new metal lathe

[jmh21586]

I'm looking to buy a new metal lathe.

The last time I used a lathe was in high school but I really want one. I'm not even sure what I'd do with it but I think it would be a lot of fun.

I'm looking at a few on ebay right now.

$1000 + free shipping. 9"x20"
9" x 20" Metal Lathe
Motor: 110V, 3/4HP @ 550W, 9 AMP, 1720RPM (Single Phase)
Swing Over Bed: 9"
Distance Between Center: 20"
Swing Over Saddle: 5"
Carriage Travel: 16"
Max Tool Size: 3/8" x 3/8"
Spindle Thread: 39mm x 4mm
Compound Travel: 1-7/8" (48mm)
Cross Slide Travel: 4-1/4" (108mm)
Tailstock Barrel Travel: 1-9/16" (40mm)
Spindle Speeds: 110~2000RPM (100-1800RPM)
Feed Rate Range: 0.0047" -0.012" (0.12mm-0.3mm)
Thread Range Lnch: 27@ 8 TPI-56TPI"
Thread Range Metric: 11@ .5-30mm
Bed Width: 4-1/2" (114mm)
Spindle Bore: 3/4" (20mm)
Spindle Taper: #3 Morse Taper
Tailstock Taper: #2 Morse Taper
Spindle Taper: #3 Morse Tape
Including: #2 and #3 Morse Taper Dead Center and tool box & kit.
Over All Dim: 38" x 20" x 18"
Weight: 300lbs(shipping), 250lbs
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220688877563&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT









http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380291770206&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
$1200 + free shipping.

Any thoughts?

I've also looked at the Grizzly ones and the JET and Shopfox.
But I don't know anything about any of them.

$1200 is pretty much the most I would spend. I don't want something that I'll want to replace in a year.

Any thoughts?

 

[IndyGarage]

I bought a Smithy a few years ago, and it works, but it's a little disappointing.

You should be able to find a used lathe - South bend, Logan, atlas, etc. - probably with a bunch of tooling for $600-800, and it'll be as good as one of those. The tooling is key - you can easily spend more than what it cost to buy the lathe.

Check Craigslist.

 

[Spam16v]

bought my green HF 7x10 with easily $3-400 worth of tooling for $125 off craigslist. it's made me money, lots of it.

 

[jmh21586]

My problem is I wouldn't be able to tell if a used lathe is in good condition or worn out.
And I don't know anyone that knows anything about lathes to come with me to look at one.

 

[IndyGarage]

My problem is I wouldn't be able to tell if a used lathe is in good condition or worn out.
And I don't know anyone that knows anything about lathes to come with me to look at one.

Well, you probably wouldn't be able to tell if a new one were any good either, then. Some of the chinese ones are complete junk out of the box, but with a lot of tuning they can put out some good parts. Same thing with older used ones.

I've seen some buyers guides for lathes - This may be a no no here, but practical machinist has some really knowledgeable folks on every kind of tool.

My best advice is go look at 3 or 4 used ones listed on craigslist. Look more at the place you buy it from rather than the machine itself - is the person a craftsman or a blacksmith? Sometimes you can find a guy who's getting older and getting rid of stuff and he can teach you everything about it.

Find a good auto mechanic who has had a shop in an industrial part of town for a few years - a flex industrial area is best. I guarantee you that person will know where a few machines are for sale in the area. That's my best source for good equipment.

 

[eddyyy302]

It may be out of your price range and I am way far away, but I have a Clausing 1501 lathe (14 1/2 x 48" bed) It was used in a plastics plant and has VERY little wear. Comes with some tooling as well. I have been planning on selling it, but haven't put it up yet. I am in NJ, PM me if you may be interested.

Dan

 

[jmh21586]

Thanks eddy

I'm guessing it's over my $1200 budget.
Beautifull lathe though.
A little big for me anyway. I'm planning on starting small.


I've been watching videos on YOUTUBE and they are mezmerizing.
I don't even know why I want one, but I've said that about every tool I've ever bought and ended up glad everytime because it's opened doors to projects and skills I never thought I could do.

 

[Ign]

I don't want something that I'll want to replace in a year.

Any thoughts?

Have you ever seen a 9x20 in person? It's a baby. What exactly do you think you'll want to do with this in the future?

It's not that hard to tell if a lathe is excessively worn, esp if it's under power..take a cut. Visually inspect the ways. Move the carriage and cross slide and see how sloppy it feels in the handles. Then grab the tool post and push/pull in every direction (will only show excessive wear).

