Let's See Your Mill

[Sunset Machine]

This antique is called a Brown&Sharpe No. 1-1/2, made in 1913. There are 8 speeds from 15 rpm to a whopping 300. It takes up 6' x 6' x 6' of shop space, weighs 3000#. It came with a 2HP 3-phase motor, but currently hosts a single phase 1-1/2.

It literally purrs through steel with a 3" dia x 3/8" cutter, .675" DOC in the configuration shown (support behind the cutter for better visibility and clearance). Yet the other day a job came my way which needed a 6" dia side mill (1-1/2" DOC) and it chattered something awful even in the proper outboard configuration. Investigation showed .010" slop in the arbor support bearing, so I'm working on that hoping it's the cause. I've had this mill for years and it's never been a problem until now.