Lathe Question,

[Rtheurer]

Need some Advice on a Lathe. Its a Jet brand with no Model number left on it. Its going to come up for sale soon and I am looking for information on it. Looked all over the Internet and did not find one with the Cast Iron base like this one has. I might have to go back and take another look. I only had 15 min before I had to leave and looked at other stuff there as well to include an N mil with power feed and DRO. which is what I wanted to look at in the first place. Then I Saw this Lathe.

Any idea what model this is. No I didn't get to measure the Bed... Sorry.

RusselView attachment 1000788

 

[Ggmac]

Just a guess 12-36 or 13-40 I believe Taiwan. I'm going from memory .

 

[shortgrass]

It's not a bench lathe. 14 or 16 x ? Measure through the head stock to the face of the chuck jaws. Probably 3 phase.

 

[Ggmac]

Good point , I thought 3 phase also . Just looked at the plug !

 

[JasonT]

The pictures don't match.....which one is it?

 

[GNERGY]

If it is 3 phase don't let that detour you. I have a Rockwell that is 3 phase and I run it with a Westinghouse Teco VFD. About a $150. investment.
Tarey

 

[Rtheurer]

bottom picture.

 

[Rtheurer]

GH1660R ?

Looks like the R models I have found on the web from the mid to late 90's.

 

[Rtheurer]

Correction. GH1640 "R".

Looked at several web sights and found them to range from $9000.00 to $2000.00 used. I might be able to get this ALOT cheaper than that. If its running True and not all beat up, It just might be my first Lathe. Then of course the cost of tooling will kill me like you guys already know!! LOL.

Any advise before I put a bid on it?

Russel

 

[jdh47]

My best WAG is that it is a 16" possibly toolroom lathe. Can't see if it has a taper. It will cut metric without any change gears from what I see. The headstock looks to me like it is in excess of 24" long with probably at least a 2" hole through the spindle. It looks like the foot brake is laying on the floor, it could be broke. Only a close visual hands on inspection can tell about bed wear and wear on the various screws and half nuts.

It's a lovely pig-in-a-poke.

Joe

 

[Ggmac]

Can you move it yourself and can you get 3 phase or figure your adapter cost into the bid . That is a nice set up , the headstock is a bit long . If it's gonna be your first lathe , it may be cheaper to purchase one from grizzly or enco . They (Chinese and Taiwan) have come a long way in the last 10 yrs . Plus you get to order parts easy . Just my $.02
A new 12x36 is aprx $2000 so I'd start at $1000 and stop at $1800 , that's cause I've set up a few new 12x36 Grizzlys and have grown fond of them , especially the ease at getting tooling and parts .

 

[Rtheurer]

I might be able to get it for less than $1000.
Yes the Break looks like its on the floor. The Power on Switch is Broken. The spindle is 1 1/2". Steady Rest is missing. Nice functional DRO and a 4Jaw and 3 Jaw.

Looking at rolling it into a PODS container to store it until I can get a place to put it.

Its at a High School and has most likely been crashed a few times... Little worried about that.

 

[carlsbad]

I just sold a GH 1340W which is the heavy (2200 lbs) version of their lathe. This one looks like an older version of that lathe. Mine was made in China and I would expect this one is too. The trim, faceplates, compound slide, and tailstock look identical.

The lathe was excellent for a Chinese lathe and I was able to do extremely accurate work on it. The controls were stiff, the headstock was noisy, I had to keep the compound gib extremely tight to avoid chatter (after Jet replaced the compound twice under warranty). But it did what I told it to do.

If all the bugs have been worked out of it, then it is a very nice, heavy, serviceable lathe. For the price, it is a great deal if all is good. Jet sells these in 1 phase and 3 phase. Your best hint on which this is would be where it is installed. if it is in an industrial area with 3 ph, then it will likely be 3 ph. Otherwise not. looking at the background, I'd guess that shop is 3ph. It might be 480.

My new lathe is 3ph. I put in a rotary phase converter. It is nice. Static phase converters lose a lot of horsepower. I just switched my bridgeport from static to rotary and it is much more powerful on heavy cuts.

I have a spare 3 phase 220 motor if you end up needing it. Have spare gibs, compound rest, half nut, etc. I also have a practically new Jet steady rest and compound rest. I'm getting ready put all of these on ebay so PM me if you're interested in any of these items.

Jerry

 

[skeetlee]

i have a brand new 13" jet that i would probably sell. less than 6 hours run time on the machine. 13x40BDB with base 3300$ thats about 2000 less than new

 

[Ggmac]

Remember, it's only a good deal if you need it and the cost of storage , converter , tooling ( that would come with a new lathe ) repair is still less than a new or other lathe . Temp controlled storage can add up fast .

 

[Rtheurer]

Been looking for quite awhile. Waiting for a deal.... But you know how that goes. I like to make things and learn new skills so this will be something good. Whats the worst that will happen... It sits in a corner like about thousands of other Lathe's out there. LOL.

Like I always see. " Hey buddy? you interested in selling that 69 Camaro in your back yard?" No sir I am going to fix that up when I get time.......

Thanks for everyones help. Appreciate it. Seems I always get an honest answer here.

Russel

 

[jdh47]

It could be a good deal. It is just hard to tell without getting hands on and still need to hear it run at speed. If the gears are good and not much bed wear it would probably be a steal at the price you mention.

For three phase power you can get a three phase motor a little larger than the lathe motor and wire it to a start/run panel from Anderson or WNY Supply (wired to 220v single phase on a 40amp circuit) and have a good rotary phase converter reasonable. It will give you pretty much full power and will run all your three phase machines. There is always the VFD option as well.

Good Luck, hope it works out.

Joe

 

[skeetlee]

This 13" jet that I have has less than 6 hours run time. Single phase. If anyone is in need of a good Gunsmithing lathe this would be it.

 

[carlsbad]

This 13" jet that I have has less than 6 hours run time. Single phase. If anyone is in need of a good Gunsmithing lathe this would be it.

I looked it up. It is a belt drive. belt drive gets looked down on because you have to change belts to change speeds. This can be a pain in the rear. I have the following comments:

1. You don't change speeds that often. It isn't that much of a burden.
2. Belt drive lathes are smooth and quiet. I'm keeping my eyes open for a Taiwanese 12x24 belt drive lathe to put in the corner. I had one once and should never have let it get away. very nice and quiet.

--Jerry

 

[butchlambert]

I looked it up. It is a belt drive. belt drive gets looked down on because you have to change belts to change speeds. This can be a pain in the rear. I have the following comments:

1. You don't change speeds that often. It isn't that much of a burden.
2. Belt drive lathes are smooth and quiet. I'm keeping my eyes open for a Taiwanese 12x24 belt drive lathe to put in the corner. I had one once and should never have let it get away. very nice and quiet.

--Jerry

Do what! Both my Monarch 10EE and my 6913 Clausing both are belt drive, but speed changes are not from changing belts to change speed. The speed changes are made by a knob on the machine, just turn the knob.