Subject: Re: Clausing (used) vertical mill: how good is it? Value?

From: [email-masked]
Date: 26 Jan 1996 14:37:59 GMT

The Clausing 8520/8530 vertical mill is an excellent machine, IMHO.  A full size bridgeport is nice,
but they do take up a lot of space in a home shop and are not fun to move into a basement 8^).  Don't let
the Atlas press label put you off, it's just that they bought out Clausing.  The quality has not changed at
all, I own an old one (before the Atlas buyout) and just recently purchased a late model one for a friend 
which I am in the process of converting to CNC.  It is a #2 MT with a drawbar.  Collets are still available, 
but you might want to look into one of the Erickson DA Collet Chucks which will fit this machine.   As 
for prices, I paid about 1200 for my older one, the newer one was 2400.

John Lovallo

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From: [email-masked] (Edward Haas)
Date: 26 Jan 1996 09:39:36 -0800

--There is a round-arm version of this machine and later versions have  
a keyed slot for setting it perpendicular to the table. If the machine 
you're looking at doesn't have this feature, well, you're in the same fix 
as anyone with a Bridgeport or any other mill. Always thought that was a 
nice touch on the later models. 
	--See if the mill includes the Clausing vise: this was one neat 
little item as well: if I could find one I'd retrofit it on my own machine.
	--Clausing made a dandy mill and I'd snap it up.
-- 
	"Steamboat Ed" Haas	:	...Yet another
	phone: 	(805) 968-7534	:	crackpot...
	FAX:	(805) 562-8928  :	
		---Decks a-wash in a sea of words---

---

From: [email-masked] (Jonathan M. Elson)
Date: 25 Jan 1996 19:23:59 GMT

Wm. Congreve (Sr.) ([email-masked]) wrote:
: I have a chance to purchase a Clausing knee-type vertical milling
: machine, which at one point says # 8520, which I take to mean the model
: number.  It stands about five feet high, and the table is 24" the long
: way.  Seems to be a Morse taper #2 but I didn't get a chance to take
: the end mill holder out of it to confirm that.

: I'm a bit off-put by the label "Clausing Division of Atlas Press Co"
: because of the unhappy days I spent with an Atlas 6" lathe until I
: replaced it with a Myford 7.

I think these machines are of a VERY different caliber than the 6" Atlas
(or even my 10" Atlas).  However, since you've seen it, your eyes should
already have told you what kind of quality was built into the machine.
Most likely, ANY knee-type mill will be a whole different class of machine
than your Enco.  I have an Enco lathe/mill/drill at work, and the alignment
problem is its worst (but not only) deficiency.  My 1940's Bridgeport is
SO much better in so many ways!  More rigid (by FAR), axes more stable and
true, those huge ways tend to prevent the table from sliding around under
cutting forces.

: I want ***something*** better than my bottom of the line Enco mill
: drill, and being able to keep alignment with the knee would be a great
: step forward, as of course you can't do that with the mill/drill beyond
: the range of the quill.  I don't need anything as large as a
: Bridgeport; and have no aspirations of putting on any CNC devices.

Well, you already know what bothers you most about your existing machine.

: Would I be happy with this Clausing?  What's a fair price to offer for
: it? There doesn't seem to be any slop in any of the three motions, and
: they crank around smoothly.  Table isn't chewed up.  Is there anything
: modern, even new, which will have really good quality yet not quite the
: size or price of a Bridgeport?  I really do want to be able to do both
: jig boring and end-mill milling to a pretty high degree of accuracy
: (say +/- a thou or so).

I have just gotten a set of 'Veriscope' optical readouts (glass scale
and viewer) completely functional on my bridgeport.  It is the 1950's
equivalent of a DRO.  It cost me $15, and besides some corrosion on the
back of the mirrored scales, it is in good shape.  I have done some
slot cutting to .002" accuracy in .092" 2024 Aluminum.  Without the
optical readouts, I could have never done this well.  I used to use the
calibrated dials on the leadscrews, but the backlash (lost motion) was
quite severe, and even if you approached a reading from the same direction
each tme, there was still at least .005" of imprecision.  So an optical
or digital readout is really necessary for the finest accuracy.

