I bought an Ex-cell-o Mill (XLO) first gen mill Saturday 7/17/21. - Page 2

jdrimm · 07-30-21, 10:47 PM

I'm a journeyman machinist by trade. The Ecello is a nice heavy duty machine, emphasis on the heavy! To that point, please don't put it on wheels. I know the mobility is attractive, but the mill needs to be very accurately leveled to run right. I use a master precision level, accurate to .0002" in 10". like this:https://www.amazon.com/findmall-Prof...xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

If you put it on wheels, it will twist as you move it, and you will find it impossible to get a square, parallel cut.

That mill can do a huge amount of work, and you are in for many hours of fun learning to use it!

Elcam84 · 07-31-21, 10:41 PM

The lathes never go that cheap though and I have more need for a lathe than a mill. The two $100 ones at auction were pretty worn out and had shop made riser blocks on them which is pretty common to see done in shops to extend the usefulness of them. If I had a way to get them home easily I would have had them both regardless of wear.

I like that lowrider dolly for the mill.

I did find a lathe along my trip in february out to Charlotte and back but I didn't have a quick way to get it loaded on the trailer. And I'm kind of glad as a heavy lathe on the trailer would have been fun on the drive home through Mississippi and LA where they don't have graders to clear the ice off the roads.

One of these days I'll find a deal on a nice Monarch off a ship preferably as that history part is pretty cool.

This was a clear section of the freeway in MS... We were stopped on the freeway for a while for some reason so everyone got out of their cars and stretched their legs. I got stuck in West Monroe for 2 nights since the freeway was closed and I had a flat tire to be fixed and no tire shop there will fix a tire they didn't sell you...

pinballlooking · 08-03-21, 10:37 AM

I bought a drill check for it.

I is crazy tools for the mill you can get a china chuck $20 or a 1K chuck.
this is something I should use a fair amount it seemed like this chuck got good reviews so I though I would try it. I found a coupon got it for $300 shipped. saw the same exact one for $600
It comes with a test sheet showing not much runout.

As I buy stuff for the mill not being a machinist it is hard to know if a cheep tool for this is fine or a cheap tool is just throwing money away is very hard to know what to buy.

pinballlooking · 08-11-21, 05:52 PM

I have been too busy to get the mill off the trailer but I need steel, so it had to get it off the trailer.
Finally, I have some of the mill in the shop. It took almost all day.
I had to take the top off man this thing is heavy.
I used my neighbor’s tractor it sure needs some ballast.

pinballlooking · 12-06-21, 02:22 PM

I finally found time to get the mill put back together.
I took jdrimm advice and did not put it on wheels.
Now I need to get my Rotary phase converter hooked up and get it put to work.

I ordered a 3 axis DRO If you want to do any precision. This is very useful.
They let me customize the scale sizes.

My Z axis will be the bottom knee.

Elcam84 · 12-06-21, 02:28 PM

I have been looking at lathes on a few auction sites. Found a Monarch EE I'd like to have out west but it's not the best time of year to be buying and hauling equipment.

pinballlooking · 12-06-21, 02:52 PM

My shop is getting very full. I must tell myself.
I do not need a lathe I do not need a lathe.

I need to learn how to use my mill first anyway.

pinballlooking · 12-06-21, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdrimm

I'm a journeyman machinist by trade. The Ecello is a nice heavy duty machine, emphasis on the heavy! To that point, please don't put it on wheels. I know the mobility is attractive, but the mill needs to be very accurately leveled to run right. I use a master precision level, accurate to .0002" in 10". like this:https://www.amazon.com/findmall-Prof...xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

If you put it on wheels, it will twist as you move it, and you will find it impossible to get a square, parallel cut.

That mill can do a huge amount of work, and you are in for many hours of fun learning to use it!

This forum is all about people in the know helping others.
Thanks for the advice. I did not put it on wheels, and I ordered the level you recommended to get it level.

pinballlooking · 03-04-23, 05:25 PM

I can tell one thing I am not fast on projects.
The mill has a rotery phase converter and is being put to work.

jdrimm · 03-04-23, 05:41 PM

Great! Have fun!

