Combo Lathe/Mill Vs. Lathe and Mill

[Fox]

Hi,

I would like to have an advice on whether to buy a combo lathe/mill or one lathe and onw mill. I was looking for the Grizzly G4015Z Combo Lathe/Mill (http://www.grizzly.com/products/G4015Z or http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0516), but I am not sure about the combo thing. My budget is around 1-1.5K. Am I better with one mini-lathe (http://www.grizzly.com/products/G8688) and one mini-mill (http://www.grizzly.com/products/G8689)? My concern is more on precision, ruggedness, reliability, etc.

I took Grizzly for comparison purposes.

Thank you for your answers

[tp555]

Combo's never fulfill both tasks. Half car, half boat well its half either.A good lathe and mill will do what they promise,but will cost you more.For a mill table top,working area and power are what you want.You'll want more once you get a taste of it.The combo does a little of both. If that fits your needs good for you.
Put a dro on a drill mill and you can do some serious work.Just take lighter cuts
cuz you don't have the power.regards.

[WhisperFan]

I had a mini-lathe and quickly outgrew it. I now had a 12x36 which is as small as I would suggest for serious work.

I still have a mini mill, but at least it is one of the few that has an R8 spindle, so I can use 'standard' tooling with it.

I never likes the Rancharo or the El Camino because I couldn't figure out if they were cars trying to be pick-up trucks, or pick-up trucks trying to be cars. I felt that they weren't much of either. I think the same is true for the combination machines. If I were forced to get one, I would get the largest one that Smithy makes - I think they have a better reputation than Grizzly

[WILSON]

Originally Posted by Fox

My concern is more on precision, ruggedness, reliability, etc.

Then buy a decent lathe. Don't be afraid to buy a used one - old lathes outlast old machinists. There are plenty of old, under-priced Atlas lathes (maybe even a South Bend or two) out there. You just have to keep an eye out for them.


As was already mentioned, a "combination" anything isn't particularly good at,... anything.
Been there, done that, got the T-shirt (& scars).

[airsmith282]

iam new here just signed up today in fact , any how i have been into machining for less then a year now, i started with a 7x12 metal worker lathe that after 2 months bit the dust on me for some reason, anyhow iam not against mini lathes and will get another one evenually , as my oldst son is now following in my foot steps in metal munching,,i have now a busy bee 10x18 and i love it and it suites my needs for now and its a great machine, iam a airguns parts marker and i do othre stuff as well on my lathe it also has the size and power to handle many jobs and some pretty big jobs as well iam finding out , I looked at the combo lathe/mill sets and they ,look great but i have to agree they are a 50/50 deal and are very liminated as well to what they can do and are made with the biginner in mind, iam still green my self and for what i do its not a pratical machine.. a seperat milling machine and lathe are always best..and i do know busy bee has great stuff and great deals on the machines and tooling etc. there are many other great brands out there as well to.. iam lookng at the busy bee mill/drill thats on sale right now as well it wil suite my needs for the next several years...

any how just my 2 cents worth
but buy the best that you can afford and that also mets your needs as well