On Sun, 09 Nov 2014 12:05:44 -0600, Ignoramus16121
wrote:

On 2014-11-09, Gunner Asch wrote:
On Sun, 09 Nov 2014 10:40:58 -0500, "Pete C."
wrote:


Ignoramus25323 wrote:

Check this out. I bought these two lathes from the US Army at Rock
Island Arsenal. I bought them sight unseen.

http://ricklevin.nextlot.com/public/lot/15505304

http://ricklevin.nextlot.com/public/lot/15505297

I can see copious rust on one and significant rust on another.

However, I do not see telltale signs of having been actually used,
such as beat up paint near where the headstock meets the chuck.

Comments?

i

Used but well maintained until they were abandoned in some storage lot.

Little surface rust easily cleaned up wont hurt a thing.

This coming week Ive got to clean up a G&E 16" Universal Shaper a
buddy bought. One of the really neat ones. Same model as below

http://www.anvilfire.com/tailgate/ma...ndE-shaper.php


That Arsenal had two brand new looking shapers just like that that
just sold (not to me).

http://ricklevin.nextlot.com/public/lot/15505282
ttp://ricklevin.nextlot.com/public/lot/15505338

My understanding is that shapers are sold strictly for their nostalgic
value, and are commercially useless.

i

Almost. The only commercial use I've seen in the past 15 years is
squaring mold bases for injection-molding tools.

There is an argument that they impose less internal stress on the
workpiece than milling does. But I think the real reason is that they
had the machine laying around, and that was all they could do with it
that made sense.

--
Ed Huntress