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A mini-mill is a nifty little addition to any workshop. It’s portable and affordable but still offers a full range of milling, drilling, and smoothing surfaces.
In this post, you’ll find five of the best mini milling machine options out there and a guide on what features to look for.
Contents
Top 5 Mini Milling Machine Reviews
Without wasting any more of your time, let’s jump right in with my top five picks:
Best Overall: Grizzly Industrial G8689 Mini Milling Machine
The Grizzly Industrial G8689 Mini Milling Machine is suitable for heavy-duty milling on most metal, wood, and polymer sheets.
Product Specs
The travel distance on this mill is 4” cross and 7½” longitudinal. I found the 7½” headstock travel distance perfect to turn the machine into a smooth drill press.
As a plus, you can get the head titled 45° to the left or the right, which allows you to do angled drills without hassling too much with rotating the sheet.
Another aspect that I loved about the G8689 is its safety features. The mini-mill comes with a clear guard on the spindle and a safety shut-off feature.
One downside that you may not love about this mini-mill is its bulky size, arriving in a 149-lb package.
The other major downside to the G8689 is its price. For a beginner user, this tool might be a bit out of budget.
If you want something more affordable, you should consider the Klutch or the Proxxon MF-70, which come at a lower price point.
Keep in mind that Grizzly provides a one-year warranty for all its power tools that protect you against factory defects.
Feature Highlights
The highlight, for us, was the 0.0009″ precision range, which beats any other mill on the list, including the Proxxon MF70. This is impressive, considering the machine’s heavy setup.
Pros:
- Has a spindle accuracy of up to 0.0009″ to limit cutting errors
- Wide table with 15¾” of workspace to fit larger projects
- Equipped with safety features to limit accidents and injuries
Cons:
- Too heavy to use as a portable power tool
Best Value: Klutch Mini Milling Machine
The Klutch Mini Milling machine is yet another reliable power tool that suits users with intermediate experience.
Product Specs
Like the Grizzly G8689, this mini-mill has a 110-volt motor that can handle speeds from 100 to 2500 RPMs. It also has a gearbox for two preset speed ranges.
It has a lot in common with the Grizzy, with only minor differences like half an inch of headstock travel distance, with a total of 7” on the Z-axis.
It’s also six lbs lighter than the G8689 at a 143-lb frame. Additionally, the motor here is ½ HP, which is a little more powerful when compared to the G8689’s ¾ HP.
Another plus that comes with this stability is a quiet operation. It cuts down on the vibrations, which reduces the noise.
I expected this model to have a 360° head swivel, but it turns out it only does a 45° tilt like the G8689.
Unfortunately, this mini-mill has a higher margin for error at 0.005”. It’s not too shabby for a moderately priced mill, I would’ve still loved accuracy.
Northern Tool offers a one-year manufacturer’s warranty on this product with extended coverage by purchasing a Service Protection Plan for repairs.
Feature Highlights
All in all, the Klutch offers the best balance between horsepower and stability among my five top picks.
Pros:
- Has a stronger horsepower than the Grizzly G8689
- Easy to set up with a detailed product manual
- A stable frame that reduces milling vibrations and noise
Cons:
- Z-axis can be tricky to control at first
Best Budget: Proxxon Micro Mill MF70-37110
The Proxxon Micro Mill MF70-37110 is an affordable rotary power tool with an impressive spindle speed range and a durable frame.
Product Specs
Get ready to meet this beast of a motor. Although it’s only a ⅛ HP, it supports a spindle speed range between 5,000 – 20,000 RPM.
This range is good if you mill wood or aluminum, but it might not be ideal for carbon steel. For that, you might need to use the Klutch.
Yet, I was pleasantly surprised by how stable the MF70 mini-mill is, considering its high-speed range. Sadly, I can’t say the same about its noise level.
What’s noteworthy is that it covers this spindle range while maintaining a precision of 0.002”, which is better than the Klutch but still not as impressive as the Grizzly G8689.
Just like the Grizzly, it has adjustable dovetails. These are great for DIY projects that call for interlocking joints.
The MF70 is around 15.5 lbs, making it the most portable option on my top mini milling machine picks. Yet, it only offers decent stability for a small project since its table is only 7 ⅞” x 2 ¾”.
