In a mill I would take nothing less than one with an R8 spindle and for a lathe one with a cam lock spindle nose. These are industry standards with loads of accessories available at reasonable cost.

I have no experience with the lathes with milling attachments. A friend of mine has a Grizzly version of one but he is a novice at best and does not use it much. Maybe someone in the Grizzly forum has one you could get feedback on.
 
Charles, I will never complain about the size of my workshop ever again, for the rest of my life!
 
I keep my chop saw under the bench and my small belt sander stored in a corner. The large sander is in the basement by the furnace.

I forgot I also have a floor standing hydraulic press which takes up a surprising and undue amount of space.

I have a welder and welding supplies under my bench. I guess the chop saw can go "somewhere else". Otherwise I'm pretty packed in. I only have space along the wall because the rest of the space is racks on wheels that I have to move out to even get access.

However, after reviewing available machines and the 3-1 section of the forum, I've decided I am going to hold off until/if/when I can touch and use one of these machines in person. In the meantime I'll see if it's possible to relocate or make mobile other equipment I have. I still favor the benchtop design since the stand can have drawers for tools. Whereas a knee mill requires even more space for a tool cart.
 
Charles, that last picture of your workspace would make the most awesome jigsaw puzzle! :encourage:

-frank

Yep. And the other side looks like this:

right wall 4 s.jpg right wall 5 s.jpg

Charles, I will never complain about the size of my workshop ever again, for the rest of my life!

I'd like to expand it but it's blocked on two sides by the house and porch. On the third side, outside the first set of pictures I posted, is the main walk way and an out building (shed). Maybe I can replace that with a garage in the next couple of years, but I wouldn't bet on it. So, I do the best I can with what I have.
 
For several years my workshop was exceedingly small. I never measured it,but I'm guessing about 7' x 10 or 12'. I that shop I had a 12" Sears Atlas lathe,with a Butterfly die filer mounted on the end of the cabinet(I bought from a store that closed),a Sears floor model drill press,a #4 Burke mill,a bench grinder and a work bench about 30" x 4' long. There was about 18" to 2' between the lathe and the work bench where I could stand and work.

I lived in that small house for about 12 years. I had to go get a large dog to keep from getting broken in. My neighbor got her house shredded by burglers. They tore up her upholstered furniture looking for hidden money.

I did some of my best work in there. The Sears Atlas lathe was new,but a frustrating lathe to be sure. It took many hours to do something I could do pretty quickly with my next lathe,which was a 1024 Jet. My first DECENT lathe.

I will say that I got very lucky buying that lathe. About 1974,I bought the Sears lathe on sale for $850.00. The next year,there was a huge price increase,and I was able to sell it for much more than I had paid,to a motor rewinding shop. The Sears lathe was really an armature lathe anyway. That,plus a bit more went into the $1750.00 Jet lathe.
 
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