kgstakes

I’m convinced for what I want to do this will do it!!! Thank you for all your help. i have a proxxon table saw and really like it. Thanks again

Is there any movement when using it as a mill (head movement) it’ll stay vertical, true with no movement? Heck if that’s the case that may be the way I want to go for now at least (and maybe for ever if it works the way I want it to) and less expensive than a mini mill.

On top towards the rear above the spring? Looks like bolt with a locking nut. So you can turn that to adjust and lock the rotary tool at any vertical Z axis that you want?

I thought of that idea too buying a proxxon Professional Rotary Tool IBS/E and the drill press attachment and also the X Y table. But wasn't sure about the side pressure and I really didn't know who to micro adjust the Z axis. How do you micro adjust the Z axis with your set up?

i looked at them but if i do want to do some sort of milling operation (and i say that but I’m not doing the milling operations that most do with metal I’m working mainly in wood). the side pressure will damage the drill press because it’s not made for that only vertical. i know at some point i may do some metal work. i just don’t like the hearing that so many small mills have and why plastic gears? Because it’s cheaper? Why not just have it belt driven? Be quieter. More that I’ve gotten feed back on this not real sore which way to go. Have to think on it and do some more research before I buy.

Thank you for your response. That is what interested me in the first place is that I could use it as a drill press as well as a mill. i do need a better drill press rather than what I am using (dremel with their drill stand). Again thanks for responding. Still looking at options.

It kinda sounds like I should be looking at the Taig Mill or the Sherline Mill for any "real milling". Whether it be metal or wood. Currently, I'm building a lot of miniature furniture. But I also enjoy building horse drawn vehicles, railroad equipment, boats and ships (not so much the last two but did enjoy it). So, next question, if you had to choose a small mini mill (for model work) what would you purchase? You've pretty much talked me out of the Innocraftsman mill so give me some ideas. My thoughts are I have a taig lathe so go with a taig but, I know sherline has good products too. I was also looking at the proxxon mill but I don't like the gears that so many other mini mills have. I like my shop to be quite. Well, music playing but no loud gears!! LOL Let me know your thoughts please, I'm in no hurry to purchase anything so waiting until I can purchase a better machine is not a problem. As I stated before, I'll be working mainly in wood but milling out parts for a carriage or a wagon out of brass would be nice as well. Thank you for your time and patience and looking forward to any and all suggestions.

Thanks for all the comments. What I would probably be using the mill for is to replace my Dremel drill press set up. I would like to do some "milling" which would be for my miniature furniture and so I would be using it basically as a shaper sorta speak to do dovetails and dadoes that are to small in with for my table saw that I use now for dadoes (1/16" wide). Also, to do mortise and tenon joinery like I do in my wood shop with a mortising machine. And the one thing that I did like was that it looks to be belt driven verses the plastic gears that you see on other mini mills. Hopefully run quieter too. Someone said it looks like a beefier drill press, I guess that is what I'm looking for that can take the side pressure like a mill can. Most larger drill presses are not designed to have side pressure, they can only handle (really well) vertical pressure. Hence the reason I'm looking at a small mill verses a benchtop drill press. I would be using dental tooling for all my applications and I would see myself doing some metal work with a mill but mostly I would with wood. Same as my Taig lathe. I've done some metal turning on it but mostly wood. I know then why not get a wood lathe? I like the accuracy I get with the Taig that I could not get with a regular wood lathe. Again thanks for the comments and as far as holding things I think (not sure) the holes on the table would work for making an accessory holding jig and bolt to those thread holes (I think they are threaded). I don't think they are countersunk screws for just holding the top plate 🤔🤔.

Has anyone used any of the Innocraftsman tools? I am looking at replacing my dremel drill press with a mill and the only mini mill I seen that has a "hand crank" like a drill press is from Innocraftsman. The only part that I'm a little concerned about is the table they are using. No T slots. Wonder why. Seems all others you have to turn the top wheel for the Z axis. Which for milling is fine but for drilling a hole, would take forever. Bridgeport mills have a hand crank for moving the Z axis (which is a full size machine) I question why the smaller machines don't offer that. Anyway, if anyone has used or even has seen one in person, what's your thoughts on the Innocraftsman products. Good? Bad? Stay Away? Here is a picture of what I'm looking at buying. Thoughts?

Taig lathe - I got the factory assembled with power feed and then bought most of the accessories for it. then I also bought tool post for wood turning and a few other accessories. One thing I still need to get is a 4 jaw chuck and I’ll buy that from sherline (only because of the smaller size they offer). What mill to you buy from taig?

Maybe a little late here but I own a taig lathe and am very happy with the results I get with it. I’ve turned metal and wood on it and works well for both. The smallest I’ve turned - see picture below chair I turned all on taig lathe and it’s 1/12 th scale.

Just finished this Model T. I've built two, one a touring car and now this firetruck. Kits are pretty easy to build, some areas a little tricky but all in all goes together well. Enjoy the pictures. Kurt

you do a fantastic job woodcarving my friend. I’ve tried it and done some chip carving but nothing even close to what you can do. Keep up the great work!!

