Is this a lathe cabinet? Or will it work for one?

[Quick Cal]

Nor sure where to post this so I'll try here.

I saw this cabinet. It made me think it might work for my Atlas 10'' lathe. But I'm not sure how the top is made. It looks like folded over stamped steel to me. Not sure.

I asked the guy if he thought it would hold a 400 pound lathe and he said it would. But he's the guy selling,,,lol. That being said he is a home machinist and has a couple of lathes and mills. So he knows what I'm trying to do. I just hope he's not bs'ing me to make a sale. Or in this case a trade.

It's 6' long, 28'' deep, and 34'' tall. If the top will hold the weight it might be just right. He said he bought it at an auction just to get the Wilton bullet vise off of it and doesn't need the cabinet.

Opinion's?

 

[jwmay]

Looks like lathe cabinets with a better top than they ever put on them. It’ll absolutely carry an Atlas, even if that top is a hollow core door.

 

[matthewsx]

looks like it'll work just fine. If you wanted to make it more rigid you can just put a piece of plywood across the back between both cabinets.
If the price is right I'd go for it, you can always modify if you want.

John

 

[Quick Cal]

Looks like lathe cabinets with a better top than they ever put on them. It’ll absolutely carry an Atlas, even if that top is a hollow core door.

I wonder if just the edges are folded over and the top is just thin steel? That would need beefed up I would think?

 

[matthewsx]

If so you can put some hardwood ply underneath. What are you planning on trading for it?

John

 

[Quick Cal]

If so you can put some hardwood ply underneath. What are you planning on trading for it?

John

We're in negotiation's,,,,lol. Possibly a 3/4 hp Craftsman block grinder?

What kind of cash price do you guys think the cabinet is worth?

I just talked to him on the phone. He has it stored at his dads place. He's going out there now to see how the top is made. And to see if the bottom shelf comes out and see if there's a way to bolt it to the floor. Calling me back in a bit.

Would I want to bolt it to the concrete floor in my basement?

 

[jwmay]

My Atlas is bolted to two sheets of 3/4 ply laminated together, which is bolted to an angle iron bench frame. Atlas are little lathes. It’ll be fine.

Not bolted to the floor. I want it to scare me when I do something stupid.

 

[matthewsx]

Cash sale probably between $50 and $100.

No, don’t bolt it to the floor, just put heavy stuff (like extra chucks) in the cabinet.

That bolting to the floor stuff is more about big production machines that turn off center castings and the like. If you ever have to turn something off center you can counterweight it to keep the machine from jumping around.

My lathe isn’t even bolted to the stand. In my experience it just ain’t going anywhere unless I put some real effort into it.

John

 

[pontiac428]

Nice one. A coat of brush-on Rustoleum and it'll be posh.

 

[Quick Cal]

I found out the top is just folded over. It has 1-1/2'' lip on the inside. He said a 2x would fit snug in there. It is 40'' in between the cabinets. My lathe is 36''. So I would for sure need to beef it up. But I am trying to get a 42'' bed,,,lol.