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From: [email-masked] (Ron Ginger)
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 1996 17:42:06 LOCAL

In article <[email-masked]> [email-masked](Wm. Congreve (Sr.) ) writes:
>From: [email-masked](Wm. Congreve (Sr.) )
>Subject: Clausing (used) vertical mill: how good is it? Value?
>Date: 25 Jan 1996 05:55:30 GMT

>I have a chance to purchase a Clausing knee-type vertical milling
>machine, which at one point says # 8520, which I take to mean the model

....deleted....

I have one of these, and thinks it a fine machine. As with all used tools, it 
depends on the condition of course, but the basic machine was originally a 
well constructed mill.

Mine has had a  Bridgeport M head added to it. Ive since seen a few others 
also converted Bport M heads. A freind of mine, likely to also post here, also 
has this machine, but with the original Clausing head.

I suspect its a lot better than any imported mill/drill.

Ron Ginger
my signature is http://www.ultranet.com/~ginger

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From: [email-masked] (Doug White)
Date: Sat, 27 Jan 96 18:42:17 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>,
   [email-masked](Wm. Congreve (Sr.) ) wrote:
<I have a chance to purchase a Clausing knee-type vertical milling
<machine, which at one point says # 8520, which I take to mean the model
<number.  It stands about five feet high, and the table is 24" the long
<way.  Seems to be a Morse taper #2 but I didn't get a chance to take
<the end mill holder out of it to confirm that.
<snip>

I have an 8520, and I love it.  If it's in good condition, they are very 
precise.  For one thing, you get 0.100" feed per handwheel revolution on 
the table, instead of 0.200" on a Bridgeport.  Some parts are still 
available from Clausing/Atlas, so if something important is missing or 
broken, check with them before you buy to make sure you can fix it.  
Warning, parts are not cheap!  New Hardinge collets are $35-$40 a piece, 
but you can buy cheaper ones for around $20 from several distributors.  
#2 Morse tooling that can use the drawbar is a little scarce.

If the machine is well used, check the bearings.  I'm still in the 
process of replacing worn out bearings in mine. the easiest way to tell 
is to remove the belts, and spin the idler pulley and headstock spindle 
by hand.  It it isn't smooth feeling, a bearing has died somewhere.  I's 
not to hard to replace the ones in the idler pulley, but the headstaock 
ones are a pain to get at, and the quill is very tricky.  There is a pair 
of precision bearings in the bottom of the quill that cost $150 a set.  
Unfortunately, there is a standard motor grade bearing at the top of my 
quill that has died, and you have to take the whole quill apart to get at 
it.  While I'm in there, I'm going to replace all the seals and bearings, 
 but I need to make a bunch of special tools to get it open and press the 
bearings off and then back on.  If I'd known what to look for, I would 
have still bought it, but I bet I could have gotten a much beter price.

Another way to tell just how much wear it's had is to check the downfeed. 
 If it's in really good shape, the quill clamp will provide an even drag 
throughout the quill range.  Typically, they wear more down at the 
bottom, and the quill will get looser and looser as it descends.  Also, 
check for any roughness in the downfeed gear box.  Someone had whacked 
mine, and damaged some of the gears.  I got replacements, but it cost 
about $75.

Doug White

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From: [email-masked] (Doug White)
Date: Sat, 27 Jan 96 18:44:47 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, [email-masked] wrote:
<The Clausing 8520/8530 vertical mill is an excellent machine, IMHO.  A 
full size bridgeport is nice,
<but they do take up a lot of space in a home shop and are not fun to 
move into a basement 8^).  Don't let
<the Atlas press label put you off, it's just that they bought out 
Clausing.  The quality has not changed at
<all, I own an old one (before the Atlas buyout) and just recently 
purchased a late model one for a friend 
<which I am in the process of converting to CNC.  It is a #2 MT with a 
drawbar.  Collets are still available, 
<but you might want to look into one of the Erickson DA Collet Chucks 
which will fit this machine.   As 
<for prices, I paid about 1200 for my older one, the newer one was 2400.

I've got an an old 8520 I paid about $1000 for, followed by several 
hundred more to fix it up.  I'm interested in the Erickson collet system, 
could you provide the group with a few more details?

Thanks!

Doug White
<