Looking for Lathe

Winchester1 · Mar 7, 2016

Looking for a South Bend 11", LeBond or something similar metal lathe. Must be in good or better condition. Only have single phase electricity, have heard of 3 phase to single phase converters but am not familiar with them.
Located in southern Indiana. Willing to travel but not across the country.
Thanks,
Bill.

Martin Reece · Mar 7, 2016

Hi Bill
Check into the phase converters. They really aren't hard to install. Look at a VFD (variable frequency drive) they are good as you can have soft start and infinite speeds.
3 phase machinery is more available and cheaper to buy in some cases.
I have two rotary phase converters. One 15 horse power and one 10 horsepower. No issues for the last 10 years running a 10 horsepower sliding panel saw , boring machine , shaper and edgebander..
Hope this helps, sorry I don't have a lead on a lathe.
Martin

buzzinduzzin · Mar 7, 2016

You might look up Practical Machinist & Hobby Machinist, they may have a classified section.

chuck machinist · Mar 7, 2016

Chilicothi Ohio craigslist tools for sale. I have no interest or gain in this lathe Good luck .Chuck

37chief · Mar 7, 2016

Look up a lathe on Craigs list tool section. I use a static phase converter. Very simple to hook up. You lose a little power, but for a lathe I doubt you will notice it much. New ones are around 100.00. Used may be a lot less. Stan

dr sportster · Mar 7, 2016

That is funny I just put a South Bend up for sale today on a motorcycle website. But it is 3 phase.

NCWayne · Mar 7, 2016

Try HGR Industrial Surplus. They have quite a few lathes listed on their site right now. If you'd got for a 10 inch, they have a Southbend 10x25 that says it's newly listed.

As far as powering it, a static converter is your cheapest bet, and a VFD will give you some more options as far as speed, etc. In both cases you can only run one machine at a time. If you plan to ever buy another machine, that may be 3 phase, a rotary that will handle starting the largest motor you plan to have will be a good investment.

That said, a rotary isn't that difficult to build yourself with a spare 3 phase motor, a few capacitors, and a little bit of time and ingenuity. The one I built currently runs a 5HP lathe as well as a 5HP mill with no issues what so ever.
HGR

JMS/.MN · Mar 8, 2016

I built mine with leftovers, and by using an idler motor to start the 3 ph motor spinning, I don"t need any capacitors. Lots of good quality old machine tools around now, with so many factories closing down over the last 20 years. I bought an 18 inch swing, 8 foot bed engine lathe for $975. My "old" lathe is a 13 inch South Bend change gear, from 1910. Had that since 1968.

Hogleg · Mar 8, 2016

Machine shop in Odin Illinois shutting down, have a few larger machines for sale on the southern illinois craigslist. Just do a search for odin in the search bar...

Also a place in Carlyle doing an inventory reduction. They had a heavy 10 for sale and say they have quite a few other machines available, such as a 13x40 Leblond. Search the STL craigslist for these.

John

Mike M · Mar 8, 2016

Ohio craiglist has had some listed recently. A VFD works great on those 3 phase lathes because you get variable speeds with it.

wilson ind · Mar 8, 2016

Where in southern ind? Im near Linton. Been thinking of trying for a meeting of southern ind Illinois folks at white river valley swap meet ( Elnora Ind) first of april.

Looking for Lathe

Winchester1

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Martin Reece

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buzzinduzzin

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chuck machinist

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37chief

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dr sportster

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NCWayne

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JMS/.MN

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Hogleg

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Mike M

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wilson ind

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