The fact is most manual lathes in most shops are well worn, and they're used everyday still w great results. I'd go w a worn "real" lathe over a new, cheap import anyday. I'd also gladly take some slop in the machine for the much better user interface quality lathes have = levers that feel comfortable in your hand and engage smoothly, counterbalanced wheels, etc.

Would you rather drive a new manual trans YanMar tractor or a 30 year old Mercedes?

 

[Travis E.]

I also recommend buying a older used lathe. Even if it is a little worn, when you get more comfortable and try to hold tighter tolerances you could rebuild it.

 

[larry_g]

I might suggest that you take a bit different tack. Go buy a working used lathe that comes with some tooling. If you buy a used american, or even better import then most likly you can get your money back out of it when you sell it. Use this lathe to learn how to use it and what limitations it may present to you. When you have a point in life that your abilities bypass the the capabilities of the lathe then you upgrade. Consider this first tool as the price of learning. Or spend the money at the local community collage to take some classes. Either way you get some experience and will be able to make a good buy on the next lathe. In looking at some of your projects I would suggest that a 10" swing be a minimum consideration. Be real careful with the purchase of a machine tool, you'll find they are addicting and can consume you.

I started with a 6" atlas lathe which I soon found has serious limitations for what I wanted to do but I learned a lot with it. Sold it for more than I paid for it. Same with lathes 2,3, &4. Now on lathes 5&6 and they will probably last me for many more years. I paid $800 for each of them and you can see them in my build thread below.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[toolchaser]

You should be able to find a SouthBend in your price range. A co worker has one on CL for $950 with tooling. Check the Practical Machinist forum (don't mention Chinese lathes though!)

 

[larry_g]

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/tls/2035215577.html

This might be a diamond in the rough, make sure that it has the change gears.


http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/tls/2000509513.html Good lathe but this one is way overpriced in my opinion.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/tls/2075520532.html This looks to be the best thing going there. High end lathe at minimal price. If this machine checked out and had the steadies and a 4 jaw it would be a steal providing it had acceptable wear.


http://eauclaire.craigslist.org/tls/2067164454.html Another that looks to be OK if change gears are included.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[RAYJAY]

larry are you crazy on this one ??? http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/tls/2035215577.html


i can see prices are just as high in MN as in PA that lathe should be in the 300 to 400 price range if the head bearing are good and all the gearing is with it and how good the bed is..........


this one from grizzly is a good one a little step up from the HF one they sell ,

http://www.grizzly.com/products/10-x-22-Bench-Top-Metal-Lathe/G0602


also grizzly is starting to sell south-bend lathes........


http://www.grizzly.com/products/category.aspx?key=700000

 

[larry_g]

larry are you crazy on this one ??? http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/tls/2035215577.html

Well I said that it might be a diamond in the rough... With the steady there and the indexable tailstock plus the regular tailstock your looking at some 4-500 dollars of extras that would be easiably sellable. With change gears included then the OP would have a lathe to learn on that would easily return his investment. Not saying it would be his last lathe or the best lathe. Read my first post in this thread.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Kirbot]

I was just going to say buy a used American lathe.
But I know what you mean, not knowing how to assess one.

I've talked to a number of people about buying there first lathe, and I think I know the best way to go about it.
Which is pretty much what I did.

Find an old American lathe. Buy the cheapest decent looking one you can find.
Don't worry about choosing a southbend over an atlas, or if a logan is better.

Just buy whatever you can find, use it and learn with it for a year or so.
Chances are you'll crash it, and you would much rather do that to a beater than something better.
Even if you end up with a completely worn out piece of junk, you'll still be able to do an awful lot with it.

After about a year you should know a lot more about lathes, and how to assess the condition of one. You'll also have an idea of how big you wan't to go.
You'll also be able to sell the old lathe and put the money towards whatever you choose to replace it.

I have a 10"X20" Atlas lathe that I've had about a year, and I've learned an awful lot in that time. I also crashed the power feed and broke the drive gear.

Now, in a month or so, I'm upgrading, to 2500 pounds of old American Iron.
A 14"X30" Hendey conehead lathe.

 

[Kirbot]

Oh yeah, heres a video I posted on youtube a while ago.

There are few things more satisfying than watching an 1/8" of steel just peeling of like that.
Once I get the Hendey, I should be able to do closer to a 1/4" in one pass.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Kirbot,

What do you plan to do with the Atlas?

