How to buy a Metal Lathe part 1

[@tobystewart4403]

"How I Steal Real Lathes From Suckers". Great vid. If i ever get to feeling like mercilessly beating folks down on their well maintained lathe, I will follow this guide. Seriously though, all this makes me think a new lathe with fresh, induction hardened ways, is pretty solid value. Upgrade the motor with a fresh induction drive, and bob's the bloke your aunty calls hers.

[@TheMainlinehobo]

Finally a useable how to buy a lathe video! I've asked for this info from others at your level and caliber on KZbin and have always been ignored. This is greatly appreciated and a tremendous help!Thanks so much!

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+RL Fort Im glade you liked it

[@billdlv]

You got an unbelievable deal on that Hardinge HLV-H lathe, I've never seen one on CL here for less than $10k. Even some of the smaller second op lathes with no tailstock or threading are around $3k.

[@bill4639]

Anybody who believes this guy is 🥴

[@BrokenRRT]

Been looking for that $1000 dollar lathe in Arizona since 2014!

[@LongHoang-tb9zw]

I’ve been searching also. Just checking in to lyk I’m on the lookout 😂

[@TheMoody876]

Same model lathe he is showing is for sale in Georgia in rough shape for 4000 right now haha

[@bill4639]

This guy is full of 💩. Ain’t no engine lathe less than 1000 that is worth a damn.

[@WildmanTech]

What excellent timing for me. I'm looking at a couple of lathes right now. Thanks Dale!

[@JeffreyVastine]

Dale, a great set of guidelines that will be a great help to the first-time buyer. Of course, this could be useful to other buyers too, but I would think that they were already aware of these things from their first acquisition, however, there does exist those who never seem to learn. Keep up the good work!

[@rcclassiccrawlers4368]

Very informative video. I’m not a machinist and I’ve only operated a lathe a few times and it wasn’t for any precise doings. But I am interested in buying either a bench top or smaller free standing lathe so it’s nice to know someone is out there with information on what to look for when inspecting a lathe. Thanks for taking the time to make these videos.

[@chrismills5110]

Brilliant - very helpful indeed. Many thanks. I will look forward to viewing Part 2.

[@billlee5307]

Very useful information when evaluating any lathe new or used. I must agree with a few others that you are a highly skilled buyer if you got an HLVH for a $1000.00! I have looked for one for almost twenty years up here in the northwest without success.

[@torito90]

Thanks for this video. I appreciate that you went into the fine details of what to look for in buying a lathe.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+torito90 Thaks im glade you liked it

[@fredflintstone8048]

I don't know if it's because it's 2021, or the part of the country I'm in (southern arizona), but I hardly ever see a full size lath for less than $2000 on craigs list, and if it's in nice condition (doesn't look like it was just pulled up from the bottom of a lake) and comes with some useful accessories, they tend to start closer to $3000 and go up from there.

[@ronicard]

I've been looking for a lathe on Craigslist for a while, waiting on the right deal. Thanks for the video, as you pointed out some things I wouldn't have thought about.

[@ypaulbrown]

Good stuff, it is all your fault I had to break down and buy a 13" Southbend toolroom lathe last week....cheers, I have been watching you for a few years and like your approach....Paul in Orlando, Fl

[@duobob]

Great job on a subject that is not often covered.

[@grahamatkins1587]

Wonderfully informative for a novice glad I saw this before I bought THANKS !

[@mikethemaniac1]

you bought a lathe for $1,000 or less? damn, man. That's talent.

[@DrewLSsix]

mikethemaniac1 i just got a 1921 14" lathe for 350, even if it never turns a straight part its a thing of beauty.

[@farticlesofconflatulation]

Divorce forced sales.

