The Bridgeport Mill

Reviewer: David G.

I wouldn't consider this the best instructional video on milling. The approach is very causal - i.e. a lot of setting things up by eye. Although one might be able to get some work done, I question the accuracy and repeatability of the methods used here.

Reviewer: John P.

As with the Lathe Learnin' set, Precision Measurement here produces a remarkably good piece of instruction. The instructor (whose name I never can quite get) communicates his own enthusiasm for machine tool operation, in this case, the Bridgeport type mill. The applications are mostly automotive and very little if any use is made of end mill work, but as an overall introduction and encouragement to the use of a mill this is quite excellent. Many of the set up proceedures are visual using a variety of fixtures;and that may strike some users as superficial; but, they work! There is much to machinig that can seem wearisome to a beginner or at least a less than expert machinist. This video eliminates much of that dread.

Reviewer: Malcolm L.

I have rented both this "Bridgeport Mill" DVD and the "Lathe Learnin'" series by the same author. I loved them all. I have been lucky enough a few times to have worked with guys like this that share tips and tricks that save time and strain but still turn out work that is accurate and quality oriented. (This guy builds tools for NASCAR teams among others, so he knows what's needed.) He may be casual but he's a machinist I'd like to work next to for a good while.

Let's face it, most of the manual Bridgeport type mills are now in the hands of small shops and individuals; the quantity production work and high precision stuff is being done with megabucks CNC. The rest of us are delighted to learn how to work easily within 1 or 2 thousandths in the manner this video shows. I use my ancient Bridgeport and my other shop equipment to build and maintain parts for other vintage machines and antique vehicles. This DVD was perfect for my needs and I recommend it.

Besides, what's not to love about a small Texas shop with a hound dog walking around in the background (and obviously drinking out of the toilet); this is real life in the shop!

Reviewer: Gene S.

The whole series seemed a bit on the sales side, trying to sell fixtures. Really the only portion I liked was on the 3rd disk. This some brief information on the rotary table.

Reviewer: Austin L.

He seems like a really nice guy, but he doesn't represent the machining trade very well. I'm sure if the good folks at Bridgeport saw how he treated their machines they would send a hit squad after him. I started out as an automotive machinist and later went into the general machining trade and believe me, the two are nothing alike. This is meatball machining. I did laugh though when he used a spray bottle of ethal alcohol as coolant.

Reviewer: Gerald C.

Where this series doesn't cover the basic operations thoroughly, it is a more advanced on methods, techniques. The nuggets of information throughout these videos make this set worthwhile. While not professionally filmed, I rent these videos for the information content, this is money well spent. I thought so much that I also rented his lathe Learning series.

Reviewer: John K.

These tapes provided a lot of of needed information...Easy to understand...A BIG HELP---Thanks

Reviewer: Gary R.

The narrator really has a shop knowledge of the mill and is able to get across the ways of using a mill other than the Bridgeport only. Liked the video very much and hope he has others.

Reviewer: Don L.

I would rate this DVD as just "Okay". The material was okay, the instructor wasn't fancy, just an enjoyable, down to earth working guy. The trouble with the DVD is that the total package and time of the video isn't justified by the rental fee.

Reviewer: Mark P.

The good (I have to emphasize, for the most part, this DVD set is such a hideous turd that there had to be something good here to get me to rate it anything but bad): - He does give some different approaches to common automotive problems. Other’s have called it “meatball machining,” but I will argue that there are times that you do what works best, and if it’s not the “correct” way of doing it, well you live with it. - Does give some OK advice on what accessories are a good place to spend money for your mill.

The bad: - Probably close to 1/3 of the total content is an advertisement for PM’s products. I mean common, “here’s our headholding fixture…” “here’s our flycutter…” “we’re going to use our alignment tool again…” - Ok, I’m willing to overlook a lot for good technical information, I mean, put a guy in a shop with a DVcam and I’ll watch it if the info is there, but this is a bit ridiculous. The sound level is roughly 35-50% of what it should have been set at (if you’re watching this on a laptop with wimpy speakers it becomes a real problem), there’s tons of noise, especially in the 3rd dvd and the picture leaves almost as much to be desired as the audio. Again, I’ll put up with all sorts of cruft to get good info, but at the price that they’re charging for this thing selling a few DVD’s would pay for equipment to produce _much_ better quality output. Along these lines, I can deal with a dog walking in and out of the picture, or our “host” stammering a bit and figuring out where he’s going with what he’s talking about, but, come on, you couldn’t stop for a 30 seconds to let the ice cream truck pass so you’re not trying to talk over the music???

Reviewer: David D.

Although he does not have a "professional" demeanor, It was fine. I learned several tips/tricks. As far as he "pushing" the items he sells...well if you look close and pay attention you could make the tooling/fixtures that he shows. Helpful information for "gear heads". Drill out broken studs/bolts, drilling pistons, fly cutting a head. I will continue to use this service as the prices seem reasonable, and I'm not sure where else to go to find similar videos...