I've been looking for a (reasonably priced) used lathe for several years now. When one shows up on Craigslist it's usually overpriced for its current state (no motor, bad bearings...). I don't have much stamina to look at garage or estate sales generally and most ads around here don't usually list woodworking equipment, newspaper ads are extinct. So where do ya'll find used power tools?

4fingersleft wrote:

I've been looking for a (reasonably priced) used lathe for several years now. When one shows up on Craigslist it's usually overpriced for its current state (no motor, bad bearings...). I don't have much stamina to look at garage or estate sales generally and most ads around here don't usually list woodworking equipment, newspaper ads are extinct. So where do ya'll find used power tools?


Harbor Freight has a pretty servicable lathe for around $350 (look for
a coupon!)

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-inc...ead-34706.html

You'll need to spend another $20 on Amazon to buy a replacement drive
spur, the one that's included is junk.

Standard 1"x8 TPI thread on the headstock and standard MT2 taper on both
headstock and tailstock. Don't buy a lathe that doesn't use standard
sizes, you're just setting yourself up for "I can't buy that awesome
accessory" sadness.

Puckdropper

Puckdropper wrote:

4fingersleft wrote:

I've been looking for a (reasonably priced) used lathe for several years now. When one shows up on Craigslist it's usually overpriced for its current state (no motor, bad bearings...). I don't have much stamina to look at garage or estate sales generally and most ads around here don't usually list woodworking equipment, newspaper ads are extinct. So where do ya'll find used power tools?


Harbor Freight has a pretty servicable lathe for around $350 (look for
a coupon!)

http://www.hfqpdb.com/gallery/pct


https://www.harborfreight.com/12-inc...ead-34706.html

You'll need to spend another $20 on Amazon to buy a replacement drive
spur, the one that's included is junk.

Standard 1"x8 TPI thread on the headstock and standard MT2 taper on both
headstock and tailstock. Don't buy a lathe that doesn't use standard
sizes, you're just setting yourself up for "I can't buy that awesome
accessory" sadness.

Puckdropper

On Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 8:30:12 AM UTC-5, 4fingersleft wrote:
I've been looking for a (reasonably priced) used lathe for several years now. When one shows up on Craigslist it's usually overpriced for its current state (no motor, bad bearings...). I don't have much stamina to look at garage or estate sales generally and most ads around here don't usually list woodworking equipment, newspaper ads are extinct. So where do ya'll find used power tools?


Figure out if there is a woodworking club/group in your town or the nearest big town. Get in contact with them and put out the word you are looking for a used lathe. Someone in the group will have an extra lathe they want to get rid of or are planning to upgrade to a new lathe.

Lathes are a specialized niche in the woodworking world. Not as common as normal woodworking tools such as table saws, jointers, planers, miter saws, drill presses, etc. So they are harder to find and you have to look for specialized people who are into turning.

Also consider getting a mini/midi lathe. The Jet pulley one is $500 new. There are a few other makers that may be cheaper. For turning 90% of what you are going to turn, they work just fine. Lathes are simple tools, like drill presses. The cheapest one can do about 90% of what the most expensive one can do. There have been almost zero big advances in lathes in the past 100+ years. A turner can turn the exact same thing, with the same ease, on a lathe from 1930 as he can on a 2019 lathe.

On Wed, 2 Oct 2019 14:02:47 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote:

On Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 8:30:12 AM UTC-5, 4fingersleft wrote:
I've been looking for a (reasonably priced) used lathe for several years now.
When one shows up on Craigslist it's usually overpriced for its current state
I don't have much stamina to look at garage or estate sales ..


Figure out if there is a woodworking club/group in your town or the nearest big town.
Get in contact with them and put out the word you are looking for a used lathe.
Someone in the group will have an extra lathe they want to get rid of
or are planning to upgrade to a new lathe.


Great advice !
I have an old Rockwell Beaver in my garage - with some good
accessories - that I bought ~ 40 years ago at a yard sale
for $ 125. .. I haven't used it in 20 + years .. except
for the wire wheel in the chuck .. ouch.
.... the price hasn't changed much ..
... for some strange reason - when I sold off my other shop machines -
- RAS, table saw, band saw, disk/belt sander, etc ..
I kept the lathe and the router table .. not sure why .. ?
John T.

