Good buy or goodbye?

[Carlos Chavez]

I haven't turned anything since high school and I'd like to try it again. Any opinions on this lathe? Its on Craigslist here for $50, tools included. I have plenty of motors to available for it.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c121/charlisity/lathe2.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c121/charlisity/lathe1.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c121/charlisity/lathe3.jpg

[Paul Engle]

Carlos,
1,If it is cast iron,
2,If you have a lot of room in your shop,
3,If a modern chuck may or may not fit the threads on the spindle.
4, May be suitable for spindle -face plate turning only.
5,If the pully has more than just one diameter and or the motor is/has variable speed control. remember your minimum speed needs to be somewhere below 500 rpm if you can get there.Check the bearings to see if ok.
Then I'd say yes, as long as you do not have to spend as much $ as a modern small / mini lathe would cost to get up and running,and/or you like rebuilding older machinery.Other wise save your dough and wait patiently for the " right " one to come along.

[Bill Wyko]

You can get a JET mini whwn they are on sale around 200 bucks with changeable speed (Move belt to other pullies, not variable speed) and if those are HF tools they're around 50 bucks. I'd check the classifieds here first.IMHO

[George Guadiane]

If you only have $50 and you are not sure that you want to turn, then buy it since you have the motor...
Besides, if you go mad for turning, you don't have much invested before you go out and buy that Powermatic 3520.
HOWEVER, if you think that there is even a chance that you will want to turn over a period of time, and the PM isn't in your budget PERIOD, you should My 2cents

[Greg Just]

Those tools should be worth at least $50. I'd buy it.

[robert hainstock]

I have turned a lot of wood on a lathe that cost $39.00 at Sears. If It is mechanicly sound it is a place to start. The first Lathes were foot ,or waterwheel powered. Those things got a lot of work done. It would be a cheaper way to find out if woodturning is realy something you want to do. If the tools are Highspeed steel, then they are worth the bucks. Good luck, and happy turning. :)
Bob

[Carlos Chavez]

I just received some more pictures from the seller. I asked him about it being cast iron, accepting modern chucks or being suitable for spindle -face plate turning. He said it is cast iron, can turn 9.5" X 30" but he didn't know the answer to the other questions so he gave me these pictures.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c121/charlisity/lathe5.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c121/charlisity/lathe6.jpg


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c121/charlisity/lathe7.jpg

[Andy Hoyt]

Looks fine for center work; and therefore likely a smart/inexpensive way to go in order to test the waters. Grab it.

[Brian Weick]

with Andy , test the waters first- see if you like it and then go from there, it's only $50.00 and like someone else said the tools are worth that alone- go for it!:D
Brian

[Paul Engle]

Carlos,
If the bearings are good , this be a machine to start on. I only did spindle work my first 5 months and small bowls to start with ... between centers. not the easiest way to do but you can get a feel (?) for this type of ww'g.If the drive spur on the spindle is removable then you can make or buy a face plate for it, and then you can do small ( under 10" bowls) using glue waste block and the face plate. It looks like the back side of the spindle is threaded which may indicate the working end is threaded also. HF has a 4 jaw independent chuck ( 30$) ( each jaw adjustable independently from the others- with a 3/4"-16 tpi thread, it is what I used on my first cheap lathe , being an outside machinist from Long Beach Navy Yard apprentice program I understood how to quickly center up a piece using this type of chuck.)If you have any more concerns or ??? pm me and I will be glad to help you out, but I do encourage you to find a club in your area and visit their next meeting. The AAW has a list of the clubs on their web site so check that out also. Below is the link to the main page ...

http://www.woodturner.org/