If you can find an American made machine that is NOT clapped out and has not been abused or crashed, for reasonable money, that would be the obvious and better choice. BUT, if you live in a part of the country that never had a large industrial base (like MO or parts farther west), those big 70 yr old behemoths in like new condition just simply don't exist. If you have to fly somewhere to inspect a used machine and take the chance that it won't live up to the sales pitch, that used American iron gets to be less and less attractive. If I could have found a 16" or 18" Monarch in good condition for less than $6k, I'd have been on it, but the half dozen I located were all way beyond worn out, and a rebuild would cost twice what they wanted for the machine itself (which was considerably more than $6k I might add). I may yet in my life buy a Monarch 10EE, because I do not think that a lathe has been made anywhere in the world to surp*** it, but I will not buy one sight unseen, or test cuts unperformed. Old clapped out iron just isn't for everyone. A broken or worn out machine will be nearly impossible to learn on. It would take a master's skills just to turn out good work on such a machine, a rookie doesn't stand a chance of figuring things out and building a good skill set when faced with such a machine. A rookie is also more likely to be injured or killed by a rattle trap machine.
True, a seasoned hand who already knows how to use a lathe can use a machine like that and not hurt himself, 'cause he respects the machine. A new hand doesn't know anything, so he doesn't know to respect the machine, and he won't know the little idiocyncracies of the machine that make it dangerous. He won't know, and with no one to teach him, he has to learn by trial and error (which is a fabulous teacher). It's just that in this situation, error can kill you. Full stop. Graveyard dead. A new machine has fewer idiosyncrasies, which translates into fewer chances to kill or maim yourself learning how to use it. A South Bend with the exposed headstock pulleys and the exposed threading gear train is far more likely to grab a hold of you than a fully enclosed machine would be. No way around that. The fully enclosed machine will also have bearings that are light years ahead of the bushings in that old SB. So, not only is it safer, it'll cut better for longer too. You do what you like, it's your money, but if you think that an 80 yr old machine will be better in all respects to a new quality Asian machine, you are fooling yourself (or being outright dishonest). Enjoy your South Bend, I'm sure it's a fine machine. I'm quite happy with my "horrible evil" Asian machine as well. If you pay attention, either used American or new Asian iron can make you happy. You just gotta not have your head up your *** when you're shopping.
yep and for the new guy you've probably heard it a thousand times, but no watches,no hanging shirts, nothing that can get hung up in the lathe whatsoever. DO not let anything take your attention away from what you are doing, one of my pet peaves,is when you are in the middle of a cut, someone comes up and wants your attention that second,or wants to play some horseplay ********. also when you get your lathe, weld a spring on to your chuck key,to keep it from staying in the chuck when you are done, I know better,but if you are new to being around a machine, it's easy to do,and it will throw that key with a lot of force. the spring makes it pop back out of the chuck. DO now wear any kind of gloves when using a lathe or any kind of machine tool, friend of mine who is retired now got one caught in an end mill ,pulled his hand in and shredded the side of his hand.
The Jalopy Journal