 

[Kirbot]

I'll sell it once I get the Hendey lathe.
A friend of mine has the Hendey and it's going to be quite a task moving it, but I'll probably get it in a month or two.

I can send you some pictures if your interested in it.

 

[jmh21586]

You guys are awesome.

Larry, I' already saw those on craigslist. That Harrison caught my eye too. Just the price is a little more than I wanted to spend. A couple of the other ones just scared me because they look old and like I said I wouldn't be able to tell condition because I have no experience.

But I've heard enough to keep patient and watch craigslist for a good American made one. That'll also give me the time to save some extra funds to be able to spend a little more on a good one.

Just tonight I was repairing a couple of $150 caulking gund that I use at work and was thinking how great it would've been to have a lathe. I got it done with a drill press and whatnot but a lathe would've been so nice. But like always I make do with what I got at the time.

But now that I want one I keep coming across times when one would sure be nice.
I'm also looking in to classes at the local tech school.
Thanks to all replies!!!

 

[vpd66]

I too recommend buying an older used American made lathe. Years ago I purchased Shoptask 3 in 1 machine. It was a peice of junk right out of the crate. A few years later I picked up an old Sheldon 10" lathe and it was like a Caddilac compared to the Shoptask. I sold the Shoptask and took a loss and learned a lesson. I since have sold the Sheldon and made some money on it to boot. I now own a 1948 16"x78" American Pacemaker lathe that impresses me everytime I use it and I only paided alittle more then what I paid for the Shoptask 15 years ago. Just my 2 cents

 

[iagsxr]

I've been looking for a lathe for a couple years. I get hot and cold on it.

For whatever reason the Minneapolis Craigslist always has lathes. This fall there were a couple that I thought were really good buys, but I was too busy at work to take time to go look.

As I've been looking I've become a much more educated shopper and have narrowed down what I'm realistically likely to use a lathe for when I get one. For instance the first new lathe you posted doesn't have a big enough spindle hole for what I'd need. So I don't feel like the time I've spent so far has been wasted because when I finally pull the trigger it'll be on a machine that'll run me a long time. I'm thankful that I didn't buy the first couple I looked at.

 

[A_Pmech]

I have nothing to add to what has already been posted. Look for a good used lathe and avoid the Chinese garbage.

I now own a 1948 16"x78" American Pacemaker lathe that impresses me everytime I use it and I only paided alittle more then what I paid for the Shoptask 15 years ago. Just my 2 cents

<-- I'm rather fond of Americans.

You should post photos.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I'll sell it once I get the Hendey lathe.
A friend of mine has the Hendey and it's going to be quite a task moving it, but I'll probably get it in a month or two.

I can send you some pictures if your interested in it.

PM sent.

Thanks,

Chris

 

[Ign]

<-- I'm rather fond of Americans.

You should post photos.

OMG totally! I got to run a 60" swing American in one shop and learned on a 14" (understated) w a 20hp motor. Extremely robust machines.

 

[gloveman132]

I know it has been beat to death, but you are getting excellent advice.

I have a 1958 South Bend Heavy 10 and it has quickly become my favorite tool.

 

[jmh21586]

Me and craigslist don't get along well.

About a year ago I was looking for a good floor standing drillpress. Before I wanted one they were on craigslist ten deep every day. And I'm talking the good ones. The quasi-industrial ones and not the chineese junk ones or the box store ones. But as soon as I was ready to buy........... craigslist was a desolut wasteland when it came to drill presses. I watched for weeks. Weeks turned into a few months. Finally I bit the bullet and bought a Ridgid one from Home Depot. And wouldn't you know it, about a day or two later there was a slightly used Ridgid on craiglist a few miles from home for half of what I paid for the new one. I'm actually pretty happy with the one I have but I wanted an older model that had a nice look to it as well as been built back when thing were built well.
Now I'm looking for an old one to restore as a winter project and of course craigslist is empty again.

I'm guessing it'll be the same story with a lathe.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Me and craigslist don't get along well.

About a year ago I was looking for a good floor standing drillpress. Before I wanted one they were on craigslist ten deep every day. And I'm talking the good ones. The quasi-industrial ones and not the chineese junk ones or the box store ones. But as soon as I was ready to buy........... craigslist was a desolut wasteland when it came to drill presses. I watched for weeks. Weeks turned into a few months. Finally I bit the bullet and bought a Ridgid one from Home Depot. And wouldn't you know it, about a day or two later there was a slightly used Ridgid on craiglist a few miles from home for half of what I paid for the new one. I'm actually pretty happy with the one I have but I wanted an older model that had a nice look to it as well as been built back when thing were built well.
Now I'm looking for an old one to restore as a winter project and of course craigslist is empty again.

