Sorry for the crosspost… but I know some of you only look here. If you get this twice ignore it…
An opportunity has arisen in which I can purchase a well used General Canada 160-2 Lathe. The owner is selling to upsize.
Apparently it was used in a high school prior to coming to use in the current owners shop. I have looked at the lathe, and it seems in okay condition… not that I was thrilled with it. Any plastic knobs have been knocked off, the labels peeled up, and so forth. The bed is fairly scratched up, but flat. It has apparently gone through a recent servicing, with the motor and bearings being replace. The owner has also replaced the belt system with a new link belt. The machine shows it’s age on the outside… The did not clean spend too much time cleaning it up. The headstock and tailstock align properly.
I can get it for 1/3 the price of a new one ($2700 New, ~$800 used). Is this a gem or a dud? I have only purchased new machines up to this point. But since primarily I am not a turner, I don’t really want to spend the money on a new Lathe.
I’ve been thinking that it runs well enough, maybe a little TLC could restore the outside.
Any comments?
Buster
Replies
High school machines are 'abuuuzed'
800 clams sounds 'fishy'
Offer 300.
Use it as a boat anchor Steinmetz
A lathe is a simple machine. If the bearings are good, the motor is good, then what else can go wrong? Knobs can be fabricated. Dings in the ways can be filed off. I've had good luck with old used lathes, ine a Walker-Turner, and my present Yates American, a 400# gem.
Tom
I'm with Tom on this one. If the bearings are new, the motor is in good shape, and nothing awful has been done to any inportant parts, it should be good for the long haul. If it's still got stickers to peel up, it can't be that bad.
Note that my comments would not necessarily apply to other types of machines under the same circumstances.
Pete
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