4fingersleft wrote:
I've been looking for a (reasonably priced) used lathe for several years now. When one shows up on Craigslist it's usually overpriced for its current state (no motor, bad bearings...). I don't have much stamina to look at garage or estate sales generally and most ads around here don't usually list woodworking equipment, newspaper ads are extinct. So where do ya'll find used power tools?


Do you have a local auction house in your area? We have 2 near
us, only one of which features some tools every week (the other
evidently due to their facilities, doesn't show many tools).
You don't mention what you mean by "lathe". Quite small ones show
up regularly. Larger ones may show up once or twice a year.
I bought a Delta TS, planer, a dozen hand planes, and more at the
auction house during the course of a year or two. I even bought
some of my finest "home furnishings" there--some nice wooden
furniture I would probably have to pass on, at retail. Sometimes
it's surprising what you have after all the dirt comes off! The
"shopping" does take up some time. Note: If I buy something big,
I go to one of the "big box" stores and rent a truck for an hour
for $25. My wife was impressed when I moved in a double chest of
drawers and mirror by myself while she was gone (the key of
course, is to remove all the drawers). I had to repair a drawer
which was broken into 3 pieces and better afix the mirror--but I
got an otherwise lovely piece of furniture for $80. I guess the
"resellers", who frequent the auctions, couldn't be bothered with
the repairs. Good luck and hope this helps!

Note: The more items you are shopping for, the more you'll get
out of your time. Spending a lot of time looking for one thing
could get "expensive".

Note 2: Play it "cool" or there may be people who will help you
to "bid more". I think this has happened to me a few times.
Maybe I need to buy a hat or something! ; )

Bill

On 10/2/2019 6:30 AM, 4fingersleft wrote:
I've been looking for a (reasonably priced) used lathe for several
years now. When one shows up on Craigslist it's usually overpriced for
its current state (no motor, bad bearings...). I don't have much stamina
to look at garage or estate sales generally and most ads around here
don't usually list woodworking equipment, newspaper ads are extinct. So
where do ya'll find used power tools?



I got mine the hard way. I helped a friend clean out a rental house
that had been "occupied" by a hoarder. The hoarder moved out, but kept
paying rent until he died some years later.

There were floor to ceiling boxes in every room mostly filled with
books, but some had tools as well. The friend said I could keep
anything I found, but I had to take the whole stack I found it in. I
hauled away a lot of boxes of books. I went through them all looking
for gems or good reference books. I found quite a few including an old
Machinery's Handbook which I keep on my desk with my Production
Handbook. The wood lathe was two rooms back in a closet. I went in
through a window to get it out.

I never found the metal lathe. Just a few pieces of it. My dumpster at
home kept getting full, and I had to wait for the trash man before I
could go back for another load.

I did find an old tool and cutter grinder... well most of the pieces of
one. LOL.

On Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 4:02:51 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 8:30:12 AM UTC-5, 4fingersleft wrote:
I've been looking for a (reasonably priced) used lathe for several years now. When one shows up on Craigslist it's usually overpriced for its current state (no motor, bad bearings...). I don't have much stamina to look at garage or estate sales generally and most ads around here don't usually list woodworking equipment, newspaper ads are extinct. So where do ya'll find used power tools?


Figure out if there is a woodworking club/group in your town or the nearest big town. Get in contact with them and put out the word you are looking for a used lathe. Someone in the group will have an extra lathe they want to get rid of or are planning to upgrade to a new lathe.



I should have said WoodTURNING club. My city has both a woodworking and woodturning group. I think they are part of the same overall club but they split out the groups for meetings. You want turners, not regular woodworkers to find a lathe.

On Thu, 3 Oct 2019 12:50:49 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote:

On Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 4:02:51 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 8:30:12 AM UTC-5, 4fingersleft wrote:
I've been looking for a (reasonably priced) used lathe for several years now.
When one shows up on Craigslist it's usually overpriced for its current state
I don't have much stamina to look at garage or estate sales generally
and most ads around here don't usually list woodworking equipment,
newspaper ads are extinct. So where do ya'll find used power tools?


Figure out if there is a woodworking club/group in your town or the nearest big town.
Get in contact with them and put out the word you are looking for a used lathe.
Someone in the group will have an extra lathe they want to get rid of
or are planning to upgrade to a new lathe.



