Opinions needed on many used lathes from Facebook Marketplace.

[Unix]

If you are intent on buying this SB9, have someone with knowledge of machine tools look at it for you. Lathe looks pretty used, but repairable. I have 2 SB9’s, both running on flat belts.

Thanks for the reply. I am in Buffalo, NY.
Don't know anyone who are experts in lathes.
The seller included a book that teaches how to restore it, I will try to follow the book and scrape the ways and hopefully get it back close to factory settings or maybe this is something I'm just wishing for that'll never happen?

 

[Unix]

I don't see anything especially terrible about that SB 9A
The flat belt motor pulley is unusual- you could easily change that one to a V-belt pulley
V-belts were commonly run on large flat pulleys back in the day. My mill has them. It works.

I see a little wear on the bedways. No idea of the spindle wear. You would want to chuck up a piece of pipe and give it
a tug to get a rough idea of the bearing wear; most sellers won't let you take the spindle apart to check the bearings
For the price it seems like a deal if all the gears are intact

Thanks for the reply.
If the bed is worn, would it be possible to scrape it back to factory level or not possible at all?
I plan on getting large grade-A surface plates, straight edges and many tools to help me do the scraping task. All of these metrology related tools will be valuable. I like how the seller includes a book that teaches how to recondition it. I hope the book gives detailed information on how to do the scraping professionally. I have seen many videos how they are done on BP mill ways, but not on a SB lathe, I think it has V-ways.

So I put a pipe in the chuck and spin it to see if it grinds? This will tell me if the spindle is in good/bad shape?

 

[Unix]

Here is another lathe I found from FB marketplace.

2) $750 - South Bend Model S - 9" swing. Everything comes what is included in the picture, 120 volts.

Seller mentions he is the 2nd owner, he bought it from the original owner who purchased it new.

Thanks for thoughts and advice.

 

[Unix]

2) $800 - South Bend Model A - 9" x 48".

Comes with:
Tooling, 3 and 4 jaw chuck, collet set as well 3D printed thread dial on apron.
New 1HP motor.
Will need a new belt.
Workbench comes with lathe. It’s made out of thick square steel tubing so the table is also heavy.
Light mounted on bench. Comes with rebuild kit (new wicks) and proper oils.
Comes with quick change gear box for lead screw. 110V single phase power.

Thanks for thoughts and advice.

 

[Unix]

3) $800 - Logan Turret Lathe 1830-2:

Comes with tooling and collets shown.
Has the parts for feed through the headstock, outrigger leg for motor. 3 phase.

Not sure if I can use a chuck on this which I would like to so that I can turn large cylindrical parts.
I wonder which makes better finishes and cuts, SBs or Logans?

Thanks for thoughts and advice.

 

[Unix]

3) $1,200 - South bend model 210 - 10” x 31”.

Variable speed 6” Chuck with collets.
Mentions to works well, with parts manual.
Table is included in the sale.

Seems to have a large chuck.

Thanks for thoughts and advice.

 

[Unix]

4) $500 - unknow lathe brand (seller assumes it is a "Reed" brand) - 15" swing.

Antique metal lathe with four jaw chuck what you see is what I'll get it has a steady rest and tail stock.

Thanks for thoughts and advice.

 

[Unix]

5) $1,450 - Hardinge DSM-A Automatic Lathe:

Hardinge DSMA automatic Lathe
3hp, 3 Phase
Works currently under power, seller can give a demo of it running.
Seller mentions it is a great Precision machine, easy programing all mechanical.
No tooling included.
Seller says he is only selling it because he bought a CNC lathe.

Not sure if I can buy a chuck for it.

Thanks for thoughts and advice.

 

[markba633csi]

The Logan in post #16 I'd go look at, and the SB in post #13 also looks good although I don't see steady rests
on either. The SB in post #14 has some wear on the bedways, but might be ok
A turret lathe probably isn't what you want, nor a vintage monster like post #17 (unless you can use a lathe that big)
The Hardinge while a good deal is a very specialised production machine and not an engine lathe- a totally different animal

Putting a large bar or pipe in the chuck and tugging on it will help you
feel/gauge how much play/wear there is. Sleeve bearing spindles like SB are more involved to recondition
A Logan with roller bearing headstock is easy to adjust for preload (providing the bearings are ok)

Scraping in a lathe is very involved and time-consuming to do correctly- I would spend a bit more to avoid the need for that
In severe cases the carriage drops so much the leadscrew actually has to be re-positioned and there are other gotchas- don't go there

 

[Ultradog MN]

Too many photos for me to scrutinize all of them so I will just give some general advice.
You absolutely want a quick change gear box.
Not many of those small lathes were run day in, day out so wear - though you should check for it closely is not likely to be a huge issue.
Absolutely get a lathe with roller bearings in the spindle. Forget those that have bronze or babbitt bearings.
They made a gazillion of those South Bends so parts and/or accessories will be much easier to find than for other brands.
Buy the biggest lathe you have room for and the ability to move.
Buying an older lathe that needs a bit of work - but not a lot of work - allows a guy to learn how the machine works before he learns how to make things on it.
I would ten times rather see a guy buy an older lathe from the US - or ANY of the nations we are allied with than a brand new poj from China.