Sears metal lathe ,is it worth it?

[willy3486]

I have found a older sears metal lathe from probably the 40s. Its one of the small tabletop ones about hte size of a woodworking lathe. It is model 109.0702, maybe about 3 feet I am guessing. Here is the condition, it has the head and tailstock. It also has the piece, I can't remember the name of the part but its the piece that holds the cutter. It looks to be rusty for the most part. It doesn't have any parts or tools past that. It will also need a motor. As far as the condition its fine with me, the more a basket case the more of the challenge. I have rebuilt worse, my woodworking lathe was as bad or worse and I have redone it to like new condition. As far as these goes in my area in Middle Tennessee I have seen similar range anywhere from 200 bucks complete to 1 grand complete. Most usually run in the 400-600 range and they look new or refurbished at that price. So the guy has 100 bucks OBO. I am thinking its not worth anywhere near that. I am thinking the most its worth is between 25 to 50 at the most probably in the 30 to 40 range. I bought working 24 inch delta scroll saw for 75 last. Yeah the scroll saw is not a metal lathe but this lathe will need a lot. I know of a similar one but its a south bend and complete for 200 now. So is it worth it or what is it worth. I know it varies and is usually a lot less in the north but this is Tennessee. I would really love to find one like it rusted up with most or all parts to redo but this is what I know of now. So any suggestions on value?

 

[larry_g]

I would say that a $200 complete southbend would be better than a free 6" atlas needing parts. Your going to spend a lot of time and money bringing back a machine that will never be close in capabilities to the bottom of the line Southbend.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[willy3486]

I like the design of the lathe and I like the condition. It needs a complete overhaul but I can't see eye to eye with the price. I think its only worth about 25. I would probably get the other one but its a little distance and I don't have extra 200 to let go now. I really would like one that is in need of a complete overhaul, I like to rebuild my tools. I will buy a used one over new anyday. I may wait until I find one that has more with it. I mainly would like one to cut and shape and not neccesary to cut threads.

 

[Bolster]

I really would like one that is in need of a complete overhaul, ...

On a lathe? You sure?

 

[willy3486]

On a lathe? You sure?

Yep, I would. But just not any out there either. I would like one of the small craftsman type lathes. This one is like the one I would like. It really doesn't have a lot of parts to fix. I would like one thats not worn out but just needs rebuilding, maybe need the bearings. I am not looking for the big ones. Most stuf I would use it for would be no more than a foot long. I have rebuilt machines before. I use to work in maintainence before I got into computers. I have rebuilt some stuff. One injection machine had a ram six feed wide I helped with. We had to replace a seal on the ram. It took three days for the teardown. So one like this would be a lot nicer.

 

[HedleyLamar]

The larger the lathe the better. The extra weight = less vibration. Also if looking to do any threading a backgear is nice. Sears lathe are baby lathes. You can pickup a decent Clausing or Southbend with backgear cheap these days. The tooling will cost more than the lathe if you dont stumble upon a package deal.

 

[willy3486]

A bigger lathe would be nice but I just don't have the room. I am out of room in reality. I have almost all my stuff on wheels so I can pull it out to use. Most of what I would use it for is Smaller stuff. But If I could get one larger for dirt cheap, thats a different story. I would figure out something.

 

[trbomax]

$200 for a complete,running south bend IS dirt cheap.

 

[toolchaser]

You will happier with the Southbend. The Sears/Atlas has flat ways and isn't very solid compared to a SB, the carriage moves around when loaded

 

[Brad54]

Buy the Atlas, and give me the number for the $200 South Bend.
I'll drive up from Atlanta and pick that up this weekend for $200!

-Brad

and no, I'm not kidding... I'd love a small South Bend lathe.

 

[willy3486]

Brad54 I sent you a PM with the info on the southbend lathe. If you don't get it let me know. As far as the lathe goes I would love to have the south bend. Its in better condition than I would settle for and a good deal. As of right now I don't have the cash to spare,other priorites. My main vehicle died so I had to get another. I am going to fix the one thats broken and I also need some work on my old vintage truck. Then we are going to pay off the house early by Christmas. So getting rid of a house note is more important to me than a lathe I may only use once a month or even that much. As far as tools goes I enjoy finding them needing a overhaul and then fixing them. I have some tools like the scroll saw that I restored and haven't used more than a few times. I have a uncle that will find a old vehicle then redo it. Once it is in good shape he gets bored with it and finds a new project. I guess that is the way I am with tools.

 

[kmacht]

Do you already have a lathe? If not, you will need one or know someone who has one in order to fix it up. These lathes did not have bearings in them. They used a bushing made out of bronze with an adjustment nut on the back. It was sort of like a collet that went around the spindle. As you tightened the nut the collet tightened around the spindle to reduce slop. I restored a very similar model atlas lathe. You can not find the replacement bushings anymore. You will have to make them if they are worn out. Also, if you want to cut threads with it you will have to buy the change gears if not already supplied. You can find them on ebay every once in a while but they go for a few hundred dollars. Other than that it isn't a bad lathe. It will do find for turning wood or aluminium but isn't really ridgid enough for steel. You will get lots of chatter if you take any more than a few thousanths of a cut in steel. I say that if you can't get the southbend then go for this one. Offer the guy $50 and have some fun restoring it.

Keith

 

[willy3486]

I passed on it big time. He sent me pics of it and I was able to study it. It has a lot more missing than I care for. It looks to be for parts at best. It was under a house and looks to be rusted up. Thats not bad but it is missing all the gears and housing for the gear changing area. In the shape its in I would think a paperweight at best. I offered him 20 bucks if he decieded to let it go but I don't think it would be worth any more. Way too much missing. housing,gearing and all tooling missing. And thats just what I can see missing. I let one get away that was what I wanted, I think it went for 30. No tooling but it had the cover for the gears. From machines I have fixed up if a lot is missing you will spend more to get it going than you would pay for one running and in good shape. I don't do any like that anymoore if I can help it.