Buying used lathe

[rokit]

The King is a Taiwanese lathe (that's not necessarily bad). You could get a brand new Taiwanese lathe with no wear issues and a warranty for not much more (depending upon your specific requirements for the machine). Grizzly, Jet, etc.

So, what ARE your requirements?

I looked for a loooong time for a used tractor before I figured out that new was indeed the way to go. YMMV.

 

[muddstopper]

I have a 14in monarch, 24in bed. I find I seldom if ever need the 14in swing, but sometimes that 24in bed comes up short. As long as the material will fit thru the spindle, I can cut as long as I need, but 2ft of bed dont work well on pto shafts. I would think that for the $2400-$2700 price tag of the above mentioned laths, that some basic tooling should be included. Steady rest, live centers, quick change tool holders, cutting tools and boring bars start adding up if you have to buy them all seperate.

 

[TMGT]

That's a good point Mudd brought up, what's the spindle through bore on the two, bigger is better and the old SB weren't known for large spindle bores.

 

[Sonny580]

I have an old SB with a bushel basket of "stuff" with it,--couple of chucks and a (don't know why) but a nice rotary table,---also a short wall mount line shaft that goes from the flat belt on one end to v belt and electric motor on the other. total cost was $700. and the bedways are all tight and good!
I would go for the SB myself! just another opinion! thanks; sonny580

 

[Big Barn]

I have been looking for a lathe for a while now and recently found 2 for sale locally. One is a 13" Southbend $2400.00 canadian and the other is a King 1440G $2750.00 looks similar to a Birmingham 1440 . Of these 2 which would you buy and why? Thanks for any opinions

The price for the SouthBend even if in good shape would seem a little high here on the WEST coast of Canada.

That being said, SB's DO hold their value. I wish I had kept mine. Like everyone else mentioned the amount of tooling included in the sale is a major factor.

It's always been my opinion that if one was buying NEW, the machine (mill, lathe or?) should be included FREE if tool holders and tooling was purchased at time of transaction. But we all know THAT's not gonna happen.

Terry

 

[muddstopper]

Sonny580, I would be interested in the rotary table if you want to get rid of it. PM me if you want to sell it.

 

[jmc]

I have an old SB with a bushel basket of "stuff" with it,--couple of chucks and a (don't know why) but a nice rotary table,...

How big is the rotary table? Maybe if it mounts on the cross slide and it's low enough, they used it to turn spheres, pumpkins* and footballs*.

*pumpkins and footballs are mis-centered spheres...