I also liked the sturdy stainless steel frame, which looks like it could handle a few years of moderate wear and tear.
Proxxon offers a two-year warranty on its range of power tools that covers manufacturing defects. However, I was a bit disappointed to realize that the warranty doesn’t cover the accessories, and yes, the rotary bits are considered accessories.
Feature Highlights
The MF-70 offers the best procession, lightest weight, and highest speed capacity among my top picks. For this price point, you’ll definitely be getting a nice bang for your buck.
Pros:
- Highest speed capacity on the list with up to 20,000 RPM
- Most affordable option on the list
- Highly portable with a 15.5-lb frame
Cons:
- Can be a bit noisy when compared to the Klutch, especially as you go to higher speeds
Best for Beginners: MicroLux High Precision R8 Miniature Milling Machine
The MicroLux High Precision Heavy Duty R8 Miniature Milling Machine is stripped down to the basic levels. It’s made to mill quietly and without much hassle.
Product Specs
The cross travel distance is similar to the Klutch, with 8” for the X-axis, 4” across the Y-axis, and 7” headstock to the Z-axis.
The difference here is that the Z-axis might be easier to use for beginners. That’s mainly because the ⅔ HP motor is belt-driven instead of gear-driven. Plus, the Z-axis also comes with a fine-tuning knob.
The spindle range on the MicroLux is between 100 and 2500 RPM, which isn’t too bad for milling carbon steel.
The nice part that sets this machine apart from the Grizzly and Klutch is its weight. It comes only at 110 lbs for the bare frame without the accessories.
The MicroLux also has the V-way chip guard safety feature. I liked how they don’t seem to get in the way at all, even as the mill tilts 45°.
If you’re willing to splurge, getting a Mega Mini R8 Milling Machine Accessory Value Package can make handing this tool easier with a collet set and a quick-release vice.
Another downside that you might want to consider is the frame material. MicroMark reports that it has a bit of Lead, which can pose a health risk with misuse.
While you don’t get warranty coverage for this miniature mill, you do get a 30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee from MicroMark.
Feature Highlights
If you want something that gets the job done, this might be a good choice for you as long as you don’t expect anything fancy from it.
Pros:
- Easier Z-axis controls when compared to the Klutch
- Highest engine power on the list at ⅔ HP
- Stripped back design that’s not too overwhelming for beginners
Cons:
- Even more expensive than the Grizzly Industrial G8689
Best for Metals: Erie Tools Precision Benchtop Mini Metal Milling/Lathe
The Erie Tools Precision Benchtop Mini Metal Milling/Lathe is a suitable option if you look forward to working with a lot of metal DIY projects since it’s a multi-purpose kit.
Product Specs
Before I dig deeper into the specifications, I wanted to warn you that this tool uses 120 volts instead of the typical 110, so check your output first.
Like the majority of the mills in my top pick list, this one has a spindle speed that goes up to 2500 RPM.
However, the travel distances are shorter than other options on the list. It only goes for a 2.56” cross and a 1.38” top slide.
The spindle accuracy has an error range of 0.004”, coming in third after the Proxxon MF70 and the Grizzly G8689.
When it comes to weight, the Erie Tools mill comes in second with 103 lbs. This was a close call with only a seven lbs difference between it and the MicroLux.
One thing that’s a little concerning is that the machine is driven by plastic gears, which might need replacement with metal spare parts after a couple of years.
This replacement process is a bit of an issue since they are deep within the headstock, and finding them can be challenging.
I also had to tighten the primary belt a bit before the mill felt comfortable enough to use. Plus, the teeth on the lathe might break with wear and tear, so be prepared to replace that, too.
It might not sound like a big deal, I also had to give the power tool a thorough cleaning before setting it up.
Feature Highlights
This mini-mill is a bit different than your regular vertical setup, which was a nice change of pace.
Pros:
- Multi-purpose tool that can be used for lathing, drilling, and milling
- Lightweight and easy to carry around
- Has a spindle accuracy of 0.004”
Cons:
- Plastic gears are not very durable and hard to replace
Mini Mill Features to Consider
While all my top picks are highly-rated mills, you might want to take a closer look at a few factors to help you seal the deal:
Rotor Speed
Some people believe that high speed guarantees a noise-free and precise cut. However, you can still get some chatter if the shank is old and blunt, even if it goes to 20,000 RPM.