07-30-21, 10:47 PM	#11
jdrimm Lurking Renovator Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: KY, USA (deployed to Djibouti, Africa) Posts: 8 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Nice! I'm a journeyman machinist by trade. The Ecello is a nice heavy duty machine, emphasis on the heavy! To that point, please don't put it on wheels. I know the mobility is attractive, but the mill needs to be very accurately leveled to run right. I use a master precision level, accurate to .0002" in 10". like this:https://www.amazon.com/findmall-Prof...xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ== If you put it on wheels, it will twist as you move it, and you will find it impossible to get a square, parallel cut. That mill can do a huge amount of work, and you are in for many hours of fun learning to use it!

07-31-21, 10:41 PM	#12
Elcam84 Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: TX Posts: 275 Thanks: 2 Thanked 31 Times in 24 Posts	The lathes never go that cheap though and I have more need for a lathe than a mill. The two $100 ones at auction were pretty worn out and had shop made riser blocks on them which is pretty common to see done in shops to extend the usefulness of them. If I had a way to get them home easily I would have had them both regardless of wear. I like that lowrider dolly for the mill. I did find a lathe along my trip in february out to Charlotte and back but I didn't have a quick way to get it loaded on the trailer. And I'm kind of glad as a heavy lathe on the trailer would have been fun on the drive home through Mississippi and LA where they don't have graders to clear the ice off the roads. One of these days I'll find a deal on a nice Monarch off a ship preferably as that history part is pretty cool. This was a clear section of the freeway in MS... We were stopped on the freeway for a while for some reason so everyone got out of their cars and stretched their legs. I got stuck in West Monroe for 2 nights since the freeway was closed and I had a flat tire to be fixed and no tire shop there will fix a tire they didn't sell you... Attached Thumbnails

08-03-21, 10:37 AM	#13
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	I bought a drill check for it. I is crazy tools for the mill you can get a china chuck $20 or a 1K chuck. this is something I should use a fair amount it seemed like this chuck got good reviews so I though I would try it. I found a coupon got it for $300 shipped. saw the same exact one for $600 It comes with a test sheet showing not much runout. As I buy stuff for the mill not being a machinist it is hard to know if a cheep tool for this is fine or a cheap tool is just throwing money away is very hard to know what to buy. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Solar Install 12.5 Kwh- To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Mini Split installs - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. EV Chevy Volt - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Last edited by pinballlooking; 08-04-21 at 11:19 AM..

08-11-21, 05:52 PM	#14
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	I have been too busy to get the mill off the trailer but I need steel, so it had to get it off the trailer. Finally, I have some of the mill in the shop. It took almost all day. I had to take the top off man this thing is heavy. I used my neighbor’s tractor it sure needs some ballast. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Solar Install 12.5 Kwh- To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Mini Split installs - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. EV Chevy Volt - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-06-21, 02:22 PM	#15
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	I finally found time to get the mill put back together. I took jdrimm advice and did not put it on wheels. Now I need to get my Rotary phase converter hooked up and get it put to work. I ordered a 3 axis DRO If you want to do any precision. This is very useful. They let me customize the scale sizes. My Z axis will be the bottom knee. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Solar Install 12.5 Kwh- To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Mini Split installs - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. EV Chevy Volt - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-06-21, 02:28 PM	#16
Elcam84 Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: TX Posts: 275 Thanks: 2 Thanked 31 Times in 24 Posts	I have been looking at lathes on a few auction sites. Found a Monarch EE I'd like to have out west but it's not the best time of year to be buying and hauling equipment.

12-06-21, 02:52 PM	#17
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	My shop is getting very full. I must tell myself. I do not need a lathe I do not need a lathe. I need to learn how to use my mill first anyway. __________________ Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Solar Install 12.5 Kwh- To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Mini Split installs - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. EV Chevy Volt - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-04-23, 05:25 PM	#19
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	I can tell one thing I am not fast on projects. The mill has a rotery phase converter and is being put to work. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Solar Install 12.5 Kwh- To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Mini Split installs - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. EV Chevy Volt - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-04-23, 05:41 PM	#20
jdrimm Lurking Renovator Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: KY, USA (deployed to Djibouti, Africa) Posts: 8 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Great! Have fun!