I'm guessing it'll be the same story with a lathe.

Usually it is the other way around for me. I look to buy something and there is like one or two and both have high prices. The day after I buy the thing ten show up at 1/3 the price.

Chris

 

[larry_g]

Me and craigslist don't get along well.

About a year ago I was looking for a good floor standing drillpress. Before I wanted one they were on craigslist ten deep every day. And I'm talking the good ones. The quasi-industrial ones and not the chineese junk ones or the box store ones. But as soon as I was ready to buy........... craigslist was a desolut wasteland when it came to drill presses. I watched for weeks. Weeks turned into a few months. Finally I bit the bullet and bought a Ridgid one from Home Depot. And wouldn't you know it, about a day or two later there was a slightly used Ridgid on craiglist a few miles from home for half of what I paid for the new one. I'm actually pretty happy with the one I have but I wanted an older model that had a nice look to it as well as been built back when thing were built well.
Now I'm looking for an old one to restore as a winter project and of course craigslist is empty again.

I'm guessing it'll be the same story with a lathe.

Use the same logic on the lathe. Buy any old one and they will start falling out of the trees. Once people start to know that you are into tools they will start giving you leads. One thing that I did was watch out for tools (lathes and mills) that came with lots of tooling. You can buy a fully tooled lathe and then sell the tool alone for near what the whole package cost you. Near free tooling...........

lg
no neat sig line

 

[ZRX61]

I've had a 13x40 SB for sale now for about 3 years...There's an awful lot of tire kickers out there....

 

[rsieracki]

I've had a 13x40 SB for sale now for about 3 years...There's an awful lot of tire kickers out there....

where do you live? im in chicago

 

[jmh21586]

I've had a 13x40 SB for sale now for about 3 years...There's an awful lot of tire kickers out there....

What kind? How much? And where are ya?

 

[stonewellmark]

I bought a 6" Atlas lathe ( nice little bench top machine) to keep myself busy during the long winters. Before I know it Im making deals to obtain my Bridgeport milling machine with NO cash out of pocket. If your not out there lookin', no one will know. Tell everyone you know whatever your lookin' for, it'll show up. Best of luck!!

 

[jmh21586]

Ok how about this one guys!!!


Hurry hurry with imput!!

10 mintues from home!!

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/tls/2083382887.html

 

[jmh21586]

Called the guy, pretty much everything you see comes with it. He said not excellent shape but fair to good. He;s had it ten years and hasn't used it much lately. He pretty much used it for putzing like I will.

I mean really. If it's complete junk ready for the garbage can I'd only be out at most $200.

 

[TexasT]

Ok how about this one guys!!!


Hurry hurry with imput!!

10 mintues from home!!

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/tls/2083382887.html

If you aren't over there picking it up someone else surely already is. For two ben franklins I can't see how it isn't a good deal if it works.

 

[Ign]

The Sears/Atlas lathes have a cult following. Personally much too small for me but if I were you I'd jump on it for $200 and learn, then sell it for what you paid (or more) in a year or two and upgrade.

 

[jmh21586]

I'm leaving in a couple minutes.


The ad just came on so hopefully I'll make it.

I'll check back here in a couple hours.

 

[A_Pmech]

They're not a bad machine to learn on, it's hard to get badly hurt with one. However, they're rather limited machines due to their light design.

If you think it will do what you want to do, give it a shot. The only way you're going to learn how to run a lathe is to run one. That one is just as good as any other.

If nothing else, just go there to fiddle with it and learn what a lathe is all about.

 

[Kirbot]

Let us know how it turns out.
Thats not a bad choice for a first lathe.

Dissemble it and strip and repaint it, and it will be a great little machine.

Dissembling and repainting a lathe is good for a few reasons, first, it will look better, (of course!) all the rust has to be removed from the machined surfaces anyway, and it's a great way to learn what makes it work.

This was my lathe right after I picked it up.


And right after repainting it.

 

[jmh21586]

I missed it by a matter of minutes.

My first call to him was for info. I didn't know at the time when I'd be able to go see it cause the wife was at work and I was watching the kids. A few minutes later my wife comes home and I call the guy right away. He already had someone else coming to look at it and they had first dibs.
He's going to call me no matter what to let me know if they bought it or not.

Fingers crossed.