What lathe should I look for (West Coast).

phranticness

phranticness

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I've got a Logan model #200 which has been great and it's size/capability has been enough for 95% of my needs, but the lack of a quick change gear box is pretty annoying. I'd like to replace it. I'd like to keep my budget under $2000 including my fuel to go pick it up. It's not set in stone, but so you have an idea.

I've been looking at the Logan 800's and 900's
Clausing 5000's
Jet, Ramco, etc. 40 year old Taiwanese options

A little more swing than the Logan would be nice, but not a deal breaker. Collet option would be nice. I have room but I'd prefer to keep the size smaller-ish so I can handle moving it without a team.

Being on the west coast, our selection is much smaller than you guys on the other side of the country, but fair deals come up occasionally. I'm trying to compile a list of candidates so I know what keywords to search for . I'm in no rush, since I don't "need" a replacement. It took me a couple years to figure out what mill I wanted and to eventually find one (a Clausing 8520) that's what I'm trying to do with a lathe.


What are some names you'd suggest I look for?

Thanks in advance for your input, all advice is welcome.
 
Keep watching Craigslist, and if you do Facebook watch FB marketplace. Good stuff does turn up all around you, Sacramento, SF Bay area, Chico, Redding etc. There have been some decent looking lathes in the 9-12" size popping up in the North Bay over the past year. There was a 10" Sheldon in the Santa Rosa area a few months back at a nice price, and very recently a 13" Monarch. Craftsman 12" lathes turn up quite often within your budget.

The trick with CL is you have to check multiple times a day and respond quickly if you see anything interesting. The good stuff goes fast.

When you see something you are unfamiliar with look at Lathes UK, which is a great collection of info on vintage lathes. You can always ask here, but reality is that is mostly just educational. If it really was a great deal, it will probably be gone before you get a meaningful reply.


As far as what to get? That depends on how bad you want to get something with a QCGB.

If 10" has been mostly adequate for your needs, then looking for another 10" with a QCGB gives you a much larger market to shop. I probably see 2 or 3 9-10" lathes for every larger lathe that turns up around your budget. If you can live with what you have and be patient 11-14" lathes do turn up, but the larger end of that tend to run into the $3000-4000 range. It is also a lot harder to move a 1200lb 13" lathe compared to a 10" bench top like a Logan or South Bend "light" 10.

11" lathes don't seem to get much attention, but although the swing is only marginally larger they tend to be significantly beefier, with a larger (usually 1-3/8") spindle bore and have more features since they were a higher end machine. Logan made some 11" lathes, the South Bend Heavy 10 is almost 11" (10-3/4"), I think Rockwell had one as well. I'm sure there are others. Another nice thing for the space deficient is short 24" between centers machines seem to be more common than 12" which are almost always 36" between centers. Saves you more than a foot in length if you don't need it.

12x36 and 13x40 seem to be the default "perfect" garage lathe.

With the exception of a few early imports from Taiwan, most of the import lathes you find won't have a QCGB until you get to the 12" size. Jet and Select are two smaller import brands that offered a QCGB on a 10x24" lathe.
 
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There is a nice looking Mori Seiki in Redding, $5500 with a pallet of chucks, faceplates, tool holders, etc.
I think it’s around a 1640 size.

I think it's an MS-850.
 
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On Fresno Craigslist there is one in Templeton

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk
 
Aaron_W said:
Keep watching Craigslist, and if you do Facebook watch FB marketplace. Good stuff does turn up all around you, Sacramento, SF Bay area, Chico, Redding etc. There have been some decent looking lathes in the 9-12" size popping up in the North Bay over the past year. There was a 10" Sheldon in the Santa Rosa area a few months back at a nice price, and very recently a 13" Monarch. Craftsman 12" lathes turn up quite often within your budget.

The trick with CL is you have to check multiple times a day and respond quickly if you see anything interesting. The good stuff goes fast.

When you see something you are unfamiliar with look at Lathes UK, which is a great collection of info on vintage lathes. You can always ask here, but reality is that is mostly just educational. If it really was a great deal, it will probably be gone before you get a meaningful reply.


As far as what to get? That depends on how bad you want to get something with a QCGB.

If 10" has been mostly adequate for your needs, then looking for another 10" with a QCGB gives you a much larger market to shop. I probably see 2 or 3 9-10" lathes for every larger lathe that turns up around your budget. If you can live with what you have and be patient 11-14" lathes do turn up, but the larger end of that tend to run into the $3000-4000 range. It is also a lot harder to move a 1200lb 13" lathe compared to a 10" bench top like a Logan or South Bend "light" 10.

11" lathes don't seem to get much attention, but although the swing is only marginally larger they tend to be significantly beefier, with a larger (usually 1-3/8") spindle bore and have more features since they were a higher end machine. Logan made some 11" lathes, the South Bend Heavy 10 is almost 11" (10-3/4"), I think Rockwell had one as well. I'm sure there are others. Another nice thing for the space deficient is short 24" between centers machines seem to be more common than 12" which are almost always 36" between centers. Saves you more than a foot in length if you don't need it.

12x36 and 13x40 seem to be the default "perfect" garage lathe.

With the exception of a few early imports from Taiwan, most of the import lathes you find won't have a QCGB until you get to the 12" size. Jet and Select are two smaller import brands that offered a QCGB on a 10x24" lathe.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the detailed response. You're right, just like anything in the classifieds you have to be fast when the price is right.

I guess where I don't really recognize a good value is in brands not in my orignal post. I was sort of hoping for a short cut with my question but the reality is I've got to do my homework so I can recognize a good price for whatever machine pops up.
 
Lastly, I'll update this thread when I find something. I know I'd be curious if I took the time to respond.
 
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