Thank you for the kind words. I do really enjoy building models and miniatures. Since I was 8 years old, I have found joy and relaxation in building models. From my first plastic car to model railroading to now building miniature furniture and wooden models, I thoroughly enjoy the hobby. History about me: As a young man I always wanted to build buildings for architectural firms but was told I did not have the education (degree). So, then I always liked the outdoors and at that time going up in Colorado, I wanted to go into Forestry and Wildlife management. Again, was told without the education (degree) I would never be able to work in the Forestry or Wildlife Dept. During high school, I since I liked to build things I always took wood shop. So I followed what I knew and really my first love, woodworking. My career has been a mix of many things but mainly some sort of woodworking for the most part. Growing up I had horses and my grandfather was a blacksmith in Michigan. One year I went back to Michigan and learned all about blacksmithing and also how to build and restore horse drawn vehicles. So, after many years working for someone else, I decided to follow in my grandfather's footsteps. I started my own carriage business in Nevada called KG Enterprises. I built carts, wagons, buckboards, built wooden wheels, and made my own hardware for those vehicles. And now, I'm living in Kansas and am semi retired. I say "semi" only because I work three days a week and believe or not doing something completely different than I have ever done before. I work at a small very small meat processing plant where I help cut beef, ribeyes, T bones, briskets, etc. Been fun and a complete change from what I've done as a career. I do still have my woodworking tools and a nice size shop to build what ever I would like. My hobby shop is in the office area of the wood shop and I continue to expand my miniature power tools to basically match what I have in my wood shop. All this to say, all of you build great models, I hope I can some day stand among you as a good or maybe (someday) a great modeler as you all are today. Thank you for allowing me to share a little about myself and what I truly enjoy to do, building miniatures. One of my greatest joys would be to be able to sell my miniature furniture that I build. I would love to build a small business in my retirement years doing what I love to do, miniatures. You all have a great day, and thanks again for all you do for me. Keep modelling, keep sharing with others our great hobby. Kurt KG Miniatures Kansas

You all have seen the process of my build of the San Francisco Cablecar but I wanted to share a slide show I put together of the whole project. Enjoy!! It's about 2 minutes long or so. Kurt San Francisco Cablecar Slideshow.mp4

It's all done!!! Had fun building it and there was some challenges but over all a great model for anyone to build. I will power it but at the present it is not powered. I plan on building some shelving around either the room I use as a modeling area in the house or in my hobby shop out in the woodworking shop. Haven't decided yet (actually haven't gotten the ok from the boss lady). Enjoy the pictures of the finished San Francisco cable car and like I said before a great model to build but I would say to take your time on basically all of it and fill any and all of the joints and tab and slot areas before final paint and decals because even thou some areas are covered in later steps it is much easier to do the decals and the next steps with a smooth surface to work with. The roof I glued up and then before any sanding, I filled all the cracks and edges with wood filler and then sanded it all smooth with (believe or not) my vibrator sander with 150 grit and I think it came out great. Again thank you all for following and not sure what my next project will be (have our basement to finish - studs wall, plumbing and electrical are done, drywall, tape, sand, paint, you get the picture is next). I do have a couple plastic car kits to do and the never ending model railroad to add details to so who knows what the future will bring. Until then, thanks again for following along, it has been a great journey!! By the way, this is my second Occre kit and I really enjoy these kits. They make a great product in my mind. Kurt KG Miniature Workshop Kansas

Well I agree with you all about painting the posts but then I was starting to install the decorative scroll irons and discovered that none of them are square meaning they don’t fit in the corners like they should. And yes, my posts are plumb to the body and roof. So, since the posts hand railing do ma hickies are brass still, I decided to make my own arches out of brass instead of the scrolls. Yes, it’s not as fancy but at least I can make it all work the way I want them to. In the end, I think it looks pretty good. Not like the real ones but it’s a fix and I have more brass on the model and it looks like it’s suppose to be there. Besides, most people will not comment when they visit “those are not supposed to be brass they’re supposed to be painted.” Nah they’ll look at it and recognize that’s it’s a cable car. Thanks for your input but as the build went on changes had to be made.

The earliest or oldest (how ever you want to look at it) is this picture. Black and white and those posts that we have been talking about look to me not painted. Probably bare metal or brass ? You tell me. And then I found this picture as well. Interesting what you can find.

guess the real ones had painted railings. And Canute you’re right my railroad do what makes you happy. For now I like the brass, after it’s all done I can still paint them if I wish but if I paint them and don’t like the way it came out, very hard to change it. Thank you everyone appreciate your input but gut instinct I like the brass……. For now anyway.

I personally like the brass look because it draws your eye inside and not towards the railings. Any other votes before it goes to the paint shop?? i couldn’t decide so if no more votes I’ll paint them. I see what you mean and I was think too much paint already but it’ll look good either way.

Question for everyone, leave the brass posts brass or paint them? Like on the box? Your choice? Need feed back please

Progress, next is the grab handles I guess you call them. The vertical metal posts that you grab when getting on cable car.

Trucks installed platforms in place it’s coming along nicely.

Thought I’d put the trucks under it just for kicks see what it looks like. Course allot of other stuff go on too to make it look like it’s suppose to but thought I’d share.

Trim around roof complete and a few more details added. Have the trucks built ready for final paint and install. It’s getting there!!