What would you do with this South Bend 9A?

[StonewellMark]

Hi everyone, I have a "problem". I'm new to hobby machining and have a Craftsman 12x36 lathe with qc gears (http://hobby-machinist.com/index.php?topic=1344.0) I like it alot, its nice and clean, shows very little if any bed wear and I honestly think it was barely used. I dont have much tooling for it just a 3 jaw chuck (6"),mt2 drill chucks for the tailstock,live and dead centers and rocker tool post. The Problem is that I just picked up a South Bend 9A for a song ( yes I know.....I need another lathe like I need a hole in my head ) I ended up building a bench for it, mounting it and getting it working (new belts). Let me tell you Boy O Boy is it smooth in comparison to the Craftsman. So I guess the question is What Would You Do? Thanks

Mark

 

[Tony Wells]

Re: What would you do?

Hunt down another one! Two is not enough!

Seriously, if you don't have a mill of some sort, you may consider selling or swapping to get one.

 

[Starlight Tools]

Re: What would you do?

There are times when two lathes is not enough.

I had a Logan 9x28 and a year and a half ago picked upa 14x40. I seriously considered keeping both, but as my shop is very crowded already, I had to make a choice and so I sold off the Logan. I got a good price for it as we are in an area where machines are in short supply, and I had outfitted it with just about every accessory it would need, just add metal.

In your case, I would keep the one that fits your needs better. The SB is smaller, but runs better, the Craftsman has a bigger capacity, but does not run as well. You have to decide between the two which features are better. The accesories for the SB and the Craftsman will probably be swappable, so load up the one you want with anything that will swap out between the two, then sell off or swap the other for something that you need more.

Walter

 

[StonewellMark]

Re: What would you do?

David/Tony I have a Bridgeport 1J, step head, with a 9x42 table..its plenty big enough for me. I only wish the Craftsman had a larger Through hole and some more mass to it!! Thanks....

Mark

 

[Tony Wells]

Re: What would you do?

Were I in your position, aside from room consideration, I'd take my sweet time rebuilding the SB. Nothing wrong with having more than one machine of any given type. In my shop, I can't afford to be completely down, so having redundant machines is more than a luxury. And, if you do choose to rebuild the SB, the Atlas will be handy during the project.

Or........if you really want a larger machine, you could deal on what you have and acquire something else. Since you got a deal on the SB, profit is to be had. It all depends on what you want, and what you intend to do with your equipment.

 

[StonewellMark]

Re: What would you do?

Here is a photo of the South Bend....it came from a Friend who just had it laying in his garage for 15+ years, before that it was abused by high schoolers. :

 

[joebiplane]

if I were you I would trade me your SB 9A for my completely restored logan model 820 build in 1945

see attached..
i have decided that i like restoring and want to do a SB 9-A for my self
then you get a rebuild 10 " machine equal to the south Bend and far smoother than the craftsman
best of both worlds
but first i would need the serial number of the SB to determine it's age
joe

 

[george wilson]

The Craftsman lathe might have a bigger swing,but don't kid yourself that it can handle metal anywhere it's size capacity. I started out with a brand new 12" Sears/Atlas. Not rigid enough to do any large work on,except possibly aluminum. Fix up the S.B.,and sell the Atlas off. It was really made as an armature lathe for electric motor work to begin with. I sold mine to a motor shop when I got my 10" TAIWAN made Jet. It was Worlds better in rigidity,depth of cuts it would take,smoothness of cuts,and accuracy. I could make things in an hour or 2 that used to take me a day or 2 to make on the Sears.

 

[joesmith]

If u have the room I would keep both. If not I would lean toward keeping the lathe in the best condition and with the most accessories. I have owned both machines and while the SB is of higher quality a well set up 12" Atlas gives you more capability imo. It is capable of good work if u take your time. Now a SB hvy 10 would be a different issue. The taper headstock bearings of the Atlas permit a higher spindle speed for carbide and polishing.

Joe Smith

 

[GK1918]

The sky is the limit with two lathes just get it. | Call my 9A my Lincoln Town Car. And since my recent purchase of a
quick change tool post it is even more than a dream, so get it.sam