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Need Lathe Advice!

RemingtonAI

Hey guys,
Ok, so I need some opinions. I bought a mini lathe a little more than a year ago and have been learning the fundamentals of machining. I haven't sought any schooling or professional instruction but have been considering it. I have been reading a lot and practicing the basic operations on my mini lathe and have learned enough to see the shortcomings of its size and rigidity, and just been working my way around them. I'm sure if I was experienced I could even do better with it. Anyways, I am looking into buying a larger American made lathe and looking at the old South Bend and Logans. Here is a South Bend that I am looking at in particular. http://orlando.craigslist.org/hvo/5676212697.html
My problem is that I am not experienced enough to identify various potential issues with an old lathe like this. I would bring a friend or family member with me to look at it but no help there. I know this is a very broad question but here is goes. What are some things to look for on these old lathes that are commonly an issue? Honestly, what is the chance that I, with my experience, will be able to evaluate it enough to get a decent machine? I'm a newbie but not squeaky new. I've made some cool things on my mini lathe.
Are you more likely to side with statement A or B :
A. These old lathes were made solid and true. As long as someone properly cared for it, and it looks to be in decent condition, you're probably good to go with one of these old machines.
OR...
B. The old lathes are built like a rock but there are so many little things that could be wrong you would really need to be very knowledgeable in order to asses its condition.

Also, what do you think of the South Bend in the link I shared? Im pretty handy and very meticulous so I plan on really going through it and cleaning, polishing, and painting every bit that my current knowledge allows me to get into, and further when I learn more in the near future. I appreciate any advice or input you guys can give me. I never went to school for anything like this but now I'm turning 30 next month and I'm hooked on turning. Thanks in advance! Jesse
 
Jesse what is your intentions with the new lathe? There are good reads on the web for a new guy looking to buy a lathe and what to look for. http://www.mermac.com/advicenew.html Like this one. if it was me I'd look for the biggest floor model I could find with a short head stock and 1 1/2 to 2 inch spindle bore. If your thinking of barrel work.
 
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I don't recognize the lathe in the listing you are watching
But I don't see a threading gear box. Or power cross feed on the apron
I would pass on it. Look for a southbend 10 with the 1.350" spindle bore and the quick change gear box
Some for the 10s have a smaller spindle bore

I'm in the A camp
 
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I agree with what others have said, get something with a quick change gear box.

I would say I'm in group A and B. Both are true statements. Though With a little experience you might be able to see the issues.

If you can run a lathe when you inspect it you will be able to hear and see obvious issues. Even better if you can take a cut. I would say too though that there are things that could be overlooked without having a certain amount of experience. Some things being lathe specific.

You could buy a POS and learn what to look for the hard way, but who wants to do that.
 
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I would not overlook the new Chinese , Taiwan , made lathes . You get a lot of bang for the $ . I'm sure you have more than a few Chinese made toys in the man cave .
 
Thanks for the great links guys. As far as my intentions with it, it will only used for hobby work. That being said I do have very high expectations from my hobbies, and I should be able to produce high quality work with it. Not necessarily gun related items, just machining parts in general when needed. So maybe a neck die mandrel or a neat container, etc. After reading one of the above links I realize the only way to make sure I am getting a good machine is to learn everything I can about lathe inspection. I'm going to pass on the south bend I am looking at in order to buy some time for research. I'm not really an inpatient person and have learned my lesson before so i'm in no hurry. Once I can evaluate it myself I'll do it. I'm really not interested in newer import lathes, it really does have to be an older American . As far as my man cave, its pretty void of Chinese stuff. All of my woodworking tools are traditional Japanese hand tools, use an 1800's Miller Falls hand drill that I restored for case prep, my classical guitars are hand made in Spain using the traditional method, and pretty much everything else was made here in the USA by either myself or someone else. Other than this here laptop, my mini lathe, and some Japanese glass on my rifle, that's about it. I'm 29 years old and my generations idiocy has driven me to this. Jesse
 
Although I certainly don't dissagree with your want to by American made metal, as it was/is some of the best made stuff in the world. However the American tool building industry is pretty much a thing of the past. The last affordable Amercian made lathe was built 20+ years ago, and the ones left today, and their are only two that come to mind, only build extremely high end tool room lathes and are extremely expensive.

Your biggest problem will be finding a lathe that is 30+ years old that is not completely wore out, they do exist but are getting harder and harder to find and more and more spendy by the day.

If you can find a South Bend Heavy 10 with the flame hardened bed that came out of a school or something like that you would be golden, however you may have to drive to get it. All my equipment is older and in good condition, but I had to drive 600 and 1000 miles one way to get each piece, but they are where worth it as they where well maintained and excellent shape.

Spend as much time as you can reading about what to look for on used machine tools, on a lathe it will be the condition of the ways, carriage, and tailstock slides, along with headstock bearings and gear train, but these is just big items, there lots and lots of little things easily over looked.
 
That old SB is not worth $1000. No gear box, no power crossfeed, sleeve bearings, chucks are probably worn out, 3 speeds plus back gear is not really sufficient, the bed looks worn near the headstock, bed is far too short for barrel work.

If you want a suitable gunsmith lathe, you need at least 36" between centers and at least 1.5" spindle bore. There are no old, affordable American machines that meet that spec. that I know of. So, you decide where you must compromise. Jet imported some good lathes from Taiwan in the 80's and early 90's and they were pretty popular. Jet is still a force in the market, but I have no experience with their current Chinese machines. Grizzly seems to be the go to for the current hobbyist market. They have the field covered size-wise, and customer service is said to be good. Again, Chinese made, but that is not necessarily bad. The Chinese can make good machines, but the importer has to decide how much quality he is willing to pay for. That controls everything.

RWO
 
Thanks for the great feedback guys, I will take your recommendations to heart. I'm going to expand my search radius a bit as well as my budget. I'm definitely going to become knowledgeable on assessing the different areas of concern before going to look at anything. This forum has been such a great resource of information for me. Jesse
 
My South Bend H10 and a portable engine hoist both fit in the back of my short bed Chevy truck, just sayin....its doable for the right machine. I was so nerve racked driving home 10 1/2 hrs with that lathe in there. Eloree SC to Memphis.
 
If that heavy 10 where closer I'd be looking at it as a second lathe.

I've seen them go for much higher than that and they were much older. That one should have the hardened ways and it has a D1 spindle nose which is a big plus, thats a good fair price.
 
akajun said:
Here is a 13" southbend, just as good as a heavy 10 and you can chamber through the headstock
https://daytona.craigslist.org/tls/5735997045.html
Here is a nice late model heavy 10 and is worth the asking price
https://daytona.craigslist.org/hvo/5732450391.html
Click to expand...
Either of these would be good for me. I would prefer the heavy 10 that's just me

Another consideration for the home guy is voltage. Have a plan on how to handle this.
I went with a 10L that was 3 phase and just replaced the motor with a single phase motor. You can find relatively inexpensive vfds that work as phase converters if you choose to leave a 3 phase motor on one
 
Learn how to recognize the heavy 10L that have the 1-3/8 spindle bore
They have the square looking apron the other southbend 10 models with smaller diameter spindle bore do not
 
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