lathe gurus lath identification help

admin

well i scored a tubing bender today and while picking it up notice the guy had a craftsman atlas lathe. appears to be 12x36 said he wants to sell to clear space plus he bought it to learn and never did anyway i would much rather buy old American iron then a Chinese import any advise appreciated doesnt have much but another chuck and speed gears couldn't find much identification besides the plate that says craftsman any info would be much appreciated i know it feeds in both directions and tool feeds trying to figure what to offer and how available parts are        350P 30A spool gun cut master 51  syncro 250 other stuff " take a dog off the street and make him prosper and he will not bite you sad the same cannot be said for man" i didnt use punctuation just to piss you off
Reply:Basically a modified Atlas. Parts are plentiful, although they can be pricey due to this being one of the major 'homeowner' sized lathes many are looking for to add to their shops.Here's a link to the UKlathe site that should give you enough background information. Do a little searching both on the Craftsman and Atlas pages for your exact model as the link is for a quick change model.http://www.lathes.co.uk/craftsman/page3.htmlLincoln PrecisionTig 275Miller 251Miller DialArc 250Bridgeport millHossfeld bender & diesLogan shaperJet 14 X 40 latheSouth Bend 9" 'C'Hypertherm 900Ellis 3000 band saw21"Royersford ExcelsiorTwo shops, still too many tools.
Reply:You don't really care too much about the model number, what you care about is: 1) What condition is it in? http://www.mermac.com/advicenew.html is a good place to start.2) What sort of tooling comes with it? A lathe with little tooling is not too useful. Tooling to fit this lathe will be available, but there is no end to what you might spent on tooling for any lathe, so the more you start with the better.3) How available are parts you can't/ are not liable to make yourself? Craftsman lathes are plentiful, and so are parts. 4) Who can help you get up to speed on using it? http://groups.yahoo.com/group/atlas_craftsman/ is probably a good bet. People here might also give you an idea of its value. http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/ has many very knowledgeable folks also. You can learn a lot from the experts and long-time professionals at http://www.practicalmachinist.com/ but I'd recommend against posting anything there mentioning that you've got a hobby size lathe.
Reply:I recently bought one just like it. As my first lathe endeavor these are things I would look at; the "ways", look for any dents or other damage, turn it on and listen for any "odd" sounding noise(mine is very quiet without powerfeed on), check the gears in the power feed gear box(side door) the three small top gears will have the most wear, check for extensive play in the cross slide/carriage,tailstock( some can be adjusted by resetting the lock nuts and/or gibbs?),check the drive belts, that 3 jaw chuck is just about useless,so plan on buying a 4 jaw 6'' (or so) chuck, and like all ready said the tooling will add up quick, but that really depends on what YOU plan on doing with it. I paid $550 for mine, and it only came with a beat to hell tailstock drill chuck, and the original 3 jaw 5 or 6'' chuck.Lincoln pro mig 180Lincoln Square Wave Tig 300/wp 20/home built water cooler Victor, Purox, Harris, O/A welding/cutting setupsVintage Craftsman drill pressVintage Craftsman/Atlas 12"x 36'' lathe7''x 12'' w/c band saw Everlast 140 st
Reply:Your lathe is a craftsman/atlas. The model is a 101 craftsman. Looks like a 101.07403 deluxe model. I have one just like. Parts from atlas 618 12" will fit it as well as. Craftsman 101 12" parts. Also that has. Timkin headstock bearings in it.Donnelly Small Engine & WeldingFoley AlabamaLincoln 225 TigLinoln 215 migHypertherm Powermax 65Ellis 1600 sawEllis 6000 belt grinderJD2 Model 4 tubing benderAtlas  12"X54" metal latheLots of large hammers
Reply:Model number will be on a metal tag dead center on the lathe bed on the back sideDonnelly Small Engine & WeldingFoley AlabamaLincoln 225 TigLinoln 215 migHypertherm Powermax 65Ellis 1600 sawEllis 6000 belt grinderJD2 Model 4 tubing benderAtlas  12"X54" metal latheLots of large hammers
Reply:Agree on the Timken bearings in the headstock.  When you have time, swing by & have a look at mine.  That might give you an idea of what you are purchasing.If you get all that "junk" from the table, I would offer $300.  If you get other tooling such as a Steady Rest, 4 jaw chuck, bits to cut the metal.............. maybe up to $500.  I'll send you to a supplier to get other things you will need for it, including the Quick Change Gear Box.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:The lathe looks really complete all the covers power cross feed. Needs a nice quick change tools post but all in all it looks real clean and well kept. I would pay up to about $700 for it.I paid $750 for mine missing some covers but in good mechanical shape. I also got 2 3 jaw chucks and a 4 jaw chuck 2 steady rests live center, dead center jacobs chuck and a Dumore tool post grinder that was in poor shape but is a jewel.  Bottom line for a chinese lathe 12x36 your gonna pay $3500 or so for a grizzly or Jet. $700 is still a grat deal for a nice Atlas Craftsman lathe.Words of advise make sure the power cross feed works as well at the bed feed the gears inside are easily messed up if you feed it to far and crash it. Everything is fixable on it all kinds of parts. Sears still sells some parts for it, Clausing is Atlas and they still have parts for it. Ebay is a gold mine of used and new parts for it.Donnelly Small Engine & WeldingFoley AlabamaLincoln 225 TigLinoln 215 migHypertherm Powermax 65Ellis 1600 sawEllis 6000 belt grinderJD2 Model 4 tubing benderAtlas  12"X54" metal latheLots of large hammers
Reply:I just love the "Transmission"...Our BIG lathe is just like that..Changing gears for threads / feedrate can get to the point of Have fun it's a blast!NEVER run the machine without the gear guard on.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:I paid $600 for a similar one last summer.I made two videos within a week of getting it:  I got a beat up jacobs chuck for the tailstock, a dead center, a crappy  lanttern tool post + 1 bit, a steady rest, and a 3 jaw and a 4 jaw chuck with it.  I had to do some tweaking to get it to run right, and I still have wobble from the pulley setup, but it is "good enough" for my uses.  Do not overlook the tooling.. it adds up VERY QUICKLY to be much more than you pay for the lathe itself.  A mediocre lathe + a great tooling assortment can be a good purchase.  A good steel work table is worth some money too. I keep getting tempted to move my lathe off the table to use it as a welding table...Some areas to note specifically - the leadscrew engage split nut is a very soft metal and wears out, so test that. replacements are cheap though so it is not a big deal.  the flat ways tend to signify a "lower end" machine but they can be reground by someone with a big enough surfacer... Its not cheap though...miller syncrowave 250hobart handler 140home made 400 amp engine driven in progress...
Reply:That lathe is just like the one I bought...I maybe asking questions at some point if you don't mind
Reply:Check out this site it has an atlas/craftsman section. Lots of info.  I've really enjoyed mine.http://www.machinistweb.com/forum/
Reply:I do not know why you believe a three jaw chick is bad.  they are used on probably 90 % of all shop work. The four jaw is more accurate but that is because it can be adjusted to dead on .  If you purchase a good three jaw new it will be the chuck you almost always will use. When I bought my first Atlas, It came with a 6 inch four jaw. I was working in a shop running a Tig and one of the machinists sold me an almost new three jaw. I never took it off untill I sold the lath to get my Leblond.  I use it almost every day On the Leblond  Mac
Reply:Originally Posted by hvwCheck out this site it has an atlas/craftsman section. Lots of info.  I've really enjoyed mine.http://www.machinistweb.com/forum/
Reply:join this yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/atlas_...guid=501370335Bob