Subject: Re: Any Jet 9" BeltDrive Lathe Opinions?

From: [email-masked] (Jonathan M. Elson)
Date: 29 Apr 1996 04:39:24 GMT

Walter Black ([email-masked]) wrote:
<snip>
: Doug Harrison on the Live Steaming website seems to think that new
: Taiwanese or even Chinese metal lathes are better than used South Bend
: lathes.  He says "An old South Bend or LeBlond will cost more than a new
: Enco and they will be worn out"!  I thought that they have gibs that can
: be tightened, ways can be scraped or ground and bearings can be replaced.
: Or do lathes use non-standard bearings that can't be purchased from
: anyone but the lathe manufacturer?

I just called the nearest bearing house in St. Louis and asked for the
spindle bearings in my Atlas 10" lathe by Timken part number.  They didn't
even blink, and said that they "didn't have this size in stock, but could
have it for me tomorrow".  I was a little surprised, since these are REALLY
old bearings.  They seem to have the lathe serial number scribed on them,
so they must be original.  I didn't know that these had two part numbers
for the complete bearing, and so I think I just ordered the inner races with
the roller cage.  I will have to call them tomorrow and order the outer
race.  But the nose bearing was $15 and the rear bearing (smaller) was $10.
I thought that was quite reasonable!  I assume the outer races will add
something like $10 each to the price for the complete bearing set.

Some used lathes really ARE worn out, and in need of very substantial
maintenance.  It is definitely buyer beware!  But I have had SO MANY people
tell me that the old lathes were so much better built, that I think it must
be true.  I have used some old South Bends, and they did have a very solid
feel, and could cut smoothly and without vibration.  Certainly, some of the
real beauties of the WW-II era, Monarch and large South Bends are really
wonderful lathes.  My 10" Atlas certainly doesn't compare to a lathe like
that.  Most of the economy import lathes are built to a very light standard,
and are prone to some inaccuracies and vibrations, due to their lack of
stiffness.

So, if you find one of the well-built old lathes in good condition, it may
be a real bargain.  If, however, you get an old machine with severe wear,
then it can be a very expensive proposition to rebuild.  If you want a
'project' for your home shop, however, you may be able to pick up a worn
out lathe cheaply enough to make it very worthwhile.  But a professional
machinist doesn't want to spend 6 months rebuilding his machine.

---

From: [email-masked] (Walter Black)
Date: 27 Apr 1996 22:28:11 GMT

Does anyone on the group have any experience with the 9" Belt Drive Lathe
>from  Jet.  Are they still made in Taiwan or have they switched to China
like Grizzly?

I lokked at Jet woodworking tools today at a dealer near my house.  The
Jet woodworking tools seem to be well made, not junk like a lots of the
stuff I have seen from Taiwan.

Doug Harrison on the Live Steaming website seems to think that new
Taiwanese or even Chinese metal lathes are better than used South Bend
lathes.  He says "An old South Bend or LeBlond will cost more than a new
Enco and they will be worn out"!  I thought that they have gibs that can
be tightened, ways can be scraped or ground and bearings can be replaced.
Or do lathes use non-standard bearings that can't be purchased from
anyone but the lathe manufacturer?

Walt Black
[email-masked]