Craftsman 109 Lathe Question

[Nubble]

Hello, so I'm looking at purchasing a Craftsman 6" lathe model 109.21270. This lathe comes with instruction booklet and all the gears and all accessories and tools shown in photos. Includes face plate, 4 jaw chuck, tool bits, and original rocker tool post. The lathe has had the headstock bearing replaced with a better one. It's 450$ would this be an okay Lathe for a beginner I'm only planning on turning aluminum, brass, cast iron a very rarely mild steel.

 

[markba633csi]

No I wouldn't recommend a 109 series to a beginner- especially not at that price
The headstock is too flimsy- too much of a toy
Get a later Atlas 6" machine with the 1" spindle and Timken roller bearings

 

[bill stupak]

You can use it as a starter lathe and make parts with it. It seems well equipped. The shop made bearing housing looks a little hinkey, make sure the 4 jaw mounts okay and run it under power and see if the spindle has runout. The standard spindles are well known to bend if you sneeze too hard. It is possible it has a fabricated spindle and that may actually be a good thing, if it does make sure it has a through hole and is not solid., even though it would only be about 1/2" it would still limit what you can turn. Make sure the back gear works. If the owner is the one who made the mods have him explain what he did. $450 seems high but a 109 could easily bring more than that by parting it out. I started out with a 109.

 

[markba633csi]

This web page has some 109 stuff down at the bottom, and in fact the whole site has great things to check out:

Taig Lathe Machining Projects

If I remember correctly, the OEM spindle thru hole is only 1/4"

 

[wa5cab]

I'm sorry but I have to agree with Mark. Although the 109 machine appears to be well cared for and is probably worth the asking price, you are unlikely to be happy with it long term. Besides the 6" Atlas mentioned by Mark, there is another 6" also sold by Sears but made by Atlas that will also serve you well. The main difference between the two is that the Atlas 618 has Timken tapered roller bearings on the spindle whereas the Sears has replaceable steel-backed bronze bushings. Around 1954 Atlas and Sears replaced the bronze bushing model with a Sears nomenclatured version of the Atlas 618 (which is probably the best 6" lathe ever built). Both versions have Timken tapered roller bearings on the spindle,.

 

[Nubble]

So what would be considered a fair price for an Atlas 618?

 

[wa5cab]

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess typically $500 to $1500 for the Craftsman 101.07301 and $300 to $2000 for the Atlas 618. De pendant upon a host of variables including condition, completeness, location, phases of the moon, etc.

 

[markba633csi]

Sears also sold the Atlas 6" machine with Timken headstock; the model # is 101.21400 (Craftsman badged)

 

[Nubble]

Sears also sold the Atlas 6" machine with Timken headstock; I believe the model # is 101.21400 (Craftsman badged)

That's also an option I'm looking at as well, I did find an atlas 618 for $650, although I'd have to drive 2 hours and 37 minutes to get it.

 

[markba633csi]

Yep that's the one- not a bad price either if the bed isn't too worn
I don't see the complete set of change gears though
I'm not a fan of those link belts but that can be rectified
I see some wear on the leadscrew- and the little tumbler reverse gears