Hardinge Cataract Lathe - good first lathe?

[1320stang]

I've found this lathe, the price seems right, the size is right.

Hardinge Cataract bench lathe, 1 HP, reversing motor, 4 speed, compound cross slide, tail stock. Full set of collets plus extras, 3 jaw chucks, face plate, many extras go with it. Some round stock also.

https://goo.io/nJwYmJ

 

[gte718p]

Depends on what you want to do and the price.

It will definitely cut metal.
It doesn't appear to have power feed so you can't thread.

 

[kazlx]

What do you mean when you say price is right? IMO, you'd be better off with another machine unless it's really cheap...maybe $2-300.

 

[Doug Arthurs]

I would pass on that one.

 

[rsanter]

Yes that can be a good first lathe or second operation lathe.
It better be cheap as there is no power feed and no threading.
I will agree with the $200-$300 limit
For that I would buy that

Bob

 

[kazlx]

That's more of a second op lathe. Ie, being set up to do one or two things to parts that come from another machine.

 

[tombell572]

You wont find a much more accurate, high precision lathe than a Hardinge provided the wear is within reason. However, the above comments are correct in that the operations this lathe is designed to do will be limited. "Second operation" lathes are intended to perform minor finishing work on a piece after the major machining is done on another machine. There is no lead screw or power feeds, nor is there any gearing for thread cutting. It may be a great machine for model building or small work but you could not reduce the diamater of a long shaft and facing a large workpiece and getting a fine finish would be difficult with no power crossfeed. As noted earlier, it all depends on what you want the lathe to do for you. You be the judge.

Tom B.

 

[larry_g]

Do you understand the difference between an 'Engine lathe' and a 'Second OP (operation) lathe'? When most hobbyists think of a lathe they are thinking of an engine lathe with screw cutting, power feeds, and a variety of accessories to do a wide variety of work. The second op lathe is more for specific work and is much narrower in the scope of work it can do and for general work not well suited. For a beginners first lathe this is not the best choice. However it can be a good learning tool and it the price is right go for it. You will most likely get your money out if it when you move on to your second lathe or you will keep it for its strengths along with your next lathe.

lg
no neat sigline

 

[John in OH]

Ditto what the others have already said.

Very limited in what you can do with this machine ... no threading, minimal selection of spindle speeds, no cross or longitudinal power feeds, etc. In fact, unless there is more here than meets my eye, the only longitudinal (left to right) feed available is what is on the cross-slide ... and that appears to be only a couple of inches.

Making things on this lathe is do-able, but most operations would be a PITA. I'd keep looking.

 

[1320stang]

yeah, its $700. about the cheapest I've seen a metal lathe around here is $600 and typically that's with no tooling at all, and usually missing some parts

guess I'll pass

 

[bczygan]

I was thinking maybe $100, if he didn't just give it to me.

Keep looking, and be willing to travel and pick one up while on vacation or some other road trip.

Bill

 

[bczygan]

For instance, I have a lathe like this one in Wichita. Although, for this price, I would want a pristine machine with every possible bit of tooling and accessories.

https://wichita.craigslist.org/tls/5535910764.html

Best advice?

Learn everything you can about lathes, before you shop for one.

Bill

 

[iajonesy]

I agree with Bill. The one he has pictured is what you want, just at a better price. This one is a little crusty and not well cared for from the looks of it. I'd be a player at half the asking price, but I'm kind of a tight ***.

Mike

 

[rsanter]

yeah, its $700. about the cheapest I've seen a metal lathe around here is $600 and typically that's with no tooling at all, and usually missing some parts

guess I'll pass

Way too much for that machine.
Let him stew for a while. If he changes his mind and you can get it for $200-$300 then go for it. You will learn a ton and be able to do a bunch of small things with it.
I have two lathes and I would buy it at $200 no problem

Bob

 

[1320stang]

See, those are the going rates for this area, I had a line on a Logan locally for $1600 similar to the one in Wichita.

Seems like guys collect lathes like they collect anvils and vises, they sit on them and think they're gold.

 

[Dave455]

Most Hardinge are good tools. Provide this one isn't worn out, there's no reason why it shouldn't be good too.

Sure, it is what it is, and there is stuff it won't do, but using a little tool like this sometimes just needs a different thought process. When I first started using capstans for example, I thought they were a bit limited, but when I understood how the tooling really worked I was flying!

Sure it won't screw cut, but it will cut a screw thread with a die in a die holder, or a roller box (yep, they do make 'em that small) and it would be fine for learning how to machine.

As for price, well I'm not in the U.S. so I don't know what prices are like there, but here in the U.K. prices for small machine tools that anyone can install in a shed or garage have always been proportionally higher than for big stuff. The last few years in particular has seen prices soar!

Unfortunately, many machine tool dealers have a shipping container destined for China, and below a certain price anything that works get's chucked in, which tends to establish the bottom of the price range here! Nothing that functions goes for scrap!

A full set of Hardinge collets has value for a start. Add the other accessories and the base price of the machine is still high, but not drastically so!

 

[justanengineer]

See, those are the going rates for this area, I had a line on a Logan locally for $1600 similar to the one in Wichita.

Seems like guys collect lathes like they collect anvils and vises, they sit on them and think they're gold.

Define "this area." JME but if youre limited to a 2-hour driving radius you're going to pay through the nose no matter where you are. Extend your search radius to 2-300 miles and you'll do much better if you look regularly and are willing to wait a few months. Given your location I'd be looking down toward Houston, plenty of old iron down there.

 

[zkling]

No, not really. Pretty limiting for a general lathe.

 

[JKnight]

$2-300 eh? I’m in the Midwest and I just saw one of these pop-up last week. Looks like it’s in decent shape, but the guy wants $2000 for it. Claims it to be “rare” and in “like new” condition lol

 

[1320stang]

justanengineer suggested 200-300 miles then said Houston, that's 7.5 hours from me and 468 miles, Dallas is 3.75 hours and 230 miles, Wichita is the closest, 2.5 hours and 150 miles, being that its been big on aviation, that's where I figured my best bet would be. I'm in oilfield country, most of the lathes around here won't fit in my garage and require 3 phase. We just don't have a lot of small lathes around here. Now I have one, a WWII era South Bend 9x42 Model B benchtop (has property of war dept. sticker on the bed). I got it in a trade for a BB Chevy that needed rebuilt and a Corvette M20. I had gotten this lathe as a starter lathe and my son had planned on going to school to be a gunsmith. It's too small for that, the bore isn't big enough and its not stiff enough. I need to sell it, once I get my shop built I'll likely get a Grizzly lathe as Springfield, MO is 4.5 hours and 300 miles away. Right now my choice would be the 14x40 Gunsmith lathe with DRO and 51mm bore for $7930, they have a 13x40 with DRO for $6745 and a 40mm bore as well. Those are the high limit on what I could afford.

 

[darkzero]

$2-300 eh? I’m in the Midwest and I just saw one of these pop-up last week. Looks like it’s in decent shape, but the guy wants $2000 for it. Claims it to be “rare” and in “like new” condition lol

Well you bumped a 6 year old thread. Prices on everything has gone up since then. I still wouldn't pay $2K for one though.