Originally Posted by
hoss2006
The extra weight of the g0619 does nothing to help it's rigidity, it has an open column.
It's been shown the the g0704 can cut better, has more travels, is much cheaper, has better tapered gibs and comes with a stand.
Do some more research before you buy something you may regret.
Hoss
I agree 100% to this statement from Hoss. If you want something bigger than the G704 go with a Rf-45 type machine ( that would be a GO720R or GO722 I believe in a Grizz). Very nice and capable machines if this much machine is needed. Ofcourse you can find other RF-45 type mills around cheaper with just as much rigidity and travel but less bells and wistles. The IH clone being the mac daddy of the bunch I guess, or the IH itself ( higher price but maybe cheaper than the griz). Where talking 650 to 1100lb machines.
Even though the 704 is lighter the column design and mounting has done a lot for it.
I will also have to say a used BP is not as hard to have, and is by all means way above & beyound any of the benchtop mills, that I would think long and hard before not buying one.
One thing I have seen is on the room comment. By the time you put one of these benchtops mills on a bench it really comes very close to taking the room of a BP mill ( more so with the RF-45 types, the 704 is smaller). True foot print the BP may even be smaller in some cases, but room for the big table to move, and the height have to be considered. But a BP does fit real nice in a corner also. The three phase or 220 thing is no big deal, but yea not as easy as just using 110v household circuits. VFD with a three phase motor is the way to go for best performance anyway (on any mill with A/C current). But the small benchtops with DC motors work good, but many have changed for bigger DC motors and controllers becuaase of power and reliabillty problems. you should read HOss's GO704 build threads.
Ofcourse you only need a machine to handle what your tying to do. If the Go704 fits that then it is a very affordable & usefull machine. But mind you, a old BP guys is going to be very dissapointed with it unless he looks at it like its a tool, and only needs to do the job. If he starts compairing he want like it.
Then there is the fact that everyoen that gets into this hobby always wants to grow, go bigger, have more. One thing they start learnign what they can really do and realize they could do more if they had more/bigger. Maybe not the case here with his age and expeirance, IDK, your call.
If he really want to only do the hobby air planes and such small jobs the GO704 is going to be hard to beat, if not imposible. They do seem to be coming up with new designs quite often here lately though, but for the GO704's target customer and price range your not going to do any better.
Jess
GOD Bless, and prayers for all.