any preference between HF or Grizzly mini drill?

upTheHill

upTheHill

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I am going tobe ordering a mini mill in the next week or so, and my budget will allow for either the harbor freight one
http://www.harborfreight.com/two-speed-variable-bench-mill-drill-machine-44991.html

or the grizzly one.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/Mini-Milling-Machine/G8689

if anything I'm leaning towards the Grizzly becuase of the great customer support I got setiing up my g0602 lathe.

but I'm open to opinions.

seems the major diff between the 2is an r8 for the HF vs MT3 for the grizzly

TIA,
 
If you are keeping the choice to two, HF or Grizzly, go with Grizzly. IMHO.

"Billy G"
 
I can't comment about either product but, I'd consider the unit that accepts R8 tooling. Why? Because if you upgrade to a bigger mill it will probably be R8. An investment in 3MT toolholders won't be too useful as the only thing I can think of that commonly accepts 3MT these days is the lathe tailstock ram and a few of the bigger drill presses.
 
I would normally say Grizzly, but I just don't like the idea of the MT3 spindle on the Grizzly. R8 is much more common with regards to mill tooling, and better for a mill spindle than the MT3. If the 20% discount coupon will work for the HFT model, I would go for the HFT, but expect the fit and finish to be less than the Griz.

Like OakRidgeGuy, I think the LMS model is tops, but lots of folks have the HFT and Grizz models too, and you can do good work on them. You may also keep an eye out on your local craigslist. Never know when an X2 will pop up, but you could probably save yourself a bit.
 
I can't comment on the HF one......but I have the Grizzly 8689 and it has done all I have asked of it (sometimes more than it was designed for). I have installed Itech DRO'S and the air lift from LMS (what a good upgrade that has been).
 
I was just looking at it again when your comment came thru and had noticed it came with the tooling. if it has the belt drive upgrade already, that does improve its outlook, since those are things I would need / do in the near future also. thanks for the added info



Bugsyweasel said:
The little machine shop one has a bigger table and bigger brushless motor. It also has the belt drive upgrade. The HF me grizzly both have plastic gears which most people break at some time. The first link was for the little machine shop X2 with tooling starter package. Here is link directly to just the mill

http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=3900
Click to expand...
 
It does already have the upgrade to the belt drive.. it is very quiet I must say..
 
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