Buying a Myford MG12 via ebay. What should I ask the seller?

[rhb]

I've never even been in the same room with a cylindrical grinder. The MG12 looks to be an appropriate size for my purposes. Unfortunately, the machine in question is 2000 miles away. So first hand inspection is not very practical.

A search on PM showed that Millacron sold one a few years ago. That and all the other posts (I did not read all 8 pages) make clear it's a well respected machine.

What questions should I ask the seller?

Thanks,
Reg

 

[Overland]

If you have an iPhone, maybe a "video conference" to hear/see machine working, and also get a sense of who the seller is.
Disclaimer: Yes I do have an iPhone, and I love it !
Bob

 

[rhb]

I've got an iPad. The larger problem is knowing what questions to ask. Lathes and mills I'm reasonably familiar with. Grinders are a whole other kettle of fish. After the bare basics I'm lost.

The MG12 is 5" x 12" with 3" over the cross slide, though I'm not sure what the latter means with a grinder. But it's big enough for anything I'm likely to do.

What I don't need is another project. I've already got far too many.

Reg

 

[john.k]

Possibly badly worn slideways ........Im not familiar with the Myford,but I have seen them ...........by the time you pay for that much freight you will have a considerable investment in a machine that you havent even inspected............You might also consider that as grinders go ,its a tiddler,and chatter and vibration may be a problem with a light machine..............this is the general fail for most attempts to use a T&C grinder as a universal grinder.

 

[rhb]

At over 2000 lbs it seems pretty heavy to me, but as I said, I'm completely ignorant of grinders.

 

[MCritchley]

Perhaps wait and find a running one at an auction. Don’t buy a cheap Myford, there are better ones out there. The really cheap machines will not grind to the tolerances you want.

 

[john.k]

A small Cincinnatti universal about 10x20 will weigh 4 tons ........some machines for grinding tiny pieces weigh twice that .........you cant get precision without cast iron............and you wont get precision from a converted tool and cutter grinder.

 

[drcoelho]

There are many of these for sale throughout USA, checkout machinio.com. I would strongly suggest you find one closer to you and check it out in person. Given that the main point of cylindrical grinding is uber precision, I would recommend you find what that you know is not worn out.

 

[drcoelho]

Also, these are very nice machines, and do good work.

 

[rhb]

I'm in central Arkansas, so auctions are a fool's errand waste of gasoline.

Given my complete ignorance, paying a knowledgeable person to inspect one would be money well spent. But finding such a person is another problem.

I've spent about $25k buying electronics test gear via ebay and mailing lists with no issues. But shipping is cheaper and I know how to evaluate that stuff when it arrives.

I understand ways and bearings. What worries me is "is there something else specific to grinders?"

The seller says he can hold 2 tenths on a 1" x 12" bar. With the usual caveat that you need to know how. I'd expect a "machinist" to do that on a worn out machine. It's just slow. I'm not a "machinist". So much more dependent upon the accuracy of the machine.

 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

”Myford “ grinders appear to have a really good reputation. They aren’t “ hobby shop “ machines like their lathes are. I’ve seen them knocking around in various tool rooms. I’ve never actually worked on one, normally it was “ Jones & Shipman “ or “ Churchill “, both of those makes are excellent.
Milacron has had one or two for sale in the past maybe you should contact him.
As far as I know they are no longer manufactured but somebody will probably have the rights to spare parts etc.

Edit - “ Jubilee machine tools “ in deepest Derbyshire in the UK advertise “ Myford “ machines for sale and appear to have plenty of knowledge regarding spares and service. I knew I dealt with somebody down there regarding grinding machines. They and “ Andmar “ are the two that came to mind.
How much are you planning to pay ? From what I recall they were a pretty expensive little machine.

Regards Tyrone.

 

[rhb]

There's one in Anderson, CA that the owner is asking $3500 for. That seems a bit cheap. He says he bought it for that and then spent that much having the electricals fixed. He says it will hold 2 tenths on a 1" x 12" bar and that the ways and bearings are in good shape.

It's a long way from me, so by the time it was shipped I'd be in for around $6k. The ideal thing would be for me to pay someone in CA to inspect it for me. Are there people who do that? If so how would I find someone?

 

[eKretz]

Buying a grinder sight unseen or without actually testing it is a bit of a gamble. Generally one would like to grind a test piece on a cylindrical grinder so you can see what you've got in terms of straightness. Looking at pictures isn't going to help a whole lot unless you can get some images of the machine's ways and see if the scraping is still there, worn away in certain places, etc.

 

[rhb]

I'm thinking of asking the seller to grind a bar while I watch via Facetime and then ship me the bar for inspection at my cost.

I'm so far from the manufacturing centers in the US that finding a machine in good shape which is closer is likely a long wait.