Central Machinery mill

I don't know which model the #981 is, but I've included a picture of mine. Vz58 also has this model and helped me out when I first got it. He added a digital caliper to the down feed to get a better measurement of the down feed which is kind of vague at times. For getting it into the shop a engine hoist is great, but I bolted a 2500# eye bolt to the main beam in my garage and winched the mill off of a trailer and set it down on a base that I made out of unistrut with casters and levers on the bottem. This model is very capable although as Viperdude pointed out "it aint no bridgport". Is this the model? Since the picture I've added a 6" kurt milling vise as the little blue vise in the picture couldn't hold the work very well.
So far I've made a few receivers with the mill and modifed a bunch of suomi and a few pps43 bolts. I most recently fluted a 20" ar15 barrel with it.

Dark Knight,
The one your looking at is the lighter weight one, about 350 lbs, the one I got is the model #590 and is about 650 lbs. The one Moleman has shows 700 lbs on HF's site.
It's just a little smaller then the one I got, 4" stroke compared to 5". The table is a little smaller, 20"x6" mine is 28"x8". They both have 12 speeds, yours has a little slower low speed but the high speed is about the same.
OK that's just some of the minor differences, other then that they are almost the same, I don't know what they left out to get it 300 lbs lighter. You will need a solid & heavy bench/table to mount it to, being that light it might shimmy or hop if you get to hard on a cut.

As for cutting receivers, I think it would but for ones like milled receivers it would take a while and everything would have to be done with light cuts. But then again your not a business trying to pump them out as fast as you can, you want it for the hobby and save some money not paying the businessman his fees.

In my opinion, if you can get it for around $200 (you have to judge on it's condition and how hard it was used) it would be a decent starter/small project mill, if they want more then that you'll have to think about it hard.
But that's my $.02, it might be worth more but I'd think a mill almost 30 years old won't be in excellent condition.
And you have to think about the vise, if it looks like a nice quality vice that might make a difference in the price you think about, a good vise can run $100-200 easy. If it looks basic or low end, just think of it as a part of the mill and don't give it any value, a cheap vice is just that "cheap" and you can got one of those yourself.

If you decide to get it and there's no manual, let me know and I'll try to scan mine for you. But the manual isn't very good, the belt settings and exploded views are about the only really useful info in it.

Hope my rambling was useful

index mill

thanks for all the replys.

I found this one for $1200 I can't find out the model number though. It has x power feed, quill power feed and a 9 x 42 table. Seems like an ok deal. I'd like to get a model number. I did some research on Index people seem to like you guys now much about them?

I purchased this Bridgeport for $1500.00 several years ago. It is tight and in great shape. Looked much better after a good cleaning. Even came with a Bridgeport 8" mill vise. It uses the R8 collets. I have since added DRO's, moterized the X axis and added a power chuck/collet release to speed tool changes. It cuts smoothe as glass. I have used it to flycut several, flathead, 4-cyl, Jeep heads..PERFECT.

I used an imported benchtop mill-drill for some years...they are good drills and OK for VERY LIGHT/ SMALL, milling work. Way to much chatter for any serious millwork and the screws and nuts wear out too quickly. Too hard to find parts for. Buy American. A "Mill" without a "knee," is a waste of money. Let the ****** keep their junk machine tools.