I seek higher speed ranges because it helps make the tool versatile. Different metals need different RPMs.
For instance, Aluminum needs around 15,000 RPM. Meanwhile, steel needs around 1800 RPM on a ⅛” milling shank.
As a general rule, you want a mill that gives you a lot of options to work with. However, I can’t judge a milling machine’s speed without considering its engine power first.
The issue with most mini-mills is that their motors are under 1 HP. If you’re looking for something stronger, you might need to consider a full-sized milling machine.
The Jet JMD-18 350018, with a 2 HP motor and a maximum speed of 3000 RPM, is a good option to consider for professionals.
Portability
The frame weight is another factor to keep in mind. After all, the main reason anyone would want a mini power tool over a full-sized one is portability.
Sure, a mini-mill is more affordable and suitable for beginners doing smaller projects, but it’s also nice to be able to shift the tool around when needed.
Usually, I’d recommend going for something under 150 lbs. That’s why I went for the Grizzly Industrial G8689 as the heaviest tool on the list with a 149-lb package.
Meanwhile, you can get something like Proxxon Micro Mill Mf-70-37110 at only 15.5 lbs for a way more portable option.
Keep in mind that portability and stability are usually inversely proportional as features! If portability and convenience is vital for you, you might want to opt for a chainsaw mill.
Stability
A highly vibrating milling machine isn’t only noisy, but it’s also harder to stabilize when you want to achieve a precise cut.
The issue here is that sometimes stability and portability clash as features. That is, you might not be able to find optimum stability on a lightweight model.
However, there are a few tricks that can help boost the mill’s stability as you work regardless of its weight.
First things first, lock down the mill to a flat surface with sturdy metal clamps. If that doesn’t work, try looking for a specialized stand to support the power tool.
Finding the optimum speed for each surface will help you significantly. That’s why I recommend taking a moment to try out different spindle speeds on a scrap piece first.
Plus, cutting the wood or metal sheet at the strongest parts can help reduce the vibrations. So, keep the flimsy sheets away from your mini-mill.
Type
Milling machines come in different types. I can look at it from the spindle orientation and categorize each tool as either vertical or horizontal.
Most mini milling machines are vertically oriented. The main merit of going for a vertical mill is that there’s a lot easier to find more vertical options out there to choose from.
However, the Erie Tools Precision Benchtop Mini Metal Milling/Lathe is a good example of a horizontal layout that still works well.
The Erie Tool is ideal for heavy-duty milling on metals when you need to make deep cuts into the sheet. Plus, it works best for bevels and groves.
Long story short, if you do a lot of heavy work on metals, the horizontal Erie Tool might be a good fit for you. For a more generalized tool, opt for one of my vertical mini-mills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about mini milling machines:
Can You Use a Mini Milling Machine as a Drill Press?
Yes, you can easily use the machine to drill, lathe, or mill traditionally. Thanks to the fact that the mini-mill has a moving table, you can do the cuts in three different axes.
If, however, you’re looking for simple vertical drills, you can keep the surface straight and drill into it like a typical drill press.
Can You Use a Drill Press as a Mill?
Yes, it’s possible to turn your drill press into a mill. However, you’ll need to tweak things around.
For one, you’ll need to add a cross slide to get the 3-axes positioning of a mill. In the end, it’ll hardly be as efficient as the real thing.
Can You Control the Mill Table With a USB?
Unfortunately, regular mini-mills don’t have this CNC (Computer Numerical Control) feature. If you’re interested in engraving or carving, a CNC mill can be a good place to start.
For your everyday milling needs, I recommend going for a mini-mill with a manually operated table. It’s more affordable and versatile when compared to CNC mills.
Conclusion
To sum up, I have to go with the Grizzly Industrial G8689 Mini Milling Machine as my best mini milling machine for today.
It has one of the highest precision ranges possible on a mill of this size. Plus, the safety features sealed the deal for us. As always, stay safe and good luck with your DIY projects!
