Lathe for home shop

[duneridercr250]

Ive been looking around for a small lathe for my garage. I mainly need it for small stuff like delrin bushings, spacers & sleeves. I dont want to spend a fortune, but i also dont want a piece of crap. I dont know what size to get and which brand. Any help would be appreciated.

[gawdodirt]

13" x 40 is a good size and real popular so they might be plentiful in used condition.

gd

[SteveinAZ]

I would agree with gawd...13" swing and 36" between centers. It never seems as if your lathe is big enough, and if you need to turn something too small for you chuck, grab a drill chuck in the three jaw and hold your little items in the drill chuck...works if your not doing a bunch of parts. I would stick with the major, old time US brands, and stay away from anything Chineese, although I have a Sharp Taiwan made lathe that holds five tenths. Many of the lathes smaller than this size range is just a bit toyish, and not that well made, but the old iron was built very well. A Mori Seiki would be the cat's moew, but they'll fetch $8k if you can find one for sale!

I have a Sebastian 15 x 40 sitting in my shop that is a friend's, he is looking to get $1,800 for it - it is well equipped - 8" three jaw, Aloris quick change toolpost (probably $600 now), a no-mar streadyrest, and a four jaw chuck, some tool holders, live center, drill chuck. PM me if you're interested and I can shoot you off some pics.

Steve

[bajaxp]

I have a Smithy mill/drill/lathe combo that is virtually brand new. I will sell it to you with the metal work bench for $500. PM if interested.

[ZenkiGarage]

If you want new and want cheap go sharp or jet. My home shop lathes are a jet and hardinge.
Id just start looking for a used south bend, monarch, Leblond, bridgport, or hardinge. I personnaly prefer the hardinge. Collets are superior for small work and and you can always throw in a 3 or 4 jaw in for larger work.

[Twisted Minis]

I got an old South Bend for about $1K. It's a 13x36 and it does everything I need it to. Keep an eye on the CL.

[rlury]

Can't complain with our smithy, we have a larger one for the bigger stuff don't know the brand off hand but the smithys good for small stuff

[duneridercr250]

I think i made my decision. Im going to buy a Jet BD-920W 9x20. I wish i could afford the damn near brand new South Bend that i found on ebay for $3500, but ive read a lot of reviews for the Jet and i can pass up the deal for $1400 with stand, shipped to my door. Any recommendations on tooling? Will the stock tool holder suffice or is it worth it to upgrade? I need a drill chuck, surfacing and parting tools too.

[Racebug1098]

I picked up an old craftsman\atlas lathe with tooling for $400! It is a 12" swing x 36". I see them on e-bay all the time along with lots of parts. You can even get parts from sears still.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk58/racebug1098/a%20arm%20frame/P1010003.jpg

[racer56]

I think i made my decision. Im going to buy a Jet BD-920W 9x20. I wish i could afford the damn near brand new South Bend that i found on ebay for $3500, but ive read a lot of reviews for the Jet and i can pass up the deal for $1400 with stand, shipped to my door. Any recommendations on tooling? Will the stock tool holder suffice or is it worth it to upgrade? I need a drill chuck, surfacing and parting tools too.


JFK has the best tooling accessories and will sell direct at reasonable prices. BTW they are racers.

http://www.jfkprecisionproducts.com/

[Erik Irvine]

What type of power inputs do these require? 240V, single-phase? How many amps? I am working on having a shop built, and it wouldn't hurt to wire for a lathe in case it ever shows up (like everything else:)