[@remodz6385]

Some great tips, thanks! Like you said, it's all about patients. I live in Oregon and there are usually only three or four lathes for sale on Craigslist at one time (that look worth looking at). Most of the time they are way over priced by a machine dealer but every once in a while you will find one from an old hobbyist or an estate sale. And they go pretty quickly for good money. It could take 6 months to find the right lathe, but patients pays off in the end. Thanks for sharing, can't wait for part two!

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Nick Schneider Patience is the key to getting a great price :-)

[@tjenkx6893]

Thanks for the video. I myself am looking to buy my first lathe. A lot of useful info. Most of what I am finding in Kentucky are going 3-5 thousand dollars in the 13 x 40 inch range.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+TJenkx6 If your not in a rush you will find a good deal

[@coryknipe5471]

Great info. I am looking for my first hobby lathe for retirement projects and this helps hugely on identifying problems.

[@tookalook1777]

Fantastic video Bud. i'm looking up part two now.Thank you

[@TheOtherBill]

Really great video, Dale. You covered a lot of good things other videos haven't. Thanks.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+TheOtherBill I try too.

[@RGSABloke]

Hi Dale, great advice my friend, keep the good stuff coming. Greetings from Bonnie Scotland.

[@stevenewman5117]

That was great advice for us new bees. Thank you!

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+steve newman im glade you liked it

[@JagMods]

Thanx, for the info, love to see the same for a vertical Mill

[@brianwarburton4482]

Thanks for the info. I'm a novice and want to buy a lathe and this information is just what I am looking for.

[@phooesnax]

Excellent job! This will be referred to for years to come. Keith Rucker's site and UK site are both great resources.

[@davidcashin9194]

Dale A thousand dollars for a Hardinge are you kidding me I was looking at a 1980 model Hardinge that was flogged hard a university yes it had allot of tooling but some guy paid $22,000 dollars for it unbelievable. In Australia we just cannot get machines like that for the money you guy's can. For the money that you are talking you would get a pile of junk even machine shops that are switching to CNC still want ridiculous money for there manual machines that have been flogged hard making them money. I sold a Chinese import that I had for two years and added a stack of stuff and with some tooling and I struggled to $2500 for something that cost me over $5000. My dad paid $500 for an old Myford English lathe 1930's and it was totally disassembled in a box and it is a very small lathe gives you some idea how hard it is here to get machines. That is why we are force to go for Chinese stuff and then fix all the problems that come with them. The one I have now I have over $10,000 invested including the tooling very hard to justify to she who controls the finances when it is a hobby. Ok enough of my rant looking forward to the next installment of this series keep them coming. Dave

[@RelentlessHomesteading]

David Cashin 😧 I so hear you. There are some useful-practical things for having a home lathe But frankly not so many - when I want to build something I want to build it - kinda hard to justify$ to a spouse that is concerned about money and anything that will reduce the time I can spend with her. 😂

[@OlympusHeavyCavalry]

I was looking for lathes and found a company who sells them. Prices from $759 upwards from Hare & Forbes. They're in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Try Gumtree too. Play around with words on your computer when looking as well, that's how I stumbled on a couple of unknown machinery sellers in W.A. It's true though, some secondhand ones are so ridiculously priced for what they are, even with most of the stuff missing it isn't really worth buying them. Keep looking, I'm sure you will find the one your looking for

[@billyb4223]

I'm in NZ - I feel the same way, but the bargains are out there. I got a 1975 Colchester Bantam Mk1 for $500, and I see them go regularly for $4000+. I just put in a stupidly low offer and brought cash on the day and the place I got it from said yes!

[@fowletm1992]

I have the opertipunity to go big All the little lathes are swamped by hobbyists I found a 3metre bed servian No one could work out how to move it so it sat for 2 years for sale Price ended uo at $1000 It cost me anouther $500 to hire a hiab trucks to move it iyt of their shop that day (part of the deal) Then anouther hiab truck onto a trailer and drive it 900km home At the farm my telehadler can pick it up easy and shift it into the shed Its masive but thats what made it so cheap

[@tomharrell1954]

Come to the US there are tonnes of old ones or new ones. Grizzly, Jet, Tormach and home made. Many people build them out of scrap. Yeah I dont see how they even run. but some guys can get amazing results from them.

