Beginer lathe?

[bigsteel15]

I found a virtually un-used Rockwell 46-410, 10" lathe locally.
The guy wants $250 for the lathe, extra motor, gouges, 2 plates(?) and a couple of other spindle accessories.He says it was a gift for his son and he used it twice.
I don't know anything about this model, so am wondering if it's a good deal.
I was hoping that some of you turners could give me advice.

BTW, a new Delta midi sells for around the same price up here but no tools, etc.

[final_t]

Depends on the quality of the gouge and the other extras. Try to get him down a little bit since the Rockwells are apparently not made any more (bought by Delta?), so spare parts will be a problem. Odd that it comes with an "extra" motor...
Obviously go over and look at it and check to make sure the head and tailstocks are inline and that the motor runs, etc.

[bigsteel15]

Depends on the quality of the gouge and the other extras. Try to get him down a little bit since the Rockwells are apparently not made any more (bought by Delta?), so spare parts will be a problem. Odd that it comes with an "extra" motor...
Obviously go over and look at it and check to make sure the head and tailstocks are inline and that the motor runs, etc.

actually, there is a good website for parts here in Canada. That doesn't mean they will have the parts though.
https://www.acetoolrepair.com/index.asp

The extra motor...he just stated that he had another motor that he would throw in, not that it was for the machine. Probably doesn't think it will sell in the garage sale. I can find a use for it.

[bigsteel15]

Same model as this one
http://www.acetoolrepair.com/DeltaHtml/WL/WL1A.htm

[Ken Massingale]

Same model as this one
http://www.acetoolrepair.com/DeltaHtml/WL/WL1A.htm

I don't know Brian. I've never used a lathe with tubes for a bed, but I've not read much good about them either. Hopefully someone with a different view will post a reply. You may want to ask on the Turning forum on Woodnet.
ken

[bigsteel15]

Thank you Ken.
I'm in full agreement about the tubes. Been kind of leary of those based on the fact that most quality manufacturers have a steel bed.
I've decided that I will pass on this one.
If I'm going to get a lathe, I think I'll stick to the newer name brands.
Everyone seems to like the Penn State units.

[DonHo]

I have the PSI turncrafter pro and for what it's worth I like it a lot. As a heads up, I bought mine thru Amazon back when they were having the $20 off of orders over $125 (I think that's the amount). Any way my point is I got the lathe for $149 with free shipping. Shipping is $35 from PSI so you can save money by buying at Amazon even if you don't get a discount.

DonHo

[bigsteel15]

I have the PSI turncrafter pro and for what it's worth I like it a lot. As a heads up, I bought mine thru Amazon back when they were having the $20 off of orders over $125 (I think that's the amount). Any way my point is I got the lathe for $149 with free shipping. Shipping is $35 from PSI so you can save money by buying at Amazon even if you don't get a discount.

DonHo

If I didn't live in Canada that would be a great deal. Amazon won't ship tools here.
When PSI has the pro back in stock, I might buy one, but I'm also seriously looking at what's available locally (Delta, General, Craftex(Grizzly).
Probably will also try to find Jet dealer.
Either way I'm probably into $500 by the time I by some tools.

[DonHo]

"Either way I'm probably into $500 by the time I by some tools"

No Joke!! Turning tools, grinder to sharpen the turning tools, if you're gonna make pens you'll need a mandrel, you will probably need/want a chuck before long, maybe a screw chuck also, and a jam chuck or a expanding collet chuck, extra jaws for your chucks. If you're gonna turn bowls you'll need bowl gouges(don't come in starter sets). Then there are the pen kits, finishing supplies, you'll probably either buy turning blanks or cut them yourself, if you're gonna harvest wood yourself you'll need a chainsaw. Come to think of it are you sure you want a lathe

Just joking, it's fun but it IS expensive.
DonHo

[guycox]

One of the Brit Turners uses a lathe with tubes.. Richard Raffin? A Tube is a pretty rigid structure. I'd rather have tubes than the stamped metal on the cheap lathe from HF.

Yep, I'm still turning on a Shopsmith (with the heavy toolrest). I'm on the lookout for a used powermatic P90 or general - unless I have suddent windfall and buy a new on -- I love the looks of the Laguna -- it's the BT3100 of the Lathe world.

[Jim Boyd]

All of the bad stuff I've heard about tube type lathes have been about the single tube lathes. I.E. some Craftsman and the Ridgid. Record is said to make a good lathe and they use 2 tubes.

[Ken Massingale]

All of the bad stuff I've heard about tube type lathes have been about the single tube lathes. I.E. some Craftsman and the Ridgid. Record is said to make a good lathe and they use 2 tubes.

That's a good point, Jim.
ken

[Holbren]

Brian,

