Precision Matthews PM-25MV Mill

[EdK]

I forgot to add to the list that there was grinding dust all over the surfaces of the mill. We tend to expect that from stuff coming from China but not on a machine that should have precision machined surfaces. They won't stay precise very long when coated with grinding dust.

Ed

[EdK]

The first response I got from Matt at Precision Matthews.

"I can see some of the sanding marks that you mean, the tables are definitely ground, but its not going to be the same type of finish that you might be used to like that 935 mill has.

Its hard to picture though, maybe I am missing something since its just in pics and not in person.

I think you might be better off just returning that machine and going with something like the 728 from Taiwan which is going to be more along the lines of your 935.

The Chinese machines like that PM-25 are very good mills and priced low for what they are, but those markings that I am seeing are not abnormal at all for that machine.

Again, maybe I am missing something here from only looking in pics and not in person, these are just zoomed in shots of specific parts, but this mill is not going to be scratch free at all.

I do not want you to be unhappy with it, so whatever you want to do is fine, but it is not going to compare to your knee mill's ground surface, they are not the same class of machine.

So either return for a refund, or exchange towards a 728 which is more along the lines of that 935 that you have."

The second response.

"Also if you feel I am missing something, please take a pic of the whole table surface so I can see that from farther back so I can get a whole visual to see if I am missing something."

Not looking good at getting any resolution for the table with defects.  

I'm going to try sending some more pictures in hopes that he can see the difference in the nice surface finish on the carriage ways versus the shitty surface finish on the table top. I doubt that's going to make any difference to him given the tone of his responses so far but I've got to try.

Ed

[Vinny]

How much more is the 728 he refers to? Is switching to that feasible?

[EdK]

(03-29-2022, 02:28 PM)Vinny Wrote: How much more is the 728 he refers to?  Is switching to that feasible?

$4500 vs $3100. It's not in the budget. I was stretching it going with the PM-25MV with the DRO. Plus the cost of buying the materials to create the crate for the mill and then the cost of shipping it back.

All I really want is my mill with no defects. I don't think that's too much to ask for in a new machine no matter what it costs. I'm guessing if I was a you-tuber with 10s of thousands of subscribers the outcome might be different, maybe.

Ed

[EdK]

The latest  response from Matt at Precision Matthews.

"If you returned it, we would cover the shipping costs and just use the original crate, maybe you already got rid of it though but if you are not happy with it we would give a full refund. You would not be out anything.

........"

That's good news but I don't want to return it. It's a good size for my space. I'm going to go ahead and finish assembling it and take some measurements to see what the tolerances are. Maybe I'm making too much of this.  

Ed

[Highpower]

(03-29-2022, 02:50 PM)EdK Wrote: All I really want is my mill with no defects. I don't think that's too much to ask for in a new machine no matter what it costs. I'm guessing if I was a you-tuber with 10s of thousands of subscribers the outcome might be different, maybe.

Ed

For a new machine in the crate that costs $3K+ I would expect no less. Never mind the table finish. The burn marks in the table and the lack of full contact surfaces on the table dovetails are unacceptable in my opinion. What happens a month from now when that table cracks through that HAZ area? Either get the table, or the entire machine replaced or you will be kicking yourself later on for not doing so. Failing that I would take the refund myself. PM isn't the only game in town.

Yeah, it's funny how some YouTuber gets multiple major parts warrantied and shipped to them without question though...

[rleete]

Personally, I'd return it. For 3 grand, I would expect better quality than you have shown. Surface finish of the bed I could live with, but defects in the ways is unacceptable.

[vtsteam]

Response from the company did not include reference to the substantial issues of partially cut dovetails or burn mark, and did not address the purchaser request for a replacement table, rather than return shipment and refund.

That's problematic.

[EdK]

I haven't made any decisions on the mill yet. Here it is mostly reassembled except for the head assembly and the DRO. Tomorrow I'm going to attach a DTI to the column and run the table the full extent of its travel and see what I get.

Ed

   

[EdK]