[@AtelierDBurgoyne]

Great technical guidelines, explanations and references for checking the state of a lathe. Very well done in terms of using simple explanations. I personally think it is overdoing it using the indicator and tightening gibs for a $1000 lathe. ;) You can have a sense of looseness without having to use an indicator. Myself, I would not let an unknown person show up and start playing with the adjustments of the gibs on my lathes since they are in perfect order! You must be the exception having paid those prices for lathes in good order. Or one has to spend an inordinate amount of time constantly looking for bargains. I bought lathes for less than $1000 but they needed a lot of work or tooling before being usable for turning something other than wood. The lathes that I have now for turning precision parts were all worth a lot more because of the state they were in and the tooling included i.e. chucks, collets, steadies, taper attachment, DRO. Then again, fixing an oldie machine to make it work almost as new and finding the accesories to equip it is a hobby in and of itself and that might be what gives you the most fun! Daniel

[@greggroos2271]

Better be pretty sure it's OK before pulling out a scotchbrite pad in someone else's shop

[@jimpartridge9634]

Great video, with loads of useful info. I also liked your work on Modern Family opposite Cam...

[@billrichardson4873]

Have been looking for a video like this one, didn't find one till now.... Just ordered a new one yesterday.... Guess I know what to look for now, kinda had an idea on most of it, but now a little more reassured. Thanks Dale!

[@BuildSomthingCool]

HI Bill, congratulations on the new lathe.

[@juanmestradav]

Gracias señor! great video, very helpful.

[@TheHillbillyEngineer]

Thanks for the useful info. I have been looking at lathes and mills on Craigslist for a while, but was thinking that I would end up with a 1000 lb. paper weight, now I think I might finally buy a machine that I can learn to use.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+TheHillbillyEngineer remember if you pay a Metal tips and ticks price you can always resell it. :-)

[@gmontie2010]

Loved this video! Thank You!

[@RileyKnifeandTool]

Great vid and great advice Dale. I think a nice follow-up series after this one could be general tune up and maintenance on a used lathe. ;)

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+ARCustomKnives Quit, don't tell anyone. Tthat going to be a up coming video.

[@blackdog.6398]

Thank you 🙏 I subscribed yesterday, feeling kinda poorly.....but I’m still pretty stoked about this .... Thank you 🙏 Blessings ....

[@hristos0]

Than you.Really great advice. Cheers

[@daviddombrowski240]

excellent video again! I'll be using this checklist when I get my lathe next summer.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+David Dombrowski I'm glad I could be of service

[@martinholloway7694]

Very informative video from someone who clearly knows their subject matter. Well done, sir!

[@stevelamperta865]

Are you being sarcastic ??? I hope so cause anyone who believe's this guy's bullshit is a moron !

[@GarryFullerSr]

Good info. A lot of people wouldn't know the steps to take , you explained it very well.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Garry Fuller Sr Thanks

[@cyrex686]

My 12x36, same as the enco here was $250 canadian, came with a bunch US made indexable tooling, and multifix toolpost. Ways are flawless. Problems were cracked handwheel and gear selector from being dropped. I noticed later that the spindle has 0.002 TIR. Will have to learn to use my toolpost grinder to fix it..

[@hughatkins]

Nice explanation! Thanks, and I'll see the "part 2" and taking notes!

[@jeffkosela8965]

Great video! I learned a lot, Thank you.

