500.00 Lathe

[Saiga]

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/tls/3763008158.html Does this look like a good deal?

 

[HTGTS350]

I'd jump on that in a heartbeat, it would be more like $5000 in oz.

 

[an0nymous]

If I were you, I'd be worrying about someone buying it out from under you.

 

[zkling]

That's a heck of a lathe for the money. Just depends if you actually have a use for it or not. It will not be well suited for small parts as you will be limited by spindle speed (the smaller diameter the part, the faster it must turn) those old flat belt machines don't like to run high RPM's. They were designed for HSS tooling and the appropriate SFPM. If you were doing medium size parts (~1.5" and greater) it would be a very stout machine.

For a general home shop machine I would pass personally. I use my little lathe (10") probably 9 times out of 10 compared to my big lathe (15"). For making small pins, bushings and the like, the small lathe is just so handy. All depends on your type of work and what you need it to do. 18" swing is a heck of a machine.

 

[Farmall450]

Definitely worth it...IMO

 

[383 240z]

Why are you not handing him cash right now??? If it is at all tight, your doing just fine. Try to get as much of the tooling as you can!!! Thats the expensive part. Keith

 

[justanengineer]

Is it a deal? No, its the appropriate price (scrap price). Flat belt/lineshaft machines arent worth as much as a comparable sized more modern lathe. Once you get beyond scrap price, you should be buying it bc you WANT it, not bc of price.

 

[Nelkcots]

If I wasn't saving for my wedding and you decided not to buy it, I would be up there tonight with the cash!

If you want it BUY it before someone beats you to it

 

[larry_g]

I'm of the opinion that zkling is. Old and slow machine. It will do work for you but if your a beginner and not a machinist then I would suggest you keep looking. That is a big machine and you will have to think of how you will handle it once you get it home. Do you have a forklift big enough to handle it? I'm thinking that the sellers weight guess is a bit low. It is cheap because it is not a useful machine in the hobby world or industry. It is the right machine to only a few people.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Saiga]

I am just a beginner thinking about a lathe. I thought it looked in nice shape but to big for me. thanks for all the input

 

[Outlawmws]

Not sure why all the concern about it being a flat belt, IF (and only if) is has a full set of change gears for threading. (Assuming it is in decent shape on the ways and other key areas) If not, then anything above scrap price is probably too much.

It is a VERY heavy machine so being able to off load and position it would be added possible issues.

If I were closer and had the space, I'd be looking it over...

 

[justanengineer]

Not sure why all the concern about it being a flat belt, IF (and only if) is has a full set of change gears for threading. (Assuming it is in decent shape on the ways and other key areas) If not, then anything above scrap price is probably too much.

The concern for me isnt the flat belt, its whats usually associated with flat belts - soft lathe beds with heavy wear and plain bearings requiring reasonably slow speeds. Realistically you can work around both, along with a lack of other "niceties" like a quick change gearbox, power feeds on both axes, taper attachments etc, but it limits the price. The OPs in Wisconsin which had a pretty decent amount of industry and machine tool manufacturers way back when, notably Milwaukee (city and company). I grew up using flat belt machines and still enjoy using them, but if I could have only one of a machine (esp my first), I'd rather spend a few hundred more and get a more capable machine. I'd bet the OP could end up with a decently tooled, more modern Clausing or Logan for ~$6-800 pretty easily.

 

[Man of Many Vices]

I'd buy it. Learn to use it. Later look around for something better if I wanted something else. Then pass this on to someone else when the new machine arrives. It is an incredible lathe for the money. You will not lose a dime.