Anyone own/used a Southbend engine lathe?

Rap4paintball · 12-31-2006, 06:36 PM

Found one for under a grand, planning on going to look at it in person tomorrow. Anybody have one or used one? Just want to know if it is worth the money, or they have any known issues.

Info:
16" swing,
36"+ between centers
4- jaw chuck
and extra tooling (not entirely sure whats included)

scarecrow · 01-01-2007, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rap4paintball

Found one for under a grand, planning on going to look at it in person tomorrow. Anybody have one or used one? Just want to know if it is worth the money, or they have any known issues.

Info:
16" swing,
36"+ between centers
4- jaw chuck
and extra tooling (not entirely sure whats included)

I've got a 1943 vintage 14X48 South Bend. Fantastic machine very well built, it will still be doing accurate work long after I am gone. South Bend is really the way to go for the money. You'll pay 2-3 times more for machines that are only marginally better. All my 60+ year old machine needed was a new bearing on the lower pulleys and a new coat of paint. A job which I still haven't finished. Spindle is tight, a bit of TLC yet to go but absolutely nothing major. As it sits it is far more accurate and has none of the problems that plague the Chinese built machine I started with. I outfitted my entire shop with vintage horizontal, and vertical mills and the lathe for less than what the Chinese 3 in 1 costs new. The three vintage machines are far and beyond better quality than the Chinese.

I would just check any South Bend for spindle play, no damage to the ways, particularly near the spindle. $1000 is a good price. I paid $1200 for mine, it came with a taper attachment and a 4 jaw chuck but nothing else.

FWIW Here are some general price guidelines for South Bend goodies, it will let you know if you are getting a bit better deal on the set up. I'd say if it comes with steady and follow rests you are getting a steal, even if it needs bearings or lead screw nuts.

Taper attachment $400-$500, Chucks, Steady rest, follow rest, -$100-$150
Collet Attachment $75-$100, Collets $5-$10 each.

Railgun · 01-01-2007, 03:17 AM

I've worked on one of those. We had it in a prototyping shop when I was in Ontario. It's a very nice solid machine. It's even better if it's the one that comes with the cabinet stand with the motor down below and the chip tray.

The compound slide is a little light and the lantern style tool posts leave a lot to be desired but it's a decently solid machine.

For that price it should come with the quick change gear box. If it doesn't there had better be a lot of nice stuff to go with the manually swapped gearing. If there's no gearing then I'd walk since you can't turn threads without it.

Jaan · 01-01-2007, 04:46 PM

Yeah, they're great little machines for the money, especially if they have digital readouts attached. I had a chance to buy one cheap from my old boss with a Bridgeport too but I didn't have the space at the time, and then he died. Knowing what I know now I would have bought it and shoehorned it into my bedroom if I had too.

Mstrtal · 01-01-2007, 06:22 PM

We have 20 lathes in the shop at school. The southbends are the only ones I will use. Especialy for threading operations.

HTRN · 01-02-2007, 03:51 AM

a grand is cheap, but somethings to watch out for is bed wear, and alot of older machines don't have roller bearings on the spindle, instead they have babbit and they wear over time.

Still for a grand, it sounds like a good deal - most South Bend lathes are grossly overpriced due to the "South Bend Syndrome".

HTRN

01-02-2007, 12:43 PM

Southbends are great machines.

Back in HS our full shop was outfitted with them. I believe we had twelve of them and all at least 40 years old back then. The only machine I saw broken was only down due to a bad belt.

I will get a south bend when I can afford one, the same goes for a bridgeport.

12-31-2006, 06:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rap4paintball MCB Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ohio	Anyone own/used a Southbend engine lathe? Found one for under a grand, planning on going to look at it in person tomorrow. Anybody have one or used one? Just want to know if it is worth the money, or they have any known issues. Info: 16" swing, 36"+ between centers 4- jaw chuck and extra tooling (not entirely sure whats included) __________________ My Feedback Am I really a dealer you ask? Verification Link: http://www.rap4.com/dealers/dealerde...dealers_id=416

01-01-2007, 03:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
Railgun Post Whore Join Date: Oct 2006	I've worked on one of those. We had it in a prototyping shop when I was in Ontario. It's a very nice solid machine. It's even better if it's the one that comes with the cabinet stand with the motor down below and the chip tray. The compound slide is a little light and the lantern style tool posts leave a lot to be desired but it's a decently solid machine. For that price it should come with the quick change gear box. If it doesn't there had better be a lot of nice stuff to go with the manually swapped gearing. If there's no gearing then I'd walk since you can't turn threads without it. __________________ Model airplanes are cool too!

01-01-2007, 04:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jaan MCB Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: People's Republic of Massachusetts	Yeah, they're great little machines for the money, especially if they have digital readouts attached. I had a chance to buy one cheap from my old boss with a Bridgeport too but I didn't have the space at the time, and then he died. Knowing what I know now I would have bought it and shoehorned it into my bedroom if I had too. __________________

01-02-2007, 03:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
HTRN Seasoned Member Join Date: Apr 2006	a grand is cheap, but somethings to watch out for is bed wear, and alot of older machines don't have roller bearings on the spindle, instead they have babbit and they wear over time. Still for a grand, it sounds like a good deal - most South Bend lathes are grossly overpriced due to the "South Bend Syndrome". HTRN __________________ EGO partum , proinde EGO sum

01-02-2007, 12:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
Chem-X Guest	Southbends are great machines. Back in HS our full shop was outfitted with them. I believe we had twelve of them and all at least 40 years old back then. The only machine I saw broken was only down due to a bad belt. I will get a south bend when I can afford one, the same goes for a bridgeport.