[@shonuffisthemaster]

extremely helpfull video, I was looking for exactly this, someone to show me step by step, not being a machinist, how to buy my first lathe and not get ripped off. verry good deals! im envious. ive been keeping my eye on craigslist in minnesota for a years and the only thing I see for under $1k are occasional old 6-12" belt driven lathes, or big lathes in really bad shape in need of serious restoration (usually sitting outside for years). lathes like the ones your showing would avarage mabey $5k here, with mabey $2k at the low end. It may be a difference in location, but i just dont think deals like that can be found where I live, ive been looking for probably 5 years and if a deal that good came up i would have made it happen.

[@hutzerr3750]

Excellent video, thanks for all the information.

[@TheFuneralDirector]

Next week on how to fetch a metal lathe will you have 4 mates sitting on the edge of the desk waiting to help with the lifting, great video though lots of good tips ...cheers gets a thumbs up from me

[@FrustratedBaboon]

Love the video great advice. I looked on CL but found lathes around 1500 slightly over my budget. I settled for a chinese make from Amazon 9x19 becuase its new and I don't have stress about a rebuild which is out of my scope. :-)

[@sbwebster]

Hello I am looking to buy a Lathe and contemplating if I should buy a new Chinese Lathe or a secondhand larger Lathe. I stumbled on to your page on Christmas Day and now I am totally hooked. THANK YOU for all the tips, it is very informative. Thank You

[@BuildSomthingCool]

Merry Christmas. Glad you found the channel.

[@kmcwhq]

$750 for the Clausing, $800 for the Hardinge! The title of this video should be "how to steal a lathe ". LOL Those are smokin deals Nice vid.

[@Tater79bj]

no kidding huh! The Enco he has is a $2k lathe in my neighborhood

[@chemech]

+kmcwhq You aren't going to find a Hardinge in decent condition around here for less than ~$4.5k - usually north of $5k. The Clausings are going to run you ~$1.2k for a 12x36 You might get lucky and find a widow disposing of her late husband's stuff for the low end of what I'm citing... As for Craigslist, you can find a few machine shapes piles of rust, with oil leaks, with asking prices that rival what they would pay ENCO for a new machine. California, especially Southern California, has been picked over, and lots of manufacturing operations have left the state. What was available before 2006 was much more of a selection than what's on the market today. And, don't even get me started on the PITA involved in buying an *affordable* used milling machine! BTW - Oil leaks might be just a matter of the seals drying out with age... or, they may well be a sign of abuse / lack of maintenance... Always look into them, lower your offer accordingly, and *don't* be afraid to walk away - or even run... Eric

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+kmcwhq In part two I give the back story on the ENCO your going to love it.

[@kmcwhq]

+Metal Tips and Tricks (Dale Derry) I'd really hear the Colchester and Hardinge stories as well! Nice score(s) I've gotten some great deals over the years, but I think you've topped me with those

[@normanspencer3940]

kmcwhq t

[@Steamwormy]

I have the same lathe just re-named, looking forward to your next video because my lathe has issues with the tail stock lining up center in different positions along the bed. thanks for all the good info you produce.

[@chemech]

+Theo worm That's a bad sign... You should be able to keep the tailstock centered on the spindle *without* any adjustments for the length of the ways... What you are mentioning can be anything from worn out ways to a bed that's been twisted - either by crashing the lathe under load, or having the lathe fall over and hit the floor / ground. Get a longish straightedge - 18" or 24" - and for this, a Harbor Freight (aka Horrible Fright) 24" combination square's ($10) blade will do the trick - and set it up against the ways and look for light leaking between the straightedge and the ways. Check it both horizontally and vertically, on both rails (unless you have a Hardinge or similar, which only have *one* dovetail way for the bed) If the light leaks are thin - like feeler gauge / shim stock,

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Theo worm Im glad you like the video. I had a similar problem with my lathe. What I did to fix it was take the tail stock off and clean the ways on the bottom of it, they were a mess.

[@chemech]

OK, so in my late night reply, I assumed that things had been cleaned of accumulated gunk & crud... I guess that I should have been more explicit about cleaning things up *first*... ;^)

[@TanjuBayramoglu]

wow super informative. thanks for sharing!

