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General control line discussion => Open Forum => Topic started by: jimmy Hnat on March 14, 2010, 03:37:09 PM
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Anybody out there have a Atlas or craftsman 10 to 12 inch lathe there looking to get rid of.Im looking for couple of new machines for my shop....Jimmy in Ohio
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Years ago, I had both a 6X18 and a 12X36 Craftsman (Atlas) lathes. They haven't been made for years. They were both OK for my needs.
I recently ordered this machine, along with the stand. Lots of features and the price is right.
http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2010/Main/505
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Is that grizzly lathe Made in the USA ???
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I believe most of their stuff is interchangeable with other stuff imported from China by Harbor Freight, Enco, etc. All made in the same factory, just different name plates.
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Grizzly says that their units are made to tighter tolerences than the others. Not sure I'd believe that, but I hope that any parts needed would be easier to get from Grizzly than Harbor Fright. I bought the smallest Grizzly lathe, which is 3" x 14", I think. It's fine for making venturi, head, spinner & prop driver mods. It's ok. I just set it on a B&D Workmate. The lathe weighs 78 lbs, so I can pick it up with one hand and stick it on a bottom shelf, etc. The one thing I gotta say, is that the tooling will hurt more than the lathe itself. The one thing I did wrong was to get a 1/2" Jacobs chuck, when a 3/8" would have been fine. Wish I had stubby drills, too, and some more turning tools. It never ends... :P Steve
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I went through this exersize several years ago looking for a USA made lathe. All the ones I could afford were at least 40-50 years old (not a bad thing) but weighed at least 1500# and usually had 3 phase electrics. I looked at all the Chi-Com imports but just could not pull that trigger. After realistically reviewing my needs (modeling) I purchased a Sherline lathe and later added a Sherline Mill with DRO. Now just because I have a mill and a lathe you can't call me a machinist! I also have a scapel but that doesn't make me a surgeon, either! Really, though, I am very pleased with my Sherline equipment and they are Made in USA! There is an active yahoo group and they are supportive. My machines will hold tighter tolerances than I can make or measure. One rule of thumb an old machinist buddy of mine told me is that you can expect to spend 3 times the value of the machine on tooling. So far he underestimated in my case.
If someone has the room and the knowhow a good used machine is a good investment. No one in this country knows how to make anything anymore so deals are to be had in machinery.