Looking for a lathe. Need advice
 

i'm going to buy a lathe for threading barrels and building silencers. i'm also going to start at a local college for training. i'm going to need at least a 36" bed. largest spindle bore i can get. i'm not afraid of an old unit, just don't want to get stuck with a pos. what would you look for and look out for in a lathe in this criteria??

You want a South Bend Heavy 10. 1 3/8" spindle hole and a few different bed lengths. Here is a good example. I got one with a 4 1/2' bed for under 400 bucks and sold some of the goodies i would never use and payed for the lathe...Bob

http://cgi.ebay.com/SOUTH-BEND-Heavy...item2556ab0c4d

Search ebay, craigslist and your local paper.

I bought a craftsman lathe that was built by Atlas years ago. It included all of the accessories they made for it. I paid $1000 for it. I will do just about everything I want. It is limited on bore size but I work around it.

Buy the one you want that will accomplish what you are trying to do from the start. If you don't you will be buying another one shortly there after.

Depending on where you live stop by some of the local machine shops in your town or city and see if they have any for sale or know someone that does.

thanks guys. i'll start checking shops this week.

talked to a buddy today. he has a smithy lathe / mill combo. the lathe is 48" end to end. spindle bore is 1-1/2". the motors out. he's sent it to be rewound and ain't heard back yet. he said he also has a south bend. thinks it is about 48" oal too. he loaned it out to a guy awhile back that is now getting divorced and having to move. the south bend may also need a motor. he's gonna check on it.

so...any info on a smithy unit?

how hard is it gonna be finding / replacing the south bend motor?

The SB will be easier getting parts for. Lots of guys scrapping them out. My buddy has lots of extra parts on a shelf ready to go. Motors are 90 bucks from grizzly.com or 139 at your local farm store. If you need a motor pulley i make them...Bob

ever heard of a smithy? wonder if it's worth messing with. be nice to have both units if the smithy mill portion is any good.

Some guys like the smithys. The mills are a pain in the butt to do setups on if you just happen to need the lathe. The grizzly.com lathe is the same thing as the smithy. Smithy doesn't make anything they are just rebranded China stuff...Bob

well i ended up getting a harbor freight 12x37 w/stand and 2 year extended warranty + tax for 2075.

i was warned to make sure the belt was not too tight and burn up the motor. all is well. i need to change the chuck for a 6 jaw self centering and get some cutters. any tips on changing the chuck?

Let us know how it works out when you get it going.
My buddy just came up with a SB heavy 10 and a Logan 13" both with big spindle holes...Bob