Photos To buy or not to buy - Lathe

[JTknives]

talked to a gentleman today that has this lathe for sale. I have been watching for a lathe for a longtime. It’s a 10” Pratt and was origanial owned buy a guy that did aviation repair. This guy I talked to bought it becaus it looked “fun” and realised it’s work. He said he paid $700 for it but it was mostly to help out the old lady that was selling it. He said to make an offer as he does not expect to get $700 for it. It’s about a 3hr drive away. So it comes with a lot of stuff. Has the collet draw bar but not sure it has collets. He did not know what I was trying to describe. So would you buy it and what’s it worth? Thanks guys.

 

[ron_m80]

It's an older change gear lathe. I wouldn't say it's worth $700. Looks like a solid old machine though. It does appear to have power feed in two directions.

After a second look, that bed and the chip tray look like a one piece casting. That looks quite heavy for a 10" lathe.

 

[Taqtaq]

Depends on it’s intended use? Like Ron said, it’s an older change gear model but you can still have variable speed via vfd.

I wouldn’t want it for say chambering rifle barrels but it will definitely have other uses.

 

[Drew Riley]

If you do a lot of smaller work, I'd offer him $500 or so. Personally, I have a 12x36, and I already wish it was much bigger, but a collet drawbar would be a really nice feature to have too...

 

[mike-E]

I'd pass on this one. I'm looking for a lathe, but unless it has cam locks I'm not looking twice.

 

[Pinoy Knife]

id take it at $500/$700 with a big smile on my face
once dialed in old machines work great .
collet chuck is just a added bonus... if it was not almost a week long drive to get there i might be willing to ...

 

[12345678910]

In terms of lathe work, I want more modern features
quick change gear box, quick change toolholder,

But it's a big old brute.

It would probably do lots of rough farm work well.
Welding positioner -
Heck of a billet twister.

 

[JTknives]

It has a quick change tool holder. People around here think there lathes and mills are made of gold. We won’t talk about surface grinders lol

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

I haven't had real good luck with old lathes like that. Clapped-out Babbitt bearings, spalled spindles, beat up chucks with hopeless run out, sagging wore out ways, loose compound rest. These aren't things you can repair or adjust. Fine for a farmer, inadequate for a machinist.

I think it's one of the rare instances where a new cheap Chinese import is a better option.

I have been surprised how well an inexpensive jet lathe works.

 

[Lieblad]

Solid old machine. But I say not worth 700$
Also,cant see from here how loose & swayback it may be.
Appears missing micrometer dials on its cross & compound.

 

[A.McPherson]

Hey JT here’s a video I watched a while back on this topic. Worth watching if you decide to go check that machine out.

 

[JTknives]

Well I talked to him today and I’m picking it up Monday at 1pm. I offered him $400 for it and he excepted.