Raising the working height of a bench top Mill

Having just used my Amolco bench top mill for my first small project I find the working height is currently too low. Its sitting on a sturdy oak topped bench so I'm thinking of making some sort of plinth for it. I have considered getting a stool but don't consider that would be safe practice to use the mill, certainly as its all new to me!

So what i'm thinking is making a couple of 2" x 2" (or similar)hardwood frames to sit one on top of the other to raise the mill 4" or so. There's no provision to bolt the mill down, well no holes and I do need to slide the mill left & right if I'm using the bandsaw or drill either side. But if I make the frames wider than the mills footprint I should be able to fit some location clips so the unit moves as one.

So, does this seem like a sound plan?

Also its a shame the space under the mill will be wasted, but I have not been able to come up with an idea that is readily made, sturdy enough etc etc with space for tooling etc.

Any ideas greatly appreciated as always! Photo below.

Chris.

A long time ago I made a lift frame similar to what you propose for a BCA jig borer. Probably a little smaller and alittle lighter than your machine but of the same general size.

I made my support box three sided and covered it with a piece of old style 1 1/4" thick (?) blockboard desk top. I fitted a shallow metal desk drawer inside donated by the same disassembled ex Civil Service desk that donated its lino covered top to that and a couple of other projects.

Spacer worked fine but I was never able to completely seal the drawer from chip entry. I suspect than using considerable overhang and a flap down apron at the front would have been better than anything I tried. My overhang was only an inch or so.

Clive

Edited By Clive Foster on 07/11/2020 12:53:17

Thank you for that Clive, well that's encouraging then, I shall give that idea some serious thought!

Chris.

Hello Chris,

Interested in your vice. I always thought that type was OK for drilling, but no good for milling. What is your experience?

Andrew.

Hi Andrew, the Record vice worked fine for this my first proper Milling job.

The cutter came loose in the 2MT Myford collet, nothing to do with the vice but shows if nothing else the vice held the work ok under load.

I did get a proper milling vice with the mill but have yet to make the hold down blocks to secure it to the mill bed, its the type with holes for clamping and blocks for these don't seem to be available.

Others with more experience may be able to point to downsides of this type of vice for milling?

Chris.

Andrew, if you look at the last photo on http://www.lathes.co.uk/amolco/ you can see at least one other has used the same vice, though of course that dosen't mean it is entirely suitable/recommended!

Chris.

The Smart & Brown model A at the museum was lifted up by the fork lift truck and a frame made from 4x2 hardwood was put underneath to ease my old back. If a short person ever uses the lathe, we can easily make some duckboards. The Tom senior mill also sits on 2" high wood with through studding glued into the concrete floor. You have to think of the machine stability when adding height and plan accordingly. With a small machine, there is no reason not to leave storage space underneath, and a clamping down system which allows moving the machine is sensible. Maybe you could use two rails of angle iron to make sliding sideways easier.

Edited By old mart on 07/11/2020 14:21:29

That type of vice can be improved by fitting an adjustable keep to the moving jaw.

Chris

Glad to be of inspiration.

The drawer I used was just under 6 inches high. I still have it in a sort of cassette affair sat on top of another set of drawers.

Thinking things over its likely that I'd already built the drawer cassette and simply made the machine raiser base a suitable size to slip it into. Possibly a better way as, should you change the machine, you'd still have the drawer so no need to re-home the contents.

Were I to do the job now I'd sit the front lip on a deep piece of angle iron, flat side down, projecting an inch or so above the top. This would help contain swarf, make brushing off easier and strengthen the open end. The latter probably being of some importance if you are unable to get material for the top of similar quality to the bockboard I used.

Clive

Thank you all.

Ega, can you elaborate, what is an adjustable keep, I'm a beginner!

Thanks Old Mart & Clive, well I'm glad it isnt such a daft idea after all, now I have good food for thought!

Chris.

My Lu x mill sits on a frame made from 40x40 box tube about 600x600 square, plenty of room underneath for storage.

When I found it was a bit too low [too much stooping ], I raised it by putting a 4"concreat block under each leg.

Problem solved. To be sure, to be sure, I fixed it to the wall at the top of the column with a strap.