- Joined
- Nov 23, 2014
- Messages
- 2,609
I you buy a used, good condition lathe, you've already worked down the depreciation curve. Question would be why is the seller getting rid of the lathe. With a used lathe, if you don't beat it up, you should get market price when/if you sell it.
Buy new and you'll have a warranty, but will spend a bunch tooling it up. Go to sell it to upgrade and you'll take it on the chin, maybe get 60% of your money back.
Guess if I was in your shoes, I'd look for a used 10 x 24 or 12 x 36 lathe. Once you have it, you will probably find other uses than what you mentioned above. Regardless, if you want it and your better half approves, go for it! My wife lives by the motto, "if it doesn't burn gasoline or have blond hair, she doesn't worry about it". However, I'm super lucky to have my wife . . . If you find it's not to your liking, you should be able to get out of it what you put into it.
Consider using www.searchtempest.com to do some eBay and Craig's List shopping in your area. It's a really nice search engine where you plug in a search title, price range, location, etc. and up pops the list. I've got a few options listed below in your relative area.
Good luck and welcome to the madness . . .
Bruce
Atlas 10x24 $950
https://frederick.craigslist.org/tls/d/lisbon-atlas-metal-lathe/6788506969.html
Atlas 12x36 $1050
https://delaware.craigslist.org/tls/d/townsend-craftsmen-atlas-12-inch-lathe/6788571027.html
Grizzly 14x40 G0709 $4900
I have the same lathe, really like my machine. I'd guess for what's there, it should be more like $3500-$4000
https://reading.craigslist.org/for/d/orwigsburg-lathe/6785629483.html
Harbor Freight 7 x 14 (?) $400
https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/tls/d/camp-hill-metal-lathe/6778252467.html
Atlas 12x36 $600 - looks a little beat up. QCGB knobs are broken off, half nut lever is on backwards. Might be OK, but . . .
https://charlotte.craigslist.org/tls/d/mooresville-small-atlas-engine-lathe/6790461354.html
Enco 12x36 $1400 - looks to be missing some stuff like change gears, steady rest, etc. I'd ask the seller what else he might have.
https://greensboro.craigslist.org/tls/d/staley-1985-enco-metal-lathe/6777653641.html
There were some other matches out there but I only listed the ones that are hobby sized and have a quick change gear box.
Buy new and you'll have a warranty, but will spend a bunch tooling it up. Go to sell it to upgrade and you'll take it on the chin, maybe get 60% of your money back.
Guess if I was in your shoes, I'd look for a used 10 x 24 or 12 x 36 lathe. Once you have it, you will probably find other uses than what you mentioned above. Regardless, if you want it and your better half approves, go for it! My wife lives by the motto, "if it doesn't burn gasoline or have blond hair, she doesn't worry about it". However, I'm super lucky to have my wife . . . If you find it's not to your liking, you should be able to get out of it what you put into it.
Consider using www.searchtempest.com to do some eBay and Craig's List shopping in your area. It's a really nice search engine where you plug in a search title, price range, location, etc. and up pops the list. I've got a few options listed below in your relative area.
Good luck and welcome to the madness . . .
Bruce
Atlas 10x24 $950
https://frederick.craigslist.org/tls/d/lisbon-atlas-metal-lathe/6788506969.html
Atlas 12x36 $1050
https://delaware.craigslist.org/tls/d/townsend-craftsmen-atlas-12-inch-lathe/6788571027.html
Grizzly 14x40 G0709 $4900
I have the same lathe, really like my machine. I'd guess for what's there, it should be more like $3500-$4000
https://reading.craigslist.org/for/d/orwigsburg-lathe/6785629483.html
Harbor Freight 7 x 14 (?) $400
https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/tls/d/camp-hill-metal-lathe/6778252467.html
Atlas 12x36 $600 - looks a little beat up. QCGB knobs are broken off, half nut lever is on backwards. Might be OK, but . . .
https://charlotte.craigslist.org/tls/d/mooresville-small-atlas-engine-lathe/6790461354.html
Enco 12x36 $1400 - looks to be missing some stuff like change gears, steady rest, etc. I'd ask the seller what else he might have.
https://greensboro.craigslist.org/tls/d/staley-1985-enco-metal-lathe/6777653641.html
There were some other matches out there but I only listed the ones that are hobby sized and have a quick change gear box.