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WTB a lathe

DaveTooley

Gold $$ Contributor
Sorry for the intrusion but this group is the best resource around. I have a good friend who is retiring from the SOF community in a year or so and needs a lathe. I had a 14X40 Nardini lined up for him but that deal went sideways while he was deployed this last trip. Looking for a 14" lathe or smaller. We're in eastern NC. Anything within a two day drive is in play.
PM me details
Thanks for the help.

Dave
 
New or used? Budget?

Pretty hard to beat the Precision Matthews PM1340 GT in my estimation if you are looking for new and it is within your budget.

Frank
 
I bought a new Precision Matthews PM-1440BV 4 years ago. The variable speed is addictive, especially when threading. You can just zoom it up and not wait so long for your drop in number to roll around. Also uses single phase power. I do have to swap out gears manually on the outboard end but the DRO and variable speed options were more important to me. The gear change thing isn't a big deal. I run a Nardini 14-40 at work ( gunsmithing). Its a nice heavy machine and does the job well. For whatever reason the Brazilians skipped 32 TPI on the threading chart and in the gearing. The Precision Matthews lathe was a bit over $7000 delivered to my driveway. I have never regretted the purchase.
Keith
 
DaveTooley said:
Sorry for the intrusion but this group is the best resource around. I have a good friend who is retiring from the SOF community in a year or so and needs a lathe. I had a 14X40 Nardini lined up for him but that deal went sideways while he was deployed this last trip. Looking for a 14" lathe or smaller. We're in eastern NC. Anything within a two day drive is in play.
PM me details
Thanks for the help.

Dave
Click to expand...
i see a 19 x 102 leblond on bid spotter in MI. seriously ive got a Grizzly G0709 14 x 40 "gunsmith lathe", i would sell for a thousand off catalog, but i think he wants something "better " than this. It has been a good value for me. came with chucks ect and it gets the job done. this machine really needs a dro though. for comparison Ive got a PM 1340gt to,which i like much better but the money was alot more to. I got a SB 13 to but its in many pieces.
 
Last edited:
I’ve got a PM1340GT and I believe it was around $7K with the options. I opted for the 3 phase motor with a VFD. Very handy. I added a potentiometer on the control panel to vary the frequency from 30Hz to 80Hz.
Been using it for a number of projects, just no gunsmithing yet.
I believe the 13 and 14 GT models are made in Taiwan and have a 5 year warranty.
 
itchyTF said:
I’ve got a PM1340GT and I believe it was around $7K with the options. I opted for the 3 phase motor with a VFD. Very handy. I added a potentiometer on the control panel to vary the frequency from 30Hz to 80Hz.
Been using it for a number of projects, just no gunsmithing yet.
I believe the 13 and 14 GT models are made in Taiwan and have a 5 year warranty.
Click to expand...
right-- mine is a 1340 now that i think about it. its 1 phase- a vfd would be nice. youre right the 1340 anyway is made in taiwan with a 5 year warranty. you were smart to get that one first. that said its still a light duty lathe. 50 per pass is a heavy cut for mine. good enough for what I do but Id like to have a "heavier" machine.
 
Stumpy1 said:
New or used? Budget?

Pretty hard to beat the Precision Matthews PM1340 GT in my estimation if you are looking for new and it is within your budget.

Frank
Click to expand...
Looking for used with some tooling. That's where the best value is. This guy has 3 kids with the oldest being about 10. Even at E-9 pay he's going to be poor for awhile.
 
As I understand it PM is moving production and they are not getting any machines in.
He's got an all in budget of $6K+
 
Another option, do a search for auction houses. Out here in the PNW we have Murphy Action house. They handle businesses that for what ever reason are selling their equipment. I attend most sales that have items of interest and have seen many very nice machine shop and tool room equipment come up for auction. I am sure that there are similar facilities where you are. A buddy picked up a very nice tool room lathe for about $5500. Got an entire rolling tool box with all the tooling and accessories for the lathe in another lot for $1500. My guess is the total value on the regular market would have been well past $10k. But you do have to wait to find the right auction that has what you want and bid against others.
If you do go this route, you have to go and inspect before the auction opens. Many have the bidding online and it can become like pulling the lever on a One Arm Bandit. I have seen used items go for retail and beyond. The best auctions are the in person type. You don't get the bid crazies that you do online.
Be aware though, generally there is a fee on top of the bid, Murphy charges 13% for their services, plus any applicable sales tax. You also have a limited number of days after the sale to remove the item. They will help load but the rest is up to you.
 
The potential problem I see with used, especially if it’s not powered, is are you ending up with a “project”. I wanted American iron but didn’t find any at the time and I didn’t want the risk of a “project”.
 
DaveTooley said:
Thanks,
That's just about what I had lined up for him. Good Set-Tru chuck and some tooling for $6500. Had the deal done in February. Then a bidding war, then the chuck disappeared, then all the tooling. They still wanted $5K and the steady rest was gone. Waiting on my check to be returned.
Click to expand...


Dave, It is about 10 miles to Caddo Mills from my house. I am leaving in about an hour to go out of town, but will be back Sunday evening if I can help on it.
 
That Clausing is a very nice lathe..... perfect for barrel work..... the one listed looks like it was rode hard though.CDB4AB5D-370A-47E9-9D83-1DE8BA07F796.jpeg
 
At one point, a short period of time they were
Made in China but that didn’t last long.... the tailstock is different from any other I’ve seen and the cross slide handle doesn’t look original just for a few observations.
 
Looks like two different compounds, one white with a handle and one yellowish with no handle. The DRO was added while they were taking pictures.
I'll pass.
 
That lathe is also missing the shield that goes over the leadscrew. It’s been apart and not fully repaired. Good call passing on that Clausing 13.
 
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