I should have said WoodTURNING club.
My city has both a woodworking and woodturning group.
I think they are part of the same overall club but they
split out the groups for meetings.
You want turners, not regular woodworkers to find a lathe.


Sure ... don't canvass the woodWORKING people !
.... restrict your searches to the woodTURNING sub-group ..
... that is sure to expand your chances ... duh.
John T.

What state are you in or looking in? What size lathe?
I know of one coming up for sale.

I've been looking for a (reasonably priced) used lathe for several years now. When one shows up on Craigslist it's usually overpriced for its current state (no motor, bad bearings...). I don't have much stamina to look at garage or estate sales generally and most ads around here don't usually list woodworking equipment, newspaper ads are extinct. So where do ya'll find used power tools?
4fingersleft

On Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 8:30:12 AM UTC-5, 4fingersleft wrote:
I don't have much stamina to look at garage or estate sales .... So where do ya'll find used power tools?

Your State's surplus auction sales. Google your State's surplus auction site. Eventually (more often than you think) one will surface. Be patient for it to show up, i.e., become available, on your State's site.

Don't discount estate sales so fast. Use Estatesales.net to see what's available in your immediate area.

As Casper asks, what State are you in? Check the IRS auction site, https://www.irsauctions.com/ , for a sale in your area.

Check other sites for your area:
Click onto "locations" on this first link.
https://www.go-dove.com/?__hstc=1699...sfp=1694916285

https://www.govdeals.com/?__hstc=169...sfp=1694916285

https://www.auctiondeals.com/?__hstc...sfp=1694916285

Again, where are you (State)?

Sonny

On Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 8:30:12 AM UTC-5, 4fingersleft wrote:
I've been looking for a (reasonably priced) used lathe for several years now.

Where are you? I have an old (50s' vintage) Craftsman I'll give you, for free - https://www.flickr.com/photos/43836144@N04/4035250186/ .... with conditions.

I inherited the "original" Craftsman 50s lathe.

I had previously bought an old lathe at a pawn shop. I cannibalized the bought lathe and modified the 50s Craftsman (extended the bed), as per the custom cabinet (I built) it's mounted on, so that longer stock can be turned.. I'm not a turner and have never really use this lathe.

The cabinet is on heavy duty wheels. The lathe (tubed) bed can be extended another 3', as I have an additional "tube" for extending it.... i.e., for max stock length of about 8'.

The conditions a You buy my turning tools and the additional chuck/chucks and other accessories, I have, that go to/with the lathe. Also, you turn 6 handles for my Northfield jointer's ships wheel, before you remove the lathe from my shop. The lathe works fine, so do the tools, so turning the handles should be no problem and will demo that the lathe works just fine, *even with 4 fingers.
Wheel:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/438361...posted-public/

Handle:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/438361...posted-public/

Sonny

On Sun, 6 Oct 2019 14:52:51 -0700 (PDT), Sonny
wrote:

On Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 8:30:12 AM UTC-5, 4fingersleft wrote:
I don't have much stamina to look at garage or estate sales .... So where do ya'll find used power tools?

Your State's surplus auction sales. Google your State's surplus auction site. Eventually (more often than you think) one will surface. Be patient for it to show up, i.e., become available, on your State's site.

Don't discount estate sales so fast. Use Estatesales.net to see what's available in your immediate area.

As Casper asks, what State are you in? Check the IRS auction site, https://www.irsauctions.com/ , for a sale in your area.

Check other sites for your area:
Click onto "locations" on this first link.
https://www.go-dove.com/?__hstc=1699...sfp=1694916285

https://www.govdeals.com/?__hstc=169...sfp=1694916285

https://www.auctiondeals.com/?__hstc...sfp=1694916285

Again, where are you (State)?

It's amazing what you find at state auctions. I got a working IBM
midrange system for 50 bucks once. That's a computer worth at the
time upwards of a quarter million dollars.

On Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 7:00:14 PM UTC-5, Sonny wrote:

Addendum * :
Where are you? I have an old (50s' vintage) Craftsman I'll give you, for free, *including the custom made cabinet - https://www.flickr.com/photos/43836144@N04/4035250186/ .... with conditions.

*Just wanted to make sure you understood that the cabinet is part and party to "the lathe".

Sonny

https://indianapolis.craigslist.org/...993800566.html