Older lathes that use babbit bearings are generally the bigger sized ones, with a 12 inch swing and up as a rule. A lot of the 6 or 8 inch swing are roller or taper bearings. The little ones are pretty much taper bearings. Yes, babbit bearings can be redone just like the Model A rods are. They are poured under size and hand scraped to size with the brass shims in place. A small 'u' shaped chisel is used to cut in the oil galleys after they are sized. A lot of the old stuff was built like a tank, but it will be worn, some a little, some a lot. The biggie you need to look for will be the 20 inches or so of the bed at the chuck end. That is where the most work is done regardless how long the bed is, so it makes sense the most wear will be found at the chuck end depending on the use and care the unit has seen. Same with the V's and flats of the carrage. If you can, take a pointed rod or shaft and put it the chuck. If a three jaw, you can check how far the jaws and inner gear are worn out by the run out at the pointed tip of the rod. Or the main shaft is possibly bent. If a 4 jaw, watch if the face of the chuck runs true, if not, the shaft is bent. With the rod chucked up and true, slide the tailstock up to it and the tips should meet. If the tailstock tip is lower there is a good chance the bed way's and/or the carrage is worn a lot. A good straight edge on the bed will show up any wear when you shine a flashlight from the backside of the bed. For sure, check the half nuts to see how worn they are if not stripped out. The long threaded shaft that will run along the front of the lathe is what moves the carrage as it turns. There will be a split 'nut' that opens and closes around this shaft, you should see it under the front edge of the carrage, a handle should open and close it. These have a habit of getting ruined when people slam them shut when the threaded shaft is turning. Causes massive wear and will strip out the thread. Is hard to cut decent threads when everything is worn and sloppy. If it doesn't have a gear box, make sure you get all the gears for it. Check the gears for broken and chipped teeth. As far as make of the older stuff, they all were pretty good. There were a lot of different ones back in the day. I have a 14 inch swing Reid Prentice that is likely crowding a 100 years old that I'm redoing. I have only ever found two references to it so far, and have located one other one that is a bit newer, a mere 5 miles from me. The old ones present problems with no parts available, so hold out for a decent/complete one if you can. Best of luck.

Take a drive out to Newcastle, and I will show you first hand what to look out for. Don't buy a lathe that is too old, or you will regret it. Find yourself a nice tool room lathe around 11"-12" swing, and you will be able to build just about anything.
All you'll ever need is 2HP, and although I don't recommend it, you could run that on 120v. I come across them all the time, but be prepared to pay around $1500-2000. It will be money well spent, because when you decide to get rid of it, it will be worth more than what you paid for it. Guaranteed !!

Don't let a 3 phase motor scare you, because most of the lathes out there are. They have motors with standard mounts so it's easy to retrofit. Another option is to use a VFD (variable frequency drive) to run that 3 phase motor on single phase power, as long as the 3 phase motor is not rated for 550v.

Here's my lathe; The middle picture shows what to look out for if you plan on buying one. Make sure that there's no wear on the ways below the chuck. This cannot be repaired and the lathe might as well be scrapped.

Dan

 

-- Edited by hemi43 on Thursday 3rd of January 2013 03:25:42 PM

Agree with all the advice given.

When you find a lathe, good thing to do if you are new to this is take an experienced lathe user with you to check it out.
Hopefully you can find one with a bunch of tooling, as you can spend as much as the lathe price , on accesories.
One other thing i would check also is the tapers in both headstock and tailstock, sometimes a careless user will spin a taper in it and then it will require re-reaming it, if not really scored.
I watch Kijiji often and see some real crappy baffed out lathes on there for rediculous asking prices.
Also, consider a lathe with bearings instead of babbitt, babbitt lathes do not have a high rpm if you are turning smaller stuff.

One item i also forgot to mention is take a good close look at the threads on the lead screw. (The threaded shaft that runs along the front of the lathe bed.)

The top of the thread should still have a flat top on it, if it is a "V" shape the leadscrew is worn out and will keep wearing out the half nuts producing slop.

Depending on the lathe make,, a new lead screw will be pricey.

Post what you find, i'm always interested in seeing any machines.

Nevermind !! I found it here--->

http://www.canadiantiremotorsportpark.com/news/65-news/365-first-arches-placed-in-new-mosport-tunnel

OOOhhhh !! Even found a video !!

 

 

-- Edited by hemi43 on Saturday 5th of January 2013 05:25:40 PM

 

They had extensions welded to them and threaded onto the spindle. 

 

-- Edited by DaveM on Saturday 5th of January 2013 06:07:12 PM

Thanks for all the replies and thanks Hemi for offering to teach the "What To Look For When Buying a Used Lathe" course. I am still in the thinking/dreaming stage at the moment. I would love a "tool room" lathe but don't currently think I have the room for something that large/heavy and hard to move (would like something I can move with my engine hoist if need be and the "tool room" lathes look like they might exceed what an engine hoist can handle). I am currently leaning towards something more like the Southbend Henrys57Wagon posted. My thinking is that something similar to that size would be easier to find space for and if purchased in decent shape, and kept in decent shape, could probably always be sold for close to what I paid for it. Another benefit to the smaller, bench top size/style is I just might be able to get it down into the basement (although the wife kinda cringed and maybe even barfed a little at that suggestion). Finding space in an already stuffed two car garage isn't easy. I am searching Kijiji just to get an idea of prices, and reading up on different lathes too although some of the stuff on Kijiji is pretty obviously not what I am looking for ... currently there is a rusty hulk of an old lathe that is stored in a less than weathertight building as you can clearly see the snow outside a mere foot or so from the lathe ... $450 and he can't find a name of a number on it.