[@larrysperling8801]

lots of good information, thanks dale

[@pilloman3562]

Hi Dale, Great videos you do in the channel, i have a question, do u know why the handwheels on the lathes like pinacho and some chinese lathes are in opposite position like your emco lathe? I mean, in your emco u control the crossslide handwheel with ur right hand and the other feed handwheel with ur left, BUT im other lathes is the opposite...crossslide with the left hand and feedwheel with ur right hand, hope u can answer me, thanks.

[@kleinjahr]

Some good advice when buying any sort of equipment.

[@1misticointolerante]

Yo me acabo de comprar un torno atlas AA 109......gracias por el incentivo....siga así y por favor sube más videos.!!!!!

[@gregory2668]

I think this is a great video! Everyone on the forums always screams stay away from the grizz, buy used, but never an explanation of how or what to look for, but this, I learned more in this single video than 2 months on the forums. Thanks Dale! Im still lookin for that sub $1000 lathe but no luck. A lot of people still want 5K for a 40 year old South bend missing chuck, missing tail stock. Im still patient though. Anyway, keep the great videos coming!

[@BuildSomthingCool]

Thanks for the comment. :-)

[@9i995]

Thank you for the informative video.

[@donaldhollingsworth3875]

I like your approach for buying a machine tool. Almost every machine tool that has been used & not maintained or rebuilt at some time is not worth over a $1,000.00 because you are going to have to ship to a quality machine tool re-builder & that will cost thousands depending on what needs to be fixed. I have seen 40 year old milling machines & lathes that had never been rebuilt going for $8,000.00 - $15,000.00. People & companies have no idea how to price their crappy wore out machines.

[@clydecessna737]

Very helpful. Happy new year.

[@roleic7246]

VERY useful video. Thanks. How long do you take to go through all those inspections? Did any seller become impatient on you during that process?

[@robertmccully2792]

Who cares if they become impatient. You will pay in the end if you rush buy anything. Good salesman always rush you into buying something you do not need, or may be junk, Hence the term salesmen.

[@5tr41ghtGuy]

I have no experience with lathes, but I want to buy one so I can learn. This is an awesome resource!

[@BuildSomthingCool]

I glad I could help

[@RelentlessHomesteading]

Wow - you've been in WA and OR and spending less than $1000 for those in 2016 - what deals. I should have purchased one when we got here 8 years ago - was seeing great deals back then. On the hunt now and as you say will have to be patient. But will get a kit put together and ready to go to check one out.

[@willx2742p4]

Great job of explaining how to buy a lathe!!!!

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Will Garris Thanks

[@tomconner5067]

You can lap the end way inner bore with an old end in the chuck, for a resized solid fit

[@precisionmachineshed]

Some great info here for a buyer, Thanks!

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Precision Machine Shed Thank s

[@Chris-bg8mk]

Why relocate so much Dale? Witness protection? ;-))

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Christopher Beasley How did you figure ? it out now I'm going to have to move again.

[@iangraham6730]

If I ever see you coming to buy my lathe Dale . . I won't answer the door 😄

[@conexn]

I hear you, I paid $6,000.00 for mine, of course it was brand new with the DRO... Not going to get much unless you find a moron that just wants to get rid of his/her lathe cheap.

[@danielbandera5070]

Gracias por los consejos, estoy buscando un torno y me resisto a comprar uno chino aún siendo nuevo, no parecen buena calidad...o quizás alguno si? muy didáctico, gracias nuevamente.

