Max K.'s Profile

Video: The Milling Machine and its Uses

This is a pretty good introduction to vertical milling for the home machinist. The reviewer performs most basic milling and setup tasks on a homemade mini-mill, which is a pretty impressive machine. Basic clamping and locating are shown, with frank evaluations of various techniques for each. The demonstrator is obviously an accomplished machinist, and the narrative includes a number of tips and bacground information not generally found in texts. The operation of end mills, slitting saws, dovetail cutters, key cutters and fly mills are shown in some detail, with some intelligent and helpful commentaries about their use and operation. The lighting and photography are adequate to see the operations. Downsides: The video only shows the operation of one machine, so toolholding information is limited to one rather unique configuration. The closeups of cutting operations are a little long, but if you fastforward through them you might miss some of the narrative. And its sometimes hard to tell if he's cutting steel or aluminum. But all-in-all, it's a worthwhile video from a knowledgeable guy who obviously put a lot of thought and work into it.