Should I buy this lathe?

[LaOtto222]

I have an opportunity to buy an old South Bend lathe. It is a small one, 9" over bed, 32" between centers and 3/4" bore through the spindle. I want to do barrel work on this lathe. My question is - can I do a quality chamber job with out running the barrel through the spindle? I do not want to limit my self to a 3/4" diameter barrel. I have done a little work on a lathe, but no barrel work and I just can not think of a way to chamber a barrel with out running it through bore. Should I buy this lathe or pass?

[trotterlg]

Buy it, there is no problem chambering a barrel without putting it through the spindal.  I have an Atlas 6 inch lathe with a hlaf inch through the spindle and never use the hole, mine has a bed extension so I can turn about 40 inches between centers.  I just put the center in the breach end, chuck the muzzel in the chuck, turn a perfectly true surface for the steady rest to run on, install the steady rest, put a reamer in the tail stock and have at it.  I have done about a hundred.  Larry

[LaOtto222]

Thank You Larry, I will see what I can get it for. I do not think it has a steady rest, and I think it is a 3 phase motor. It does have an extra tail stock, that I think indexes so you can cut longitudinally (thinking flutes). What do you think it is worth?

[trotterlg]

It depends a lot on how it does threading, with a QC gear box or change gears.  You will need a steady rest for sure, 3 jaw chuck and 4 jaw chuck.  You can get by without a face plate.  Also a follow rest would be good, but I don't have one.  You will want to find some sort of smple milling attachment also.  I'll say between $500 and $1200 depending on what you have to buy to get it to something you can use.  Larry

[fireball168]

....32" between centers....

Look at your intended reamer holder, and the length of the average chamber reamer you'd be working with - add them together.  Make a measurement with a dead center in the headstock, and the approximate length of that assembly in the tailstock.

Subtract that measurement from the barrel length you'll likely be working.


I'd keep looking if I were you. The 4900 series Clausings were common in high schools in the late 60's and 70's(in service through the 90's in most cases), parts are available and they don't generally bring big money.

What part of the country are you in?

[DonT]

I have a 9" southbend with QC gears.  I have had it for years and it is an excellent lathe.  Mine is set up for 110v but many of the motors that came with these could be wired 110v or 220v interchangably (not 3 ph.).

Some things I have learned over the years buying equipment AND using this particular lathe:

The machine is the cheap part it is the tooling  (chucks, steady rests, tool holders, etc) that add up quick so when you buy a machine get a much tooling with it as you can with it in the deal.
Always try to buy bigger than you think you will need.  This may not be a big deal today but it will down the road.  I, for years now, have wished the headstock hole in my 9" SB was 1" or more.  As pointed out you can make due with a steady rest and chuck but this is not alway ideal or workable depending the length of the project.

All that said I am very glad I bought SB when I did.  It has been a lot of fun and very useful.  I moved up to this one from a 6" Atlas.  I have found sources for steady rests, Quick change Tool Posts and such fairly reasonably and just recently changed mine over to a varable speed using a DC motor and controller board from a tread mill.  Works slick.

Anyway as long as you know the limitation, if it has the QC gear box and the price is reasonable it is certainly better than no lathe at all...    Price is driven by demand, tooling included and condition.  If you have a friend that is a machinist take them along to look at it and check the runout, backlash and such before you buy it.  Even if you have to buy them dinner to do it this can save you a lot of headaches down the road. 

Good luck in your quest....

DonT

[LaOtto222]

A little more info. It is a South Bend 9" Model A with 4 1/2' bed. 34" between centers, 3/4" through bore, 12 spindle speeds 41 - 1250 rpm, threads (48 pitches) 4 to 224, gear driven, tail stock top set-over 5/8", power feeds, both ways, w/48 speeds. It comes with a steady rest and a 3 jaw chuck, maybe a 4 jaw too, not sure on that, tail stock chuck, tool holders, live center, etc. there is a plastic tote full of tooling. It is 110V and he is asking $400. I think I am going to get it. I am going to be a home hobbiest, so I am not in a big hurry to get 'er done. I figure if I made a big mistake, I can sell for what I got in it. I asked him why he was selling it, and he said he got a bigger one and just wanted to get it out of his shop. Sure would like to one of those special Gun Smith Lathes, but 3K + is hard to justify for what I want to do, maybe some day. BTW I live in the NE corner of Indiana, North of Fort Wayne about 20 miles or so. 

[trotterlg]

Yes, you should have bought it yesterday.  Larry

[JonD.]

A little more info. It is a South Bend 9" Model A with 4 1/2' bed. 34" between centers, 3/4" through bore, 12 spindle speeds 41 - 1250 rpm, threads (48 pitches) 4 to 224, gear driven, tail stock top set-over 5/8", power feeds, both ways, w/48 speeds. It comes with a steady rest and a 3 jaw chuck, maybe a 4 jaw too, not sure on that, tail stock chuck, tool holders, live center, etc. there is a plastic tote full of tooling. It is 110V and he is asking $400. I think I am going to get it. I am going to be a home hobbiest, so I am not in a big hurry to get 'er done. I figure if I made a big mistake, I can sell for what I got in it. I asked him why he was selling it, and he said he got a bigger one and just wanted to get it out of his shop. Sure would like to one of those special Gun Smith Lathes, but 3K + is hard to justify for what I want to do, maybe some day. BTW I live in the NE corner of Indiana, North of Fort Wayne about 20 miles or so. 

Go for it man, if I had the opportunity, I would buy it in a heartbeat. When it comes to home projects, I really, really, miss where I used to work in a very laid back custom machine shop that let you come in on Saturdays and work on home projects or side jobs.

