Milling machine and lathe, need info fast.

I disagree with the prevailing opinions on this thread. They are worth it. $40 plus a road trip plus a chance to move heavy things, and then good tools. Home run. If it turns out that you don't like these particular units, you will be able to trade them off to some machinist hobbyist since those guys tend to ac***ulate more Bridgeports than they need.

Go for it (them).

 

I guess i could go a bit further. When I set up my automotove machine shop which was mainly for my own enjoyment although it turned out to be a busy place I bought equipment here and there. A Van Norman 562 Surface grinder for $100 (It took $4100 before i had everything ready to go but it then went on to machine an average of 7 heads (some big diesel heads too) and many blocks and in no time I had used up three stones (17 inch wet) and had $$ in the bank. Nobody wanted it .It was 600 Volt 3 phase. I have only 220 single here but that was only about $700 of the whole deal. I also went through the whole machine cleaning repairing rebuilding to get it up to snuff. It is still being used regularly by the new owners boss as like when I had it it will do a lot of Big hard stuff other machines cant handle. My boring bar was an export version of a Van Norman 944s. It was a Kuhldip 944s. Not a real HD unit but a well respected piece in its day. I bought it in good running condition for $1000 and the tooling did actually say and come in a Van norman box. Because of the India export designation the dealer couldnt give it away. He wanted $3000 for a Van Norman. and had one sitting beside it. I could see there was no difference so i asked if he would sell the Kuhldip. He was thrilled that somebody would buy it and I got EXACTLY the same machine for $2000 less. It also is still funsctioning and being used by the fellow who bought out my shop when i retired from doing it . My Sunnen rod hone came over on the arc. It had a tiny motor not even a 1/3 hp . I got it for $2500 with a complete and i do mean complete set of mandrels. No one wanted it too bad as it was low power and could not do double rods (two together) It was very accurate and had a newly reconded gauge on it. It was a steal and I could get rods right to zero with little effort. Cap cutter ? I couldnt find one but heard of a Tobin Arp aircraft style cap cuttter . No one wanted it (air over hydraulic feed). I got it for $35 delivered. I spent about a day fixing it. It was an extrmely good machine and did very very fine work. Far superior to the mailbox cap grinders. In fact the cap grindeers seem crude now in comparison. My seat guide machine wasan old IDL (A fine Canadian Machine company) machine . I payed $700 .It payed for itself from the git go and never needed zip. It came with a complete set of tooling. My portable seat unit I bought for $35. First time I rented it out to another shop for doing Ford flatheads I got that back. I dont mind putting in the time to repair good stufff . I dont care how old it is. In fact much of the older stuff it tough as nails. .001" is and always will be .001" . You can repair most anything and often can put it in the same condition accuracy wise it was when new. Sometimes the old stuff is not as fast but I will take accurate and strong over fast anyday. I would find it hard to say no at $20 . I have been down that road successfully too many times. Now with my 1939 Kearney and Trecker 2 H vertical mill. and my converted turret lathe which is the first lathe i ever owned that when it cuts and you back travel the machine is accurate enough it doesnt cut going back I am thrilled with this old stuff nobody wanted. Some folks cant appreciate this old stuff. Some of us have no choice. It is either buy it and convert it or repair it or go without. Without is no longer an option here. I am often asked do you have CNC. Nope DDI (Don Does IT) I say all that to encourage those who get a chance at some of this type stuff. If you dont mind the work cleaning and repairing (tis more like an adventure) go for it. You wont regret it.
Don
So when I sold my automotive machine shop equipment did i get my money back? As a matter of fact yes and some extra to boot.