Enco 105-1110 - what is it worth

Definitely concentrate on getting a good lathe as there many milling jobs a lathe can do but not so much the other way around.

Some people dislike the round column mills due to issues with loosing registration when raising or lowering the head. These can mostly be worked around with planning and there are also mechanical solutions out there. For the money they're hard to beat and many folks with limited space or resources do excellent work with them.

What you do get with the RF30 is a bargain milling machine that has served probably millions of folks making parts and repairing other machines around the world. Is a Bridgeport nicer in a hundred different ways? Sure it is. It's also way more complex and will take lost of work and knowledge to bring a marginal one back to accuracy.

By contrast, the RF30 will probably take a couple of days to get setup for making parts in a shop with a halfway decent mechanic. Compared to what you can get for similar money (mini mill) it'll take a much bigger cut and probably hold better accuracy. You will find that with machine tools most often mass wins in every way except for ease of moving.

Go check out the machine and get started with it if the price is right. You will find the shortcomings built into the design but it'll likely be a long time before you're a better machinist than parts the tool can produce.

I had an RF30 clone before I found my baby Bridgeport and I don't regret buying it for a minute. It held it's value and the guy I sold it to was glad to get it.

This forum is actually pretty darn good about not dumping on new guys who are just getting started, I suggest sticking around for a while and get to know us. You'll be glad you did....

john
 
Included tooling is a huge factor. If just what is in the photo then $900 would be a fair price (near me) if fully working, but needing work as it does certainly justifies a reduced price. If I were looking for one of these I probably wouldn't go over $600 in that condition since I see nicer ones asking $800-1200 fairly frequently.

If it has tooling included, a vise, collets, drill bits, end mills etc you have to factor that in. Well tooled the $900 being asked could be a bargain even considering the issues.

The other factor is location. Prices can vary widely based on the availability of machines. In an area with a long industrial history, machine tools are far cheaper since they are plentiful. While machinery deserts will see much higher prices.
 
John - Thanks for the great post. I obviously misread some of the earlier post. I am going to have to lean on you guys to help me through a learning curve. The mill does have some tooling but I am not sure how much value it brings.
I offered the guy $450 and he has accepted my offer. I am trying to make arrangements to pick it up.
 
hughfree said:
John - Thanks for the great post. I obviously misread some of the earlier post. I am going to have to lean on you guys to help me through a learning curve. The mill does have some tooling but I am not sure how much value it brings.
I offered the guy $450 and he has accepted my offer. I am trying to make arrangements to pick it up.
Click to expand...

Sweet, you’re gonna like it I predict. Makes drilling big holes in steel much easier and also milling and stuff….

Can lift it with an engine hoist into the back of a truck or trailer. I think I just wrapped a strap around the head on mine to lift but here’s a thread I started about moving it that has some helpful links.

matthewsx

Thread 'Moving RF 30'

Interested in experiences using an engine hoist and straps to go from a stand to pickup truck bed and back to stand.

Best ways to strap, transport, any tips from those who have BTDT.

Thanks,

John

Just ask if you have any questions.

John
 
hughfree, Welcome

On the Power Feed if it is anything like some other power feed drill presses, It could be just a shear pin that fell out or has sheared to protect the drive teeth.

At least that is what stopped the feed on the unit I bought (fell out), so it is possible that it may be an easy fix.

Congrats on the new mill drill, I think you did really Good for that price. Also wishing you Good luck on the lathe search.
 
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That’s a heck of a deal!

Clean it up and sort out the hiccups and it’s a thousand dollar machine again.
 
Thanks guys! It has been a good week.....I just purchased a 13 x 36 South Bend lathe in good shape, with tooling, for $1,900. It is only 10 minutes from my house :)
 
Hi to the OP. (And all) just curious if you bought this machine? Approximate price? What was included with it vise collets, etc?
I’m looking at a 1989 version. The one I’m looking at probably has many of the same age issues that the above one has.
I have no space for a “real” mill and the one I have now is very very light duty.
Thanks for your input.
Jeff
 
The endmill in the drill chuck is telling; cutting tools are usually held in collets with a drawbar to fasten them firmly in the spindle.
Drill chucks with Morse taper shanks and no drawbar will loosen during side milling loads- they're not meant for that usage
 
I paid $950 a few years ago for mine. It came with a Kurt vise and nothing else. I live in SoCal.

You can do good work with that machine. Post up in the Rong Fu forum (this is a clone of the Rong Fu round column mill) and we'll all chime in with advice about how to fix it, make parts and tell you what to spend your money on! Ha!

It weighs over 600 lbs, so get a sturdy table.
 
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