Sharp knee mill questions

[elginrunner]

I may have line on a machine coming up for sale. No prices, (place is closing doors soon). It's a Sharp QMV-2 verticle mill. Power cross feed. 10x50 table. Newall DRO.

I have no experience with a mill other than identifying one by picture! I can't lay hands on it to do a visual inspection yet. Before I get too wrapped up and excited about it, Are they, or were they any good?? Import or American made? Any other useful info would be great...

[DFMiller]

Sharp is one of the older machine importers.
Most of their older stuff I know is Taiwanese.
The seem to have some support for the older stuff along with documentation.
I have 70's or 80's 6x26 vertical mill. I was able to get a copy of the manual and some parts that sorta fit. It was leadscrew nuts.

I think their stuff is equal to or better than the new Grizzly stuff.

So do you research and then look at the machine and evaluate.

Good luck.
Dave

[Rich Carlstedt]

Their latest mill ( 3 yrs ago) has the sweetest (vibration free) and most quiet variable speed head that I have ever heard or seen in my 50 years of shop work.
They have made inroads in the past 30 years and I consider them superior to many other Bridgeport imposters.
The older models would have a early failure problem with plastic parts in the varispeed head.

Worthwhile for a shop tool

Rich

[thomj]

I have a Sharp mill I bought new 5 years ago. It is way better than a grizzley or jet. It gets about 10-20 hours a week use. I bought the one with electronic variable speed. I love it. I also have a used bridgeport with the manual variable speed. The bridgeport is a good mill, but I always end up using the Sharp because I like it better. I am a one man machine shop. I would buy another one when this one wears out. (not that it is going to wear out anytime soon) I've had no problems with this machinie.

[Toolguy]

I have used Sharp lathes and mills many times and consider them to be good quality well built machines.

[Orrin]

I have a Sharp mill--I believe it to be a different model--and I am delighted with it. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Folks tell me there are a few hundred pounds more iron in it than a similar Bridgeport.

Orrin

[Frank Ford]

Me, too.

I have a Sharp LMV - I think it's their smallest Bridgeport clone (9x42). Got it new eight years ago, fully equipped with DRO, power X and knee, power drawbar. It came with built in phase conversion and electronic variable speed. Haven't regretted the purchase for a moment. As the old Gibson guitar catalog said in 1921, "Gives satisfaction long after the price is forgotten." Self-serving propaganda, but true nonetheless.

Two disclaimers:

Almost all of my milling is on stuff that can be lifted easily with one hand, so I don't really test the rigidity of the machine, and my only other milling experience has been with a series of school and shared-shop Bridgeports (and clones). And, those were all in need of serious adjustment or minor repair.

Because of my limited hands-on time and knowledge, I relied on a trusted and very experienced machinist pal to guide my selection.

[A.K. Boomer]

I think their stuff is equal to or better than the new Grizzly stuff.

There's no comparison ---- Sharps are very high quality machines...

[elginrunner]

thank you fellows for the comments. It makes me feel a lot better about putting in an offer on this machine when the time comes.

Hope everyone has had a good weekend.