03-27-2013, 07:53 PM
Mine's from 1980-81. I was after a drill press and saw this big honkin' thing that does just dandy for drilling holes. The only "bridgeport" I've run was a profile mill, all hydraulic. A machinist friend stopped by a while back and was surprised to see a 3/4" endmill in the Busy Bee. I plopped a chunk of steel in the vice and made some chips, he said "Huh. That would of tasked a Bridgeport." Our weld shop has a Chinese turret mill with a 5Hp motor, it's a bobble head that shudders and shakes - no way it will deliver 5hp to the cutter. No way. Another friend and commercial shop owner has a bona-fide Bridgeport, and I've seen some pretty rough work come off of that thing, but he's usually in a hurry.
Dunno, the Busy Bee seems fine to me. I've a vertical head for the old horizontal but the mill-drill is already handy. No DRO, no adjustable collars, no vertical ways, it can be a pain at times.
Dunno, the Busy Bee seems fine to me. I've a vertical head for the old horizontal but the mill-drill is already handy. No DRO, no adjustable collars, no vertical ways, it can be a pain at times.