Metal Lathes

texbaylea · Feb 24, 2007

I have had an Atlas/Craftsman 6" x 18" metal lathe since the mid 70s but have not used it in about the last 10 years. Before that I had used it mainly to turn drivers for bushings, bearings and seals. I have had some potential projects lately so dug the little lathe out but it needs a lot of TLC though mostly cleaning. It is marginal for what I want to do so have been looking a 12" lathes.

Grizzly has a couple G4002 and G4003. These are 12" x 24"and 12" x 36" respectively, cam lock spindles, gear head and gap beds. They are priced either side of $2000 which is within budget. Anyone have any experience with these lathes or know of similar for me to look at?

I figure the little Craftsman should have some value to offset the cost of the new lathe.

Vernon

Birdhunter1 · Feb 24, 2007

Funny you mention the Grizzly lathes, I was just looking at them 10 minutes ago!

I built a shopping cart (just for fun) full of stuff, about $12,000 in just machines, $2500 in tooling. Oh how I'd like a free shopping spree!

MadReferee · Feb 25, 2007

Go on over the the Home Shop Machinist forum. There the General discussion forum is geared more to the home hobby machinist and your Grizzly lathe has probably been discussed many times previously. If you are intimidated by the more professional people on the PracticalMachinist forum, you will find that the HSM board is rather friendly and made up of average people whose hobby is machining.

texbaylea · Feb 25, 2007

Mad

I suscribe to the magazine but have never looked at the forum. Thanks for reminding me about it.

Vernon

MadReferee · Feb 25, 2007

I have subscribed to HSM since the mid 80's and Projects in Metal (aka The Machinists Workshop) since it started too. I passed on the Digital Machinist and Live Steam as they are not my cup of tea.

texbaylea · Feb 25, 2007

Mad

Me too! (HSM & TMW) I have not been doing any kind of metal project but enjoy seeing the work done by others. I am storing up ideas for the future.

Vernon

AlanB · Feb 25, 2007

Two of my friends run the Grizzly lathes and other assorted Grizzly equipment and have been well pleased with them.

If you read HSM they have both been published there I believe. Conrad Huard and Ron Reed.

They both wholeheartedly endorse the Grizzly equipment for it's abilities, quality and price. And Grizzly stands behind the equipment they sell with knowledgable folks, and repair parts.

Our group has had great success with thier products.

Youare · Feb 26, 2007

I have a Grizzly table saw and like what I got for the $$.

Take a look at the used equipment market for metal working machines, you can get some good deals. The only draw back some times is the shipping cost. I operate a LeBlond 12 X 60 lathe at work that we purchased last year for about $2,500.00 that was made in the 1980's.

Randy

scott_vt · Feb 26, 2007

Mornin Vernon,
I think I would want to read a bunch of reviews on the Grizzly lathes before I bought one. As Mad Ref points out you could go the Machinists forum and get some helpful input and a bunch of reviews. I dont own a Grizzly lathe but I do own some Grizzly equipment. I have had some good luck with them and so not so pleasant experiences ! I have their 15" planer and their 16" bamdsaw. I previously owned their 6" joiner, which was basically a piece of garbage when I got it !!! The infeed table was not parallel with the outfeed table. Rather than ship the whole machine back to Washington I brought it into work and remachined the dovetails that the table rides on to make it right. I have been a toolmaker/modelmaker for over 35 years and I felt it was easier for me to fix the darn thing rather than have them send me another lemon !!! I now have a 8" Delta joiner which is a beautiful machine. The bandsaw is no bargain either but when monet permits Im planning on getting the top of the line Jet saw. The planer is a pretty good machine but its a nightmare to change the blades. I had to make some special fixtures and need my dial indicator to get them set right. At work I use Hardinge lathes with digital readouts accurate to tenths so I would guess I wouldnt be happy with a Grizzly lathe. For the casual home DIY guy they may be fine, but once again I would like to read some reviews !

Good Luck !

texbaylea · Feb 26, 2007

I live close to a small market area so things such as machine tools appear seldom. If I could get home delivery of the Houston paper I could watch that. It is a good suggestion but my location is poor for that type of buy.

Texas`A & M University surplus sales occasionally have machine tools but usually in poor condition.

Vernon