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Buying Bridgeport Mill - what to check?

Wisconsinite

Wisconsinite

Red Skull Member
Joined
May 19, 2020
Member Number
132
Messages
1,017
Loc
Milwaukee, WI
I found a clean Bridgeport series II for sale locally I am thinking about making an offer on. I don't have a ton of experiance buying tooling of this size. What should I be looking for?

  • Sweep the table with an indicator looking for wear?
  • Check the ways and the condition of the scraping?

Any ideas are appreciated.
 
Ignore scraping. Indicator tells all. You care about play more than you care about it being straight and square. If your gib/ways are shaped like an hour glass there's really no way to come back from that without moving material. If the table is flat like the ocean on a windy day that can be much more easily worked around.

Everything made in the last 50yr has ground dovetails. If it is scraped it has been refinished.

If I had more free time I would be putting random-ass scrape marks all over clapped out $500-$1500 Bridgeports and selling them for 4x what I paid and I'd sleep well at night knowing that my locale is already a terrible place full of terrible people.
 
Make sure the air assist on the knee is in good working order, otherwise you’ll pay hell getting the table to go up.
 
Check the backlash in the center of travel a d the ends to see how worn the screws are. Mag base and and an indicator on the side of the table, grab the end and wiggle. Repeat at the end of travel to see how worn the ways are. Lock out an axis and do it 1 at a time.
 
bdkw1 said:
Check the backlash in the center of travel a d the ends to see how worn the screws are. Mag base and and an indicator on the side of the table, grab the end and wiggle. Repeat at the end of travel to see how worn the ways are. Lock out an axis and do it 1 at a time.
Click to expand...
Good call. Will do.
 
If it's a well used machine, there will be a good amount of backlash. Backlash is not a deal breaker to me. Make sure that everything moves and operates as expected, if it has rapids or variable speed, make sure that all works. Will auto feed as well.

If it all works, the table isn't beat to shit, the ways seem to be decently smooth meaning no gouges along the lengths, nor rust/pitting, then it's probably good to go.
 
I just got back from looking at the mill a little closer. It looks to be in really good shape, and most things worked. The only thing I couldn't get to work was the auto feed. I will have to look into that a little closer. I made him an offer on the mill w/ power Y, a few vises, and all the tooling he had. He accepted, and now I own a mill. Whoo whooo. I am actually pretty excited, except I dropped a pallet jack on my foot and exploded my big toe. It is bloody as hell, and really not looking forward to taking my sock of. Fuuuuuck.
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I had already purchased this drill press before I decided to get the mill. So I am tossing that up for sale soon.


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After getting it home and looking over everything, I was overwhelmed with how little I know about this machine and its capabilities.

I guess I have to start somewhere.

Just out of curiosity, what would a fair price be for everything? I think the mill might have been a little expensive if it didn't include the tooling.
 
Wisconsinite said:
After getting it home and looking over everything, I was overwhelmed with how little I know about this machine and its capabilities.

I guess I have to start somewhere.

Just out of curiosity, what would a fair price be for everything? I think the mill might have been a little expensive if it didn't include the tooling.
Click to expand...
How much did you pay?
 
Wisconsinite said:
3000 with the tooling and three mill vises.

It also came with one of THESE. I should be able to do something cool with that. :lmao:
Click to expand...

That's a great fucking deal. FWIW, I paid $1500 (after auction fees) for a series 1, round ram bridgeport, with no tooling, not even a vise. I think I overpaid now, but at the time I was slightly dumber than I am now. :lmao:
 
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