Parting out machine tools, prefered methods?

[AceofSpad3s]

I have a craftsman 109 lathe I bought a year or two ago since it was priced very low and I wanted something to make smaller parts with, then ended up getting beat up into spending spending three times the original price since the was a lot of interest and I wanted a lathe at the time. But after getting it back and really tearing it down, it seems like the previous deceased owner was a chimpanzee since the threading for the jaw bolts was broken in many place and I can't find my dial indicator, but I bet the spindle is a bit out of true so it's been sitting since, oh well $90 machine.
I've been meaning to part it out for a while, and after checking ebay recently, these crappy little machines are selling for $400-$600 for some inexplicable reason.

For those who frequently part out machines, do you prefer to sell them in larger sub assemblies like the headstock, cross slide etc,break it down to every screw or somewhere inbetween?

 

[Cruzan80]

Watching, as I have a 12x36 101 parts machine I need to do the same with.

 

[Packard V8]

FWIW, once was enough. By the time one has taken the machine apart, photographed each piece, written and placed the eBay ads, answered ten queries about each part, packaged and shipped each part, had one scammer claim he never received the part, had another send photos proving the part was destroyed in shipping, that was enough for me. The bucks weren't worth the grief.

jack vines

 

[jfleisher]

Large subassemblies. Chucks, headstock, tailstock, ways, apron, tooling.

 

[seber]

I try to keep my Ebay sales between $50 and $100. Under that is not worth the trouble and over that invites the scammers. More expensive things go to Marketplace, Craigslist or my semi annual garage sale.

 

[csp]

You're seeing 109s sell for $400-600?

I can see 101s going that high, but not 109s.

 

[Cruzan80]

I can see 109s going that high well equipped. They have a stupid high cult following. Parts machines seem to be 100-200.
101s 6" are closer to 200-300 when worn. The 101 12" like I have can go stupid high. The quick change gearbox on my parts lathe routinely sell for 300-400 by themselves.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Some have sold for $700+ after shipping if you look through recent sold listings on ebay. Some have some spare gears and tooling, but others are just the machine with minimal else, which are the mid end of what I mentioned.
I figure just take the gears and handles and throw them up real quick since it's easy to get them off, small, sub 1 pound shipping and then go from there since I doubt the local market for damaged small lathes is pretty close to nill.

 

[Cruzan80]

Gotcha. I forgot to take into account pandemic tool prices. The numbers I mentioned were based off of "normal" times. Cash in while you can. Forget the nuances of the 109, so in general see below.

I would think the groupings that make sense are: saddle/apron together, cross slide, change gears, tool post (if anything special), spindle/back gears, tailstock, tooling, chucks. Then if the headstock casting and bed are decent, list those separately. T

The only things in addition to the list for mine is the undermount cabinet and quick-change gearbox (vs change gears). Probably going to sell my bed cheap, as we measured wear at 40thou lengthwise, and over .025 between rails (so probably a twist somewhere, in addition to lots of use).

Beds/cabinets/leadscrews/etc will probably be local pickup only, as not worth it to ship.

 

[Aaron_W]

You're seeing 109s sell for $400-600?

I can see 101s going that high, but not 109s.

There are a few that sold for $600-700 on ebay, but I'm thinking the were anomalies, maybe people who don't really know what they are getting. There are many more sold in the $200-400 range. There are a couple of decent looking ones on FB marketplace that have sat for a couple months asking $450 and $600. They look decent, but of course photos don't tell the whole story.

The 109s are neat, but they a very lightweight lathe I can't imagine paying the same price for one as a 6" 101. I have both and the 101 is just a much better quality lathe.

I do think the Craftsman name is playing a part these days. It seems everything Craftsman is selling for premium prices. Only a few so not much to go on but it seems like the Craftsman lathes are now selling for more than the Atlas branded machines, which is the reverse of what I've seen in the past. Maybe another example of pandemic buying, new buyers buying who don't really know much about what they are buying and they just recognize the Craftsman name.


As far as parting out, if it is just the spindle that is bad they can be replaced. I'll have to look to find the link but somebody sells new spindles.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I don't know where you're seeing the low end of the range, out of the 20 sold listings I can see going to August for complete machines (as far as it will go back) the absolute lowest priced one after shipping was $305+$100ish shipping, no chuck, only a face plate and missing a handle. Average is probably $600 giving how wildly the shipping carries, one sells for $450 but has a motor and says $140 shipping, but others say $550 with $50 shipping. Local prices or ones from 1 or 2 years ago aren't representative of the current situation.
I'm not saying it makes and sense or the prices are reasonable. I paid $90 and even buying a new chuck and tool holder put me off enough to lose interest, nevermind a new spindle. I don't see how anyone pays $600 on average and says yes, I think this was a good decision, maybe if it was brand new perhaps, even then.

 

[dutchgray]

I would seriously just try selling the machine as is complete first, you might not see as much money back but it will be the lowest time and effort involved.

 

[Aaron_W]

I don't know where you're seeing the low end of the range, out of the 20 sold listings I can see going to August for complete machines (as far as it will go back) the absolute lowest priced one after shipping was $305+$100ish shipping, no chuck, only a face plate and missing a handle. Average is probably $600 giving how wildly the shipping carries, one sells for $450 but has a motor and says $140 shipping, but others say $550 with $50 shipping. Local prices or ones from 1 or 2 years ago aren't representative of the current situation.
I'm not saying it makes and sense or the prices are reasonable. I paid $90 and even buying a new chuck and tool holder put me off enough to lose interest, nevermind a new spindle. I don't see how anyone pays $600 on average and says yes, I think this was a good decision, maybe if it was brand new perhaps, even then.

I picked one up locally back in June for $200. It needs a little work, probably new bearings but is otherwise in good shape overall and it came with a fair bit of tooling. Since I got that one in June I was watching prices 3-6 months ago. It is possible I was looking just as the prices were climbing, but I only saw maybe 25% in the $500+ range at that time.

These lathes are small enough that they are able to take good advantage of ebay's larger market, since they are fairly easily shipped being small and light enough to go with most traditional package services. Local sales won't have the ebay advantage which is probably why the ones I've seen locally are not selling at $400-600.

If they are selling for that, I agree with Dutchgrey, maybe just list yours as a parts machine or project with good bones. Sounds like if you can get at least $300 you will break even. I hate to see machines parted out, so unless it is a basket case maybe just offer the change gears separately since they seem to command a premium.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Large sub assemblies, then group all else into lots, preferably that will fit into flat rate boxes.