[@pauljones3866]

Lots of good information including the advice about the tailstock internal MT surfaces being badly worn or bell mouth. It is not an easy fix unless it is just slightly worn. I like to hear your advice on what to look when inspecting the headstock.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Paul Jones Im glade you like this video. You will have to wait until next week to hear about the head stock

[@marceltimmers1290]

Hi mate. Where were you when I bought my Taiwanese boat anchor ; )

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Marcel Timmers :-(

[@floydpierce970]

Metal Tips and Tricks

[@Mirandorl]

Are the mini lathes available on amazon etc worth it in any way? I see reviews of them that kind of go "yeah its ok if you do a bunch of work on it to make it function right". Buying used seems a minefield for a noob, plus getting something that weighs a couple of hundred kilos sounds like a real challenge. Is it all worth it compared with the risk of buying a mini?

[@TheMarcball]

Exclennet video, very useful for me, as I fantasize about all them listings for cheap lathes here in France but wonder how to go about inspecting a candidate. Thanks ! Keep on trucking !

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+MakeFix Good luck in your urge

[@johngalt9262]

nice.. much needed info to be available. I hope a simillar video on a Bridgeport/ knee mill is in the future (?) :)

[@tonydeleo3642]

Any suggestions as to the best way to transport a lathe once you have bought it?

[@fisharmor]

All you guys who can't find lathes... I don't know what you're doing wrong. The last lathe I had was an old Atlas I bought for $150. The lead screw and everything that connects to it came in a box disconnected from the lathe, but I never used it so it didn't matter. I likewise let it slip through my fingers afterward, because I had it for three years and only did two things on it and I can't devote 12 square feet of shop space to an unused tool. :D I suggest two things for those looking.... First, like he said, be patient. Deals come along. Second, get to know the other tool heads in the area. For instance around me there's an engineering listserve, and they have an annual yard sale where everyone cleans out their old crap. That's where I found the Atlas. But that wasn't until the second or third year going. See point #1. :D

[@robbiejcaraballocruz4259]

Thanks for the tips

[@chato7975]

Thank you for the good info

[@joeyd4593]

great video, thank you sir.

[@rodan2852]

Id say under $5k is a little more reasonable in 2023. Still a great help though!

[@damonhowe1390]

Very helpful Thanks

[@Ty_N_KC]

great info!! Thanks

[@jeremyjedmichaelhall2890]

bought my first lathe recently wish i had seen this vid first. incidently i bought this exact enco laithe used and was completely taken advantage of and lied to. but thats life. thank you for the invaluable information!

[@BuildSomthingCool]

Sorry hear about lathe. Did you get it working?

[@jeremyjedmichaelhall2890]

still working on getting the bend out of the cross feed lead screw. Im daunted have no experience with this machine. luckily the ways and main lead screw appear in great condition. so i got that going for me...which is good.

[@frankinjeep1194]

I picked up a south bend 9x32 C for 150$ it had no ware the actual factory flaking was still visible! Two weeks later I picked up a South Bend 16 x 60 with a 3 jaw chuck , 4 jaw chuck , face plate , two steady rests , follower rest , taper attachment, ball turner and lots of tooling for 1000$

[@jfaller7271]

Great video very informative

[@akbychoice]

Joe Faller 😂

[@darreneck3744]

thank you, very helpful

[@BuildSomthingCool]

thanks Darren

[@Devin82m]

You need to make more videos, you do a great job. :-)

[@victorvega8800]

quite pleased with the lathe

[@pauldevey8628]

Dale, Are you thinking of a restoration project? Like a shopper or horizontal mill?

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Paul Devey yes, but it will be some time before I get to it.

[@H-77]

Other thing I found while looking is to see if that machine has any known common issues that are hard to fix. For example, fixing the drive on a Monarch 10EE isn't for the faint of heart, and the tubes are $1000 each. I think the LeBlond Servo Shifts can have difficult issues too, though I'm not an expert.

[@mikesousa5298]

$1000.00 For a decent lathe? Just notced this video is over 6 years old. Great vid thank for the info!

