How the Organized Mind Approaches Tool Buys

March 23rd, 2009

Eeny, Meeny…

I am seriously considering drawing a lathe-purchase flow chart. In fact, I think I’ll do it. I am too stupid to work a spreadsheet.

Maybe I can do it in text.

I have three…damn…four possibilities. Let’s examine them.

1. Clausing 5914 in Vermont
2. Clausing 5914 in Hialeah
3. Grizzly G4003G
4. South Bend 13 in Vermont

Cost is roughly the same in all three cases. That’s a wash.

1. Clausing in Vt.: Seller has great reputation, so I probably won’t get screwed. If machine is in very good shape, it will do better work than the Grizzly. If something goes wrong, I have to fix it with no Clausing support, because it is OLD. Excellent gunsmithing lathe, in case I decide to try that some day. Came from men’s prison, so may be infested with interesting bacteria and/or coated with dried fluids of indeterminate nature. Probable loss on resale: $1000.

2. Clausing in Hialeah: Seller’s reputation unknown, but they’re local so I can always sue in small claims court if they stick me with a bad lathe. However, that is a pain in the butt, and they will probably sell the machine as-is. Not likely to be damaged in shipping, as this consists of paying a guy named Enrique to bring it over on a flatbed. Other than that, same as Clausing in Vermont. Except for VD germs.

3. South Bend in Vt.: Excellent lathe, but smaller spindle hole than Grizzly and Clausing. Better than Grizzly, if in good shape. Has external threads on spindle, which is bad. Parts easy to find. Bigger swing than Grizzly or Clausing. Probable loss on resale similar to Clausing.

4. Grizzly G4003G. Has a gap, which is supposedly a great thing, because you can open it up and turn very big parts. Factory tolerances not quite as good as old US lathes. Big spindle hole. Better bearings than other Grizzlies. Good reviews from gunsmiths. Has very tall stand which puts work too high for comfort; one operator used a plasma cutter to chop the stand several inches. Great customer support. Warranty. Parts easily available. Comes with egg rolls. Probable loss on resale (my guess) $1500-$2000. Way less cool than US lathes.

If condition is good, the US lathes will do better work. Will I ever notice the difference while farting around in the garage? Questionable.

If the US lathes stink, I get hammered on resale when I dump them. If the Grizzly stinks, I get hammered even worse.

Okay, let’s bail on the South Bend. That spindle bothers me. I wonder why you can’t put a new one on. I guess you would have to gut the lathe.

Maybe the extreme confusion I’m experiencing is God’s way of saying, “Do not get a lathe. Go back to barbecue.”

Maybe I’ll run up to Hialeah.

4 Responses to “How the Organized Mind Approaches Tool Buys”

  1. og Says:

    You can’t put a larger spindle on the South Bend because the bearings are of a fixed size.

    If the condition is good, the US lathes will do better work? No. If the condition is good, the US lathes will do any work? No. The lathe no more does the work than guns kill people. The work a lathe does is up to the operator. A skilled operator can do excellent work with a worn lathe, but even a newbie operator can do good work with a non-worn lathe. My gunsmith uses a torn up old POS to fit barrels to actions, but he knows where the leadscrews are worn and where they are not, and uses the non-worn parts of the leadscrews to do his work. Your chance or success with a griz (or other new lathe) is far better, and you’re less likely to be frustrated. Imagine if you bought a used piano and the keys toward the end were substantially harder to hit and you had no idea that’s not the way they were supposed to be.

    I just hate to see anyone fight the battles I fought if you don’t have to.

  2. davis,br Says:

    You do realize that it’s obvious to everyone but you that you want the Grizz’, right?
    .
    Just do it.
    .
    Chances are good that any lathe will be better than you are (or you will ever be: although that’s undeterminable), but since it’s the only one you’ll ever buy and it’s doubtful you’ll sell it until you’re too old to care, the resale price don’t matter either.
    .
    I have a tiny Clausing AND a Chinese mini …and they’re both better than me.
    .
    omigawd: YOU ARE A GENIUS. And yes, that was my way of saying Thank You for allowing us to edit comments. You da man.
    .

  3. Virgil Says:

    Is Vermont’s state motto “The Machinist State”?

    Or perhaps ” ‘Turning’ over a new leaf?”

  4. 'Andy-in-Japan Says:

    Your confusion is the work of the devil. Buy the Grizz.