[fireball168]

For that kind of money, I'd buy it just to trim brass 

[Frank46]

What are you waiting for?. You have all the basic stuff plus a extra's. $400 that's a steal. You could have the motor checked out or swap for a single phase. I had a cousin who's dad had a 12" lathe in the basement along with a milling machine. When he passed away out of respect I never asked them about it. I seem to remember they just paid to have them taken away. Frank

[mrbgt]

Thats very cheap , I've watched those lathes sell for over $800 at auctions, without tooling !! You better run back there and get it !!

[DonT]

Buy it now before he has time to research or think about it. 

DonT

[LaOtto222]

It is going to be delivered tomorrow (Saturday) to my house. I have a couple of projects already in mind, but will do a little practicing first.

[Terbltim]

Atta-Boy!
Even if you decide its not for you you can get your money back quickly.
No down side visible.
Tally-Ho!

[Frank46]

Think you got an excellent price, that and just about all the items so you can start your projects. Now its time to start making chips. Course you do know that a lathe is a hole into which you throw money into. Let me see, enco, msc, travers tool just to name a few will be right happy to send catalogs and take your money as well. Frank

[JonD.]

Think you got an excellent price, that and just about all the items so you can start your projects. Now its time to start making chips. Course you do know that a lathe is a hole into which you throw money into. Let me see, enco, msc, travers tool just to name a few will be right happy to send catalogs and take your money as well. Frank

You can say that again. Tooling is not cheap.

[LaOtto222]

I addition to what I listed above, I have a turret tail stock with 5 holes, 5 collets and collet holder, I got 5 cutting tools, 2 of which take inserts and there was a 4 jaw chuck too. I am sure there are other things I will need, but it is a good start. It needs some cleaning up and I want to make a back stop for it, to keep chips from flying off the back, plus a tool holder mounted on it. I am excited about it, every thing seems to be in good shape, with the exception of the longitudinal advancing gear (the one that moves it left and right on the bed) on the cross slide, it has some wear on it. The rack it mates up to seems to be in good shape. Not sure if that is a real issue, it causes a lot of back lash, but once It starts advancing, it seems solid. If I use the power feed, it will not be a factor at all.

[DonT]

On mine I anchored a piece of partical board up against the wall behind it, pushed the lathe up against it (mine has the stand and drip tray) then just anchored a piece of tin to the partical board.  Works like a champ and keeps 99%+ in the tray.

I use old discarded (ok well my wife is still looking for the one I am using now so don't tell her) cookie sheets under the bed to collect swarf and cutting fluid that drips down.  Pull the pan, dump it put it back.  A quick easy chore.

I built a tool rotating tool holder that sits behind the lathe out of a 4X4 timber and it has served me well for the last few years.  If you have access to the home shop machinist magazine I wrote an article on building it that was published there or if you like I can send you some pics just send me your email address.

I use the Quick Change Tool Posts and Holders (aloris style imports) on mine and just love em.  Couldn't imagine going back to the lantern style or the square style tool holders.

Enjoy the lathe they are fun....

DonT

[Frank46]

Chances are the lead screw bearing/bushing is worn. I'd check with south bend and see if they can provide you with a new one. That may be all you need to remove some of the backlash. Keep the lead screw clean and well lubed as well. They do like to collect swarf and debris. Sounds as though you are basically good to go. Frank

[Airsporter]

Sounds like you got a super buy!    There are forums specific to older lathes like SB that are loaded with info.  I have both a 6" and 12" Sears (Atlas).  I consider SB's too be a bit higher quality.  Fortunately good parts are still out there, when you need them, at reasonable prices.

[LaOtto222]

I did some cleaning and adjusting for the last two days. It needed the cleaning job, and it was useful to learn about the lathe itself. It had a Borite tool holder, the kind that will hold 4 cutters at once. All you have to do is index the head. Unfortunately all the inserts were either broken or dull, so I bought 6 carbide TiN coated inserts for it. Every thing seems to be in good order. It has a 3 jaw chuck mounted, but for the kind of work I want to do, I think I will mount the 4 jaw chuck. It also came with a steady rest, that will get some use one of these days. I mounted a 500 watt halogen light above it with a remote switch and leveled the lathe up. I did a little turning on it today and it did a very good job. It had a Starett dial indicator mounted on the bed, but it was in bad shape. I took it off and cleaned it up. There was paint on the dial face, it zeroed at .4 instead of 0 and it would hang up, not transitioning smoothly. I took it apart and cleaned the shaft and reset zero. Now it works smoothly. It scraped the paint off the bezel with a razor blade and then polished it with toothpaste. It looks and works real good now. I am using it with a magnetic base now. I have to center the tail stock yet. I think I about ready to do some serious work.

[LASSIE]

For get about buying old junk you can buy new lathes with 1 1/2 hole through the head with all the attachments you need for a starting price of $2,600.00 check out MSC.COM & WHOLESALETOOL.COM

[coyotejoe]

Who says "old" is "junk"?  Add all the stuff he got with it and that new Chinese $2600 lathe becomes more like $4,000. Now who wouldn't rather pay $400 than $4,000?

[catman50plus]

Good to see you find a good one like this. I am going to try to pick the one I just traded for just like yours in the morning. That was a great buy. The guy selling it is in bad health, and although it is an older machine, it is in perfect shape, very low hours. I wish you luck with it, and I hope this is not wrong for me to say here, but there is an auction site, that lists many parts for the SB 9. I like Larry have Atlas machines already, but could not pass this one up. Now to smooth things out with the wife for getting it............ You got a good deal.