Used lathe opinions

N

nbmonte

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Location
New Brunswick
I’ve been following the lathe threads on here with interest for a few years now, and I’m at the point where I’ve decided to just get one over the next year and start learning. I plan on talking to a few local guys I know and hopefully they’ll agree to pass on some knowledge.

Until then I’m trying to get an idea of the local market and that’s where I need some help from cgn. There are 3 lathes localish to me and I’d like your opinions on the lathe and their price. I know it really depends on the shape of the lathe and the tooling included with it, I’m just looking for your gut reaction to these lathes.

Thanks

Harrison
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-power-tool/fredericton/12-harrison-lathe-with-metal-bender/1542670069


Hendey
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-power-tool/fredericton/lathe-metal-lathe/1524940743

Standard modern utilathe
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-power-tool/moncton/metal-lathe/1535818309
 
there all overpriced antiques as far as I can tell from the pictures. without being able to inspect for damage and wear its kind of ??
 
I like the appearance of the Hendey one, 110 volt motor (many lathes are 3 phase), lots of tooling, good size. Provided it isn’t worn out you could likely do a lot with it (and even if it is worn you can still do a lot it just takes longer). What are you looking to do with it?
 
Yeah seems like the usual 50% ahole tax has been added since it’s Kijiji and usually anything you try to sell on there everyone will offer less than half of what your asking so therefore the tax needs to be included in the ad.
 
I was looking for over a year, all I could find were antiques!. Eventually found a 12" x 36" with some tooling. Tooling is where the money is at, try and find as much as you can with your purchase. Good luck. Mine is a Taiwan thing, works OK, as good as I am with it!. Handbook is a joke, get someone who knows to show what the levers and knobs do!. Also picked up a belt drive Mill/Drill for an extra $500 with a ton of end mills and a fly cutter. You will want a Mill next, this I know!. Both single phase 220V.
 
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GAIRLOCHIAN said:
The Standard Modern would be my pick.They seem to last forever.
If you can find one that runs on 220 it will save you a lot
Click to expand...

It's a 3 phase, wonder about the others ? I looked at antiques for years and decided they weren't worth the bother, life is too short and you can buy a decent modern machine for those prices.

Grizz
 
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Thanks.

I’d like to get to the point where I can chamber and mount a barrel and everything that goes along with that.

What are your recommendations for new lathes. I’ve seen mention of new Taiwanese and Chinese lathes, but never a brand or maker. Which ones are good ones? Is the practical machinist forum a good spot for that info?
 
The Hendey will be the easiest to repair/service, those cone head machines are built extremely simple.

The prices on all 3 are completely out to lunch, those 3 will be there awhile as there is no commercial market for them and they're heavy. Not a big fan of shelling out money for a new grizzly/craftex/busy-bee. Wait and see what comes up this year around tax time.
 
Don't be scared of a 3 phase machine as long as the motor can be wired for 220v. VFD's are getting really cheap, and you can use one to run a 3 phase motor under about 10hp on 220 single phase for around $200. The bonus is much more control of speed and a more efficient motor. Plus most people stay clear of 3 phase machines, so they're usually quite a bit cheaper for home garage use. I'd probably have a look at the Standard Modern one you linked, with an eye towards reducing the price. Depending on the tooling and condition it could easily be worth his asking price, but for just the lathe in good shape I don't think I'd have a hard time paying $2000.
Kristian
 
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Pass on all three personally. Taiwanese machines are pretty decent for the money. In general, buy the best you can afford(maybe a little more than you can afford), you won't regret it or need to upgrade. Tooling is the killer, you can spend more on basic tooling than on the machine. Digital readouts are a great bonus as well. Size wise a 13/40 is pretty versatile.
 
Wow! If those sell for that money, maybe I have a career ahead of me dredging harbours, because I'm pretty sure a lot better than them have been used as fill and floating dock anchors.

The whole line about tooling costing more than the machine, pretty much applies to a milling machine, if you want to run a commercial job shop, and be prepared to take on any job that walks in off the street. Lathes, far less so.
Crappy old used lathe bits are hardly worth the gas to haul home. You pretty much want 3 and 4 jaw chucks, a steady and a follower rest, and you won't need much else beyond some basic hss tool bit blanks, and a means to hold them at the right height.
Esp. as a learning user.

Unless you can find someone you know and can trust, that can make you a deal, and can help you along if things are not going well, if you don't have any real confidence in your ability to tell good from bad, you should probably be shopping for something new, or at least, newer, and with someone to turn to for support, such as a reputable dealer.

I would suggest that you broaden your search area, expect to have to maybe make an overnight trip or pay for trucking it home.

Seriously, look at least as far away as Ontario, and at least a couple or three or four states south of you.

Worst case, buy a smaller lathe and learn to run it, while you shop for the lathe that will fit all your needs.
 
Thats the going rate in nb it seems for lathes. They arent easy to find. As far as new i see some good talk about the Taiwan Precision Mathews GS lathes
 
I picked up my ancient 9X36 Southbend from some folks clearing out their dad's garage 2 years after he passed. Zero sentimental attachment, just wanted the "monstrosity" gone. They were asking $225 and I got it for $175 with all the gears for threading and a modern toolpost. Was quite happy with that find!
 
All used tools in NB have crazy asking prices. The lathe prices seemed high to me, but I don’t have any experience with them so wasn’t sure.

I’ve considered looking outside the maritimes, but the distance and logistics make it difficult to jump on any deals, let alone during covid.

I appreciate the feedback, in the meantime I’ve ordered the Technology of machine tools book Trevj has recommended in a thread or two and I’ll keep looking.
 
I recently picked up a new Taiwanense made Eisen with a DRO https://eisenm.com/collections/benc...-stand-made-in-taiwan-single-phase-220v-motor
It seems like a great lathe for the money and works great. Made in same plant as the Precision Matthews unit which are also great but a bit more $. I looked at used units and could not see the value in the ones I found.
I'm a bit of a cry once buy once kind of guy so take it for what is worth.
My other option was from a CDN dist Modern Tool which has Chinese made units made to their spec. https://www.moderntool.com/products/category/lathes-new/ I did buy a new 7x12 bandsaw from them and it is a great unit.
Hope this helps
 
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