9X20 lathe on craigslist

[25ACP]

Hi all,
I found a 9X20 central machine lathe (without the tailstock), can that be bought aftermarket, or should I pass on this one? I would think most air rifle barrels would fit through the bore, but that's something I'm not sure of.
Thank you for any help,
Terry Z

[Roadworthy]

Proceed with caution!!  Replacement parts are not generally available from Harbor Freight and being Chinese some of the parts may not adhere to industry standards.

[25ACP]

That was my fear also.
 He's asking $400 for it, and he didn't really know what the tailstock was? I think, used and at that price, it should have all the parts.
Thank you Thomas,
Terry Z

[Technical Ted]

You might want to keep your eye open for a South Bend 9" lathe. It might cost a little more, but would most likely prove to be a much better machine in the long run.

Just a thought...
Ted

[Rescue35]

You may be able to get a tailstock from Grizzly or Whole sale tools for it. That said, loosing a vital piece of the machine tells me how much this person cared for an expensive (relatively) piece of equipment. There is no telling what condition the ways or gears may be in. if you want a project, consider this one. If you want to make parts, consider saving money and getting a new (or different) lathe.

[YEMX]

try to see if he's got a model number, and check out:

https://littlemachineshop.com/

That place is awesome for the tabletop lathes!  I'm planning on getting one myself when funds allow!

[25ACP]

Yeah, I can't think of a good reason for it not to have the tailstock either. This guy says he bought it used also, and didn't even realize it didn't have one. I don't think he used it much, if at all.
 The price was good for a machine to learn on, but I don't think it is the one I want.
 Thank you all for the help,
Terry Z

[Technical Ted]

Another important thing to consider when buying a machine tool is that the tooling is just as or more important than the piece of equipment. It typically can cost you MUCH more than the machine itself. Chucks, both for the headstock and tailstock, collets, tool posts, tool holders, cutting bits whether high speed steel or carbide, or both, boring bars, micrometers, calipers, drills, reamers, etc. etc. If you look hard and save up your money, you will most likely run into a deal and be able to buy someone's whole setup for a very reasonable price considering and end up saving you a fortune down the road.

I personally like the older equipment and see decent deals on craigslist all the time in my area.

Good luck and wait for that great deal!

Ted

[lloyd-ss]

Another important thing to consider when buying a machine tool is that the tooling is just as or more important than the piece of equipment. It typically can cost you MUCH more than the machine itself. Chucks, both for the headstock and tailstock, collets, tool posts, tool holders, cutting bits whether high speed steel or carbide, or both, boring bars, micrometers, calipers, drills, reamers, etc. etc. If you look hard and save up your money, you will most likely run into a deal and be able to buy someone's whole setup for a very reasonable price considering and end up saving you a fortune down the road.

I personally like the older equipment and see decent deals on craigslist all the time in my area.

Good luck and wait for that great deal!

Ted

Ted, you are lucky that you can get decent used equipment at good prices.  In my area, any type of used equipment is a rarity.  Good advice about the importance and cost of the tooling.  It seems like most of the Chinese machine tools come from just a couple of factories and there is a  lot of interchangeability across different labels. 
25ACP, I agree with the other folks, proceed with caution on this one.  If it has a 3 and 4 jaw chuck and a steady rest and good tool post and tooling, it might very well be a good deal. But for a first purchase, maybe not, especially if it lacks all the tooling.   If someone had extra space, it might be a good 2nd lathe for secondary operations.
Grizzly has decent tools at decent prices. They are a good point of reference IMO.
Lloyd

[25ACP]

Thank you all for the good advice. I will look for something better