what are some brands of high quality tooling available used?

[jrude]

I've been watching ebay for used high quality tooling, but the reality is, I really don't know which brands are good and which are not.

I'm looking for collets, mill holders, end mills, and a drill chuck. I probably don't need the mill holders yet, I just figured I'd buy one if I found a good deal.

I tend to prefer to buy used high quality stuff, because I find I can use it for a long time, and then if I want to sell it, I often break even on the purchase and sale.

I've been looking at some R8 collet sets made by Bridgeport, Steelex, and Royal. I have doubts about Steelex but I really don't know for sure. There are also huge amounts of collet sets made in China, which seem to go for $39.99 for a 13 piece set. I imagine I should avoid those collets.

I know the typical brand names from ebay auctions, but which brands are high value given the quality and which are not so great value given the quality?

For cutters, I'll probably just buy cheap stuff since I've been told by a local old timer that in the beginning I'm just going to ruin it anyway.

Thanks

[EddyCurr]

Albrecht and Jacobs are well respected brand names for drill chucks.

What type of collet system? Collis and Erickson are two mfrs that are well
regarded.

.

[jrude]

It's an R8 Bridgeport. Or am I not answering the question? I'm not an expert.

[aboard_epsilon]

Crawford or Hardinge for collets

Bristol-Erickson and Nikken or Clarkson or Sandvik for adaptors and holders

Clarkson ..sometimes just listed as Autolock or deadlock

Bristol Erickson can be Bristol or Erickson ..or listed as Acromil or just BE

all the above are probably going to be second hand / used ..so beware

not too many people use endmill holders

all the best.markj

[macona]

Rego Fix is good

[SGW]

Hardinge or Royal for collets. Both are top quality. Remember that, if buying used, condition is everything. A worn-out Hardinge collet is no better than any other brand of worn-out collet.

I would buy good collets at the beginning. You will use them ALL the time and IMO it's worth getting the good stuff for such heavily-used items.

If this is for a milling machine, you really need only about five to do most everything. The two * ones might be nice, and you may want them someday, but starting out you probably won't. Any other sizes, based on my experience, you will probably never, ever use. This assumes R8 collets:

1/8*, 3/16, 1/4*, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4

End mil holders: I've got a holder made by ETM that I find perfectly satisfactory.

[jrude]

1/8*, 3/16, 1/4*, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3

Is the last digit a 3/4" or a 3"?

thanks

[aboard_epsilon]

i think 1 inch is the max for r8

as]ter that you have to move onto collet chucks that stick down below the spindle .

or flycutters ..or the deadlock ones i mentioned.

all the best.markj

[Toolguy]

I have tons of R8 tooling. The largest size collet that works good is 3/4. There is a 7/8 and a 1 inch collet. The 7/8 gets very thin and sometimes one part will break off if overstressed but is useable with some care. The 1 in. one sticks down below the spindle. I have not figured out a use for that one.
The solid endmill holders are quite useful. I use them from 1/8 up to 1-1/4. The big ones hang down a lot, but my mills have 20 and 24 inches of Z height so not a problem for me. The best collet endmill holders for R8 is the ER series. I would get ER32 for all around use, ER16 is better for the small stuff 1/4 in. or less.

[loose nut]

i think 1 inch is the max for r8

as]ter that you have to move onto collet chucks that stick down below the spindle .

or flycutters ..or the deadlock ones i mentioned.

all the best.markj

R8 collets go to 1 1/8" but they don't have a lot of gripping surface, there is a lip on the inside that limits how far you can put something like an endmill into them.