Atlas hobby lathe good ?

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I've spotted an Atlas 9-18 hobby lathe listed for sale for $475 cdn Is this a good machine? Comes with 2 three jaw, chucks and a 4 jaw one, tooling, tool rest. In "good" shape.Good price? Any one used one? Thanks for the info,Bert200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:Never used an Atlas lathe, but buying used depends a lot on whats available in your area.  If machine tools are like hens teeth, than you may want to consider it, but don't rush if you know these are available every so often. The numbers suggest a 9" swing lathe, by 18" between centers, both of which are kinda small.  But, you have to decide what you will do with it, and sounds like it has a lot of tooling so thats a plus.  Atlas is considered by some to not be an industrial lathe so you should consider that as well.  Best of luck in your search!
Reply:If you plan to build small models or fix things like lawnmowers, it might be fine; if you want to make replacement parts for old, heavy equipment, it will probably be too small. Only you know what your needs are, or likely will turn into later. Don't forget that 'fancy' tooling (like reamers, tool post grinders, etc) all costs a lot.
Reply:Thanks guys. I don't know anything about lathing. So those numbers mean you can put a 9" thick piece that's 18" long in it? Size wise, no plans for heavy machine parts. Sculpture bits, spear points, "robot" sculpture parts. In the pic's it looked like a clean unit. But, I do need a new table saw and want to get a TIG........200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:A quick search of the Internet should find lots of basic information about lathe size; here's a site with a picture and a basic description of the machine and its use:http://web.mit.edu/2.670/www/Tutoria...scription.htmlEssentially, the 9" is how large a piece will fit over the ways; the diameter which fits over the cross slide will be significantly smaller. The length is the distance from the headstock to the tailstock usually, or for some makes, the actual full length of the ways.
Reply:Thanks oldiron2, I'll give that a go-through.200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:Lathe size is given in "swing" and "distance between centers"A 9" swing means that you can chuck up a 9'' diameter piece of metal, and it can be up to 18" long.It's sort of a fairy tale if the motor doesn't have the nuts to turn a solid chunk that size, but it's a fair approximation of your working limits."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:this has nothing ta do with your lathe........but i've always wanted that miniature " Atlas "Milling machine........it's a little baby version of tha giants...sooo coool, i look every once in awhile , but not enough ta dedicate .if u find one , you'd have to restore it probably. Attached Images        thermal arc 252i  -  millermatic 350P -   miller XMT, cp300ts, 30a 22a feeders, buttload of other millers, handfull of lincolns, couple of esabs  -   Hypertherm 1250 G3
Reply:Ooooooooo a nice little horizontal milling machineClausing used to make a beautiful vertical baby milling machine."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:slotting, surfacing, and shaping is what the horizontals excel at"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Back to the lathe question, I've got an Atlas 6" lathe.  It's basically a toy.  I wouldn't recommend it for any type of serious work.America Needs AMERICA'S Oil!!!"Global warming is the greatest scam in history ...There is no run away climate change. The impact of humans on climate is not catastrophic. Our planet is not in peril."--John Coleman, Founder of The Weather Channel