[@RelentlessHomesteading]

Wow Very well done! You must have bought them awhile ago. I've been looking here near Portland Or. and pretty bleak - old beat up small Logans or Atlas for $2k. I'd have to dissemble, clean, repaint adjust etc. taking 50 + hours. I'm in no rush, but I'd rather spend $3-4k for a new lathe than lots of unpaid time fixing up an old one. So I'll just keep checking. I've got much to get some other projects done first. Will put a kit together to have on hand - when one shows I'll have to be ready to go go go.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

Hi, Portland has one of the best Craigs list in the country. Just keep looking for it, and praying for it too. God wants us to have everything in his world, or he wouldn't have made it for us. PS. When I pray it shows up on CL in about two weeks at my price. Plus he gives me the money to pay for it :-)

[@RelentlessHomesteading]

Amen. God has led us here to the hills and helped with so many big ticket items. We've even had tremendous witness opportunity from it. Thanks for encouragement !

[@NakedMachinist]

Very informative and true! I've never spent more than $650 on any of my lathes (Atlas, Logan, Craftsman) and if you find one with extra tooling, it's a bonus. My Craftsman came with a Turret that was for the wrong model... I sold the turret and made most of my money back. The best part is that the machine was rarely used (after 40 years) and the waze was mint (within .0003 throughout the entire travel). Another example, My Logan came with two steady rests. One steady rest was for a lathe with a half-inch higher center. I sold that and paid off half of the machine. With patients and perseverance, Craigslist is the way to go, or eBay (local pickup)

[@TSMundora]

If you were to start a machine shop and could only choose one machine of those three which one would you pick for starters?

[@BuildSomthingCool]

Tha cheapest one.

[@thomaschandler8036]

Good advise, enjoyed...

[@BuildSomthingCool]

Thanks Tommy

[@paulgreenlee190]

I just called my psychiatrist, I need help after hearing what you paid for your lathes. I must be crazy for paying what I did for mine. My wife is going to kill me. I have never seen deals like that and I'm not doubting what you are saying. I think location has a lot to do with it. I drove almost 900 miles to pick mine up and the only reason I bought it was it was fully tooled and looked great for being 60 years old. I wished I had seen this video before hand. The head stock bearing is zero in one direction and 1/2 a thousand the other. Using a test bar and dead centers over a 12" distance it's zero on both ends but moves .0005 over the 12" from Tail stock to Head stock. Can't get the nuts of the handles for compound and carriage feed where I have .060 back lash on compound and carriage cross feed. I'm not a machinist but had some machine shop background over the 40 years I was a certified pipe and tube welder. I'm disabled and have a lot of work cleaning this lathe and bringing it back to standard. I would never have bought it knowing what I know now, I don't think I would buy a South Bend Lathe but would look for a lathe with more HP and not a flat step belt pulley setup. My health issues are shutting me down from doing any physical work anyway. I hope your method of buying a lathe helps all who watches this vedio

[@georgespangler1517]

I bought a 12 x 36 atlas,,2 chucks 3 and 4 jaw,,, aloris tool post and nice full set of tools,,and has quick change gear box and shows no wear on gears and ways,,needle didn't move in spindle runout,,,payed 800,,

[@OlympusHeavyCavalry]

Missing parts is right. I remember being at school, going to use a lathe and some of the gear had been stolen. It was inoperable for about 2 months.

[@glynowilliams]

Great video, you remind me of Mr. Rogers.

[@DrewLSsix]

your advice seems to assume a recently retired machine, would you recommend against buying a machine that has sat long? I recently bought a 1921 lathe that the seller said hadnt run in 30 years. everything was stiff and the exposed lubricant had become gummy over the years. the ways look good but it will need some work before it can be checked out as you suggest.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

Hi Drew, If you got it for a good price its hard to go wrong. I have found that dried oil protects the machine from rust. and its not that hard to clean off. Good luck:-)

[@jewelvibebabo]

useful,very useful.Thanks for sharing.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

Thanks

[@edcallan2]

Thank you, I have a jet metal lathe GH-1440w-1 for sale and was wondering if you be interested