I'm thinking I just may have to take Hemi's course, but show up with beer and wings for the teacher instead of an apple.

Thanks for all the replies, I will post if/when anything happens ... by the way, fantastic little fitting you made Henry.

I waited a long time for the "right" used  lathe to come along. The ones that came up were either, too much $,  too big, too worn, needed repair and can't get parts, or just not the right time money wise. Busy Bee put this lathe on for nearly half price, $888 new, the time was right, so I grabbed it. It has seen lots of use and is capable of doing all I need it to do. I built a stand for it that is on wheels and can be moved around if needed.

 

 For full pop of $1700, not what I would have bought. They are on right now for $1149. Still up there, but available when you want, new, with tooling, parts and accessories available. I swapped to a quick change tool post and different tool holders for convenience. Leave some budget for tooling.

I have seen some of these lathes come up used from people stepping up to bigger machines..

And I felt great validation when Hemi43 asked to borrow it and was sucessfull in cutting his internal metric left hand threads.

Forgot: There is a South Bend listed in the "What's it worth" topic here, By Frankr.

Quick change, and the distance between centers looks pretty good. See a set of collets in the rack there also, some tooling.
Maybe check it out unless it has been sold.

Another thing to consider is the hole through the headstock Dia. Think S.B. are only 3/4 in.

sasquatch wrote:

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DaveM--- Is that a small light green lathe on the upper left in the pic?

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Yep. Toyo ML210 I bought in the '80s when I was heavy into building and racing RC cars. It has alot of hours on it, but doesn't get used much anymore.

 

 

 

 

 

hemi43 wrote:

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 Do you still have the link as to where those threaded hubs ended up? I looked for the pics but couldn't find them.

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 I still can't believe that that is the best way they could come up with to lift a car, just for a photo op.

I think I just got my answer ... the "display" racecar placed on top of the arches .  I didn't think the Busy Bee lathe would have been used for making anything for the rig, the rigs trailer or that crane.

Re: Chinese Equipment: This equipment is getting better all the time, it had to, for them to compete with the taiwan machines. A number of the taiwan machinery now is VERY good, both in fit and finish,a big change from 10 years ago.
That 10x18 that DaveM posted, if it was totally built in N. America, it would be retailing for at least $5-6000.00 i bet !
So for the average guy lots of machinery is available now at affordable prices compared to years ago.

(Neat little Toyo.)

Lightspeed Mike wrote:

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I bought the same lathe as DaveM did a few years ago. Doesn't do everything but it will do 90% of what I need. Not a big fan of the Chinese stuff but if it was N. American made I couldn't of afforded it. Used lathes around here are few and far between and usually over priced when you find them.

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 The reason they go for big bucks is because there's such a high demand for them both for industry and us backyard guys. There's still good deals out there, but you have to search them out. I got mine from Ajax High School when they were getting rid of their machine shop (what a shame). IMHO, school lathes and any other machines, are the ones to get. They are never abused , and are always in "like new" condition.

sasquatch wrote:

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Re: What a Shame!!:

Agreed, after that school equipment is gone what will there be??

Bunch of kids who ONLY know how to push a button.
I have said for quite some time,,,,, That will CHANGE,,, nobody is "HUNGRY" yet.

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 That's why I will try and teach my Son how to use the equipment I have. Hopefully he will have interest in it !! It's a great feeling knowing you don't have to rely on someone else to fix your things.

hemi43 wrote:

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sasquatch wrote:

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Re: What a Shame!!:

Agreed, after that school equipment is gone what will there be??

Bunch of kids who ONLY know how to push a button.
I have said for quite some time,,,,, That will CHANGE,,, nobody is "HUNGRY" yet.

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 That's why I will try and teach my Son how to use the equipment I have. Hopefully he will have interest in it !! It's a great feeling knowing you don't have to rely on someone else to fix your things.

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 Schools are being stripped of their shop classes left right and center...what a shame when you can make an excellent living in the trades as you know. I cant believe the young guys who come from so called "welding schools" who have tickets who cant run a bead in the field, fit up a joint or even read a tape measure!!

Industry too has changed its ways. For many, gone are the in-house machine shop tool rooms and fabrication equipment as its cheaper to outsource. The only time I come across a real, well rounded maintenance shop is if the plant is in a small town or remote where there aren't many service shops nearby

sasquatch wrote:

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I keep hearing the reason Shops are being taken out of schools is due to the liability issues of being "Sued" these days
One of the saddest things i see also is as Gearhead posted, "Can't even read a tape measure."

All we can do is as Hemi43 posted,, "Teach OUR kids how to do these things", (my 10 year old grandson is getting lessons off and on from his step father to arc weld.-He is learning it, bit by bit.)
The past year i have supplied him with his own top tool chest,, and FULL of most tools, his own drill press, and a wood lathe. He is taking an interest and learning.

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 Thats excellent - I've been dragging my son to work on OT jobs too and teaching him how its done from the beginning.

flatblack55delivery wrote:

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As long as we keep trying ,were doing our part .We can try to teach and then its up to them to take it in.All we can do is try to make it fun and interesting.But why is it they seem to be so afraid of getting a little dirty nowadays. Ed

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 Because this generation has grown up with a mouse or game controller in their hands. Its an electronic generation.

When we were kids, we built model cars, forts, go karts, minibikes etc...

now what....do they even sell model kits anymore?  

You'll have to work alot harder to keep him in the shop now that he has, a job,  his drivers license...and a girlfriend.