finding a lathe...

admin

Y'all folks in the midwest have it good when it comes to used machines it seems. I have been looking for a used lathe for some time and it's slim pickins' over here. Just for giggles I did a search in detroit craigslist and boyola! Tons of old american iron results compared to what I see searching Seattle and Portland. Over here if you can find a decent machine they are all overpriced.I am not experienced on a lathe 1sthand, I have been reading for hours about them online though. I think it is the next step for my hobby fab shop. I know what to look for generally as far as checking the ways, gears, bearings, etc I am still not 100% sure what I size lathe to look for. Biggest thing I can see turning anytime soon is some 4" vband flanges (hopefully SS) or brake drum for the compact tractor (8" maybe?) Maybe wheel spacers or driveline adaptors for the truck/golf cart. Lots of smaller stuff like bronze bushings for motorcycles and maybe some gun parts. I like to go overkill on tools though. And I def. want to be able to turn threads, metric and imperial.I am basically looking for the most lathe I can buy at $2K, give or take some, am I setting my hopes too high? I dont care if its 100 years old if it works well...Give some ideas, or lets just talk lathes in general lol.
Reply:I have 3 lathes right now a unimat 13" south bend and a 20" american. I have worked as a machinest.The13" is about right for my own use.I had a 10" atlas Iwould almost trade the 20''for it back.their are a lot of older Iron around for sale now. Their is not a lot of need for them in my part of the country MO $2k will buy alot of lathe here.A small  lathe wont take a very big cut and a big lathe is harder to work with.
Reply:Yeah I am thinking a 14" would be about right for in and should be in my ballpark price range, but around here they are usually $3K minimum and I don't know if I ve ever seen one that size that was 1 PH. If travel wasn't so danged expensive I'd fly/bus over to the other side of the rockies and Uhaul one back...but I can't even think of what the gas cost would be, plus air/bus fare, plus Uhaul rental fee, etc etc Maybe that's why everyone seems to tack another thou onto their price around here.Has anyone ever shipped something like this? Ebay is scary, and everything is 2K miles from me...I don't see it panning out but what do I know?
Reply:If you want to thread Metric and Imperial and us standard yo may want a fairly late model lathe. Some of the Taiwanese lathes made over the last twenty years might fit the bill. I cant imagine not being able to find a satisfactory lathe for a couple grand. try L.A. or San Diego. they have quite a lot of industry. I live in Roseburg Oregon and our local used tool guy always has good deals on lathes.  Mac
Reply:Who is the used tool guy you refer to in roseburg? I have called around a bit and haven't gotten a lot of leads on good used tool sources. I have always been afraid of most things made in asia but my older Jet drill press seems to be doing okay...
Reply:The Guy in roseburg is named Dick Hutton. I won't be able to get his phone number untill friday morning.  I will put it here sometime after that.  Mac
Reply:I've been perusing CL around my area for a lathe as well. With 2K, you can get a pretty sweet set up. The old stuff was built very well. I am thinking about a 12x 54 Atlas with quick change gear box.If you found a really good deal, and could trust the seller, it could be shipped motor freight for a few hundred dollars.Lincoln Idealarc 250 (circa 1962)Lincoln Weldpak 155 w/Mig KitLincoln Squarewave TIG 175
Reply:Originally Posted by papaharley03...... The old stuff was built very well. I am thinking about a 12x 54 Atlas with quick change gear box.....
Reply:I really like my 10" atlas. Done pretty much everything you are talking about doing with my atlas.
Reply:I got a 10" Montgomery Ward (a re-badged Logan) for $97 a few years ago on ebay. ... Some people don't realize it's the same as the the Logan and let them go for cheap. Might try finding one of thoseESAB Heliarc 252
Reply:Originally Posted by BlauSchuhI got a 10" Montgomery Ward (a re-badged Logan) for $97 a few years ago on ebay. ... Some people don't realize it's the same as the the Logan and let them go for cheap. Might try finding one of those
Reply:There was a 14" Clausing that went locally for $1800... had a decent amount of tooling and DRO's.
Reply:The friend I was telling you about that sells used lathes and other used tools Is named Dick Hutton.  His cell phone number is 541-643-6505.  The buseness name is HPS elecrical and their number is 541-673-3162.. However your best bet is to just call his cell phone number because he is the one that handles all the tools. He is not at the shop anytime except durring the day and sometimes not then. He said tonight that he had a couple nice small lathes.  To him anything under about 12 inches is small.   Good Luck   Mac
Reply:Originally Posted by Tool MakerDick Hutton.  To him anything under about 12 inches is small.   Good Luck   Mac
Reply:I'll give him a call Monday...so far the best deals I've seen within 100 miles have been a 16" SB turret lathe for $900...almost made an offer, but no compound slide or tooling, and needs a belt tensioner link... not sure how easy it would be to find those parts. A 9" SB popped up the other day for $750 but seller says the motor controls were destroyed during a move...makes me wonder what else may be banged up...saw a few lathes near Seattle but don't really have time to drive 3-4 hours to "take a look" at one not knowing for sure it's condition...I am learning a lot in the process of searching, and reading this forum and others...
Reply:Didn't get around to calling Dick@HPS yet, it was a busy week but I did shoot him an email this weekend...200 miles 1 way drive from home, but maybe worth it depending on what they've got down there...
Reply:I lucked out a few weeks ago.  I check CL occasionally,  and of course, I always look at the tool section.  I noticed a Closing Lathe in Las Cruces.(that's how they spelled it).  I clicked on it and saw the pictures.  My mouth fell open.  I had operated this lathe 45 years ago when I worked part time in a gun shop.  I had purchased the small Atlas QC54 about 35 years ago from the gun shop, and have really been glad to have it.  The Clausing was a 12" and much much heaver.  (1600 #).  It had a taper attachment and a tool post grinder.  It was a bit of a chore to get it here (65 miles), but we were successful and now it's in my shop.  I sold the QC54 to a friend and he is in hog heaven.They wanted $1375 for the Clausing, which I was happy to pay.Like the OP mentioned, Lathes in Southern NM just don't appear very often.  Even less often do you see a machine that you've used before.Last edited by jworman; 10-09-2011 at 01:19 PM.
Reply:There is a "hendy" (hendey) near me I am thinking I may give a second look. The ad gives few details and I was initially nervous about the lack of knowledge and parts (at least compared to SB and other more common makes)  It is a 14x30 and everything I've read about hendeys is pretty positive, also it looks like it has a nice threading setup and can probably do metric (not sure, emailed seller) Plus it looks beefy as heck. Once I get the serial# (if seller responds) I am sure I will have more questions to ask and web searching to do...There is a SB 10K for sale near me as well in good shape but seller wants $1800, maybe if it was a heavy 10 but I am thinking of passing if it's really a 10K. I asked for the serial #, you never know, maybe he has the wrong description (wishful thinking I know) I have a similar thread going over on PM, I just want to say that without these forums and the great people who post here I would be hopelessly lost...