Picking a lathe

[Smithdoor]

I'm looking for a new to me lathe. So far in the running is a Clausing 5914. The. A Takasawa 800 deluxe an then a Monarch 10ee. i know the Monarch is the best of the 3. But at $5,000 over my pocket book .
The Clausing was originally purchased by Calstate Hayard comes with 3 chucks and runs ok, asking price is $1,300. . The Takasawa 800 I have seen run and its nice. $3,000 but may go down to $2,500. It's not been beat up
The Clausing has sat for 10 years in a garage not running.
I think the Takasawa is by far the best between it and the Clausing. Any owners of a Takasawa out there? Opinions are helpful .
Mike

The price $5,000 you buy lot of good used lathes. They will be 50 years old try Mori Seike. Back 1960's and 1970's this was a top line lathe but stop building engines and only built CNC in 1980's .
Sizes from 16 to 24"

Dave

 

[BWS Arms]

A Mori is next on my list.

 

[Oldseabee]

I got the Takasawa down to 2,500.

 

[Oldseabee]

So now it's between Takasawa or a Wade 8a that just needs a cabinet paint job. Wade has all the goodies but is in Connecticut and I am waiting for the shipping charge.

 

[Oldseabee]

The Wade comes with the following. 3 Jaw chuck, 4 Jaw chuck, 2 collet closers, a Steady Rest, a Follower Rest. Collets, transposing gears for quick change gearbox, threading dial indicator, Original light, it has a Morse 2 tailstock taper, 2 speed Motor, with gives 12 spindle speeds, the clutch was rebuilt by Twin Disk Clutch Co. the original manufacture of the clutch, with new clutch plates. The original had been torn up and was missing chunks when I purchased the machine. The tool rest (top compound) has been repaired in one place and has a tear out on the rear. Photos attached, There is one removal of material on the rear V way near the spindle probably to increase the diameter that could be turned. , photo attached. other than that everything works as is should, the screws on the compound have about 5 thou of backlash. It is a 3 phase motor so requires a VFD or a Rotary phase converter if you have single phase power. i did purchase another follow rest as the original was cracked.

Functionally it is a great lathe, and definitely could be used as is, However, It does need cosmetics.

 

[CJ5Dave]

Need to be able to run it. A picture is worth a 1000 words, but 1000 worn parts cost more.

 

[Nesse1]

There was a Takasawa 800 that hit my radar screen a couple of years ago, back when I was looking. From research, it's a top shelf machine. I had no way to move it, and the seller was hard to get a hold of, so I took it as a sign. Hearing about one give me a little knot in my stomach; the fish that got away. Anyway, I'd jump on it assuming it's in decent condition. It's very heavy, and quite low to the ground. If you are tall, it may need a lift.

 

[Aaron_W]

Wade is a nice small lathe, but it is a small lathe 8-1/2" swing, much smaller than a 10EE or Takisawa.

 

[Oldseabee]

After showing my son's the pictures they laughed and said Dad what about your broken back. You wouldn't be able to get down low to pait it or do anything. Get the Takasawa. So Takasawa here we come

 

[RaisedByWolves]

. The tool rest (top compound) has been repaired in one place and has a tear out on the rear. Photos attached, There is one removal of material on the rear V way near the spindle probably to increase the diameter that could be turnedphoto attached. other than that everything works as is should, the screws on the compound have about 5 thou of backlash. It is a 3 phase motor so requires a VFD or a Rotary phase converter if you have single phase power. i did purchase another follow rest as the original was cracked.

Functionally it is a great lathe, and definitely could be used as is, However, It does need cosmetics.

That’s a hard pass.

That much abuse and tomfoolery ( they ground the ways ffs?!??) is likely a preview to what you will find further on.

Don’t buy a known headache.