The veri-speed sounds a bit noisy, probably the plastic bushing on the motor shaft, or maybe just the belt. A VFD or the static phase converter will run it just fine.
The dings in the top of the V are from chips getting between the saddle and the ways, not a big deal, it's not a wear surface, just clearance. A way cover would eliminate that problem. The ways look good from what I could see.
The power feed is a bit noisy, sounds like it could use some grease. Could also be that the ways are dry and the machine just needs to be cleaned and lubed, or maybe the table lock is snugged up.
Machine prices vary by region and availability. I would probably not pay $3250 for that machine around here, but there are several similar machines available, including the rather hopeful fellow who wants $8000 for one exactly like we are talking about here.
Right, yeah, there is one on my local CL that is over 8 grand- it's nice but no way!
I appreciate your comments about the pricing, power feed, and condition. I have been reading a lot about all the aspects of the vari-speed drive and I agree that if serviced, it will likely be satisfactory.
One good thing about a machine with a few dings is it makes it hurt a lot less when you make the first good ding of your own. . . Like the first door ding in a brand new car- always the worst!
I recently made a deal on a barely used 1965 Vari-Speed similar to yours. We agreed on $3800. The seller bought the mill new and has hardly used it since. It also came with a pretty nice pile of tooling. If your area is like mine, machinery is not easy to find and I was very lucky to come across this one. Prices are going to tend to be higher in areas where machinery is harder to come by. I'm also getting his 14 1/2x72 South Bend of like vintage with some attachments still in their original boxes.
Wow, I would gladly drop $3800 on a one-owner machine. Great find! Tooling also. . . And yes, this area is sort of a desert for used machines like this. Not many of those out here where farming is the activity rather than manufacturing, I suppose.
Get out there an buy it. If you want to buy a mill, then quit dithering and get at it. That is not a "bad" machine. You are buying a used machine off Craig's list - there is no guarantee. Even if the seller is totally genuine, the machine may fail the first time you try it. Even if you buy a new machine, that still does not ensure there is no problem (yes there there will be a warranty, but there may still be problems). That is not a "bad machine" - all used machines need TLC - that is what puts it in your price range. Of course you will need to do some cleaning and fixing.
As others have said, just clean and service it. You will discover a number of things that need repair - so fix them, and start using it. Once you know what you actually have - then you can decide how you want to fancy it up.
That machine is fine. Don't expect it to be perfect. The base machine seems to be fine, so buy it, haul it home and get to work.
Strictly speaking the price does not really matter (a few hundred extra is fine). You can easily blow more than that if the transport is further or if you have to spend much time mucking around. . . .. Don't sweat it, just get in the game.
Thanks Chipper, that is some really great advice and I'm going to take it. I agree with your assessment of the deal and what to expect. You are totally right to get it going before I make elaborate plans about changing the drive system.
And it's almost like you know me, to tell me to quit expecting perfection and get to making chips. No doubt I should! And I won't worry if I pay a few more dollars than the next guy, every guy has his good deals and his ok deals, it won't kill me. The cash for this is coming from the sale of some absolutely useless pinball machines so really, I can't go wrong.
That’s a killer deal around here (West Texas-New Mexico) looked pretty clean to me... the ways did look a little too clean :/ my Search radius kept expanding and took me almost a year to find “the one” I was hoping to find something like that within 5-6 hour of me to no avail.... my budget went from 3-4K to 5-6k ended up picking one up in Houston (12 hour drive) for 4K with no tooling. So yeah I’d probably buy that in a heartbeat
Yeah, I'll be sure to take a good look, and try everything out- if it appears rescraped I'll reassess- Hopefully I'm just lucky and it's just seen little use. I appreciate your pricing information. I'm not too far from you, and yeah, these don't come up much out here.
Looks like a nice mill. Price is at the high end for my location but we're swimming in used machines around here... Offer a little less and see what he says.
Great advice, and I'm going to take it. Based on some research, some soul search, and of course the great advice you guys helped me with, I made up my mind and made an offer. Dude might dismiss me as a lowballer, I'm completely prepared for that. He might counter. He might accept. If he accepts, I'm committed to rent the trailer, make the drive, and fork the cash.
I hope he does- I offered a price that was just a few hundred more than I wanted to pay, and a few hundred less than what he wanted to get. We'll have to wait and see!
Wish me luck, or at least a "you suck" if I get it, and if I do, a new thread will be born:
"Another Milling Noob Gets a Crusty old Bridgie that he has jack for knowledge about- Watch as he stumbles and blunders his way through overhaul and first cuts!"
Yeah, that sounds about right. You guys will enjoy watching me get in way over my head, which I will do, guaranteed!
