Lathe for sale in my area

[Walt]

I'm not flush with cash right now, but there is a Clausing 4815 lathe for sale nearby. Owner is asking $1100, and it comes with 3 and 4-jaw chucks, also a 3 phase 3/4 hp motor.

I think this is a reasonably good deal, but:

I have no way to move it myself, so I would need to find a qualified mover in the Madison, WI area. (I have a small trailer, but anything over 1000 lbs is out of the question. Probably 800 lbs is a realistic limit.)
I have zero experience with evaluating lathes. What do I look for?
I can run 220v power to my shop, roughly how much will a vfd cost me?
My shop is in my basement. No ground level access until spring. It would be a big job squeezing it into our crowded garage that is unheated. Uggh.

Walt

 

[joe_m]

The VFD for that small a motor will be cheap - under $200.
Getting the lathe down into the basement will be an epic saga that, if successfull, will be something you tell the grandkids about.
Shouldn't be too hard to find someone to help move it. A flatbed trailer will haul it easy enough or you could dismantle it with an engine hoist - move the lathe in your small trailer and then come back for the stands. I've got an el-cheapo Lowes 5x8 trailer and when I bought my big a@@ lathe I had someone bring it down to my house in their trailer, lifted it out with the engine hoist, and then used the baby Lowes trailer to move it piece by piece out to the workshop.

Good luck
Joe

 

[Walt]

The VFD for that small a motor will be cheap - under $200.
Getting the lathe down into the basement will be an epic saga that, if successfull, will be something you tell the grandkids about.
Shouldn't be too hard to find someone to help move it. A flatbed trailer will haul it easy enough or you could dismantle it with an engine hoist - move the lathe in your small trailer and then come back for the stands. I've got an el-cheapo Lowes 5x8 trailer and when I bought my big a@@ lathe I had someone bring it down to my house in their trailer, lifted it out with the engine hoist, and then used the baby Lowes trailer to move it piece by piece out to the workshop.

Good luck
Joe

Update:

I already got a reply from my brother. He services commercial bakery equipment for a living, and has a big pickup and a huge trailer. He's agreed to take on the job of moving the lathe, and will store it for me 'till summer. I have a walk-out basement (good news). That means my house is built into a hill side with the basement level entrance around back (not so good news).

Walt

 

[joe_m]

Update:

I already got a reply from my brother. He services commercial bakery equipment for a living, and has a big pickup and a huge trailer. He's agreed to take on the job of moving the lathe, and will store it for me 'till summer. I have a walk-out basement (good news). That means my house is built into a hill side with the basement level entrance around back (not so good news).

Walt

Sounds like fate wanted you to have this lathe. Tearing up the backyard with a trailer isn't as bad as trying to get a couple tons of iron down basement steps. You can always replant the petunias, but smushed legs will always be smushed.

 

[Splat]

Sounds like fate wanted you to have this lathe. Tearing up the backyard with a trailer isn't as bad as trying to get a couple tons of iron down basement steps. You can always replant the petunias, but smushed legs will always be smushed.

My brother and I got my Heavy 10 down into my basement via Bilco doors and 5 steps, then about 30' over to the side where she now will permanently stay.

 

[Walt]

Sounds like fate wanted you to have this lathe. Tearing up the backyard with a trailer isn't as bad as trying to get a couple tons of iron down basement steps. You can always replant the petunias, but smushed legs will always be smushed.

Someone else got there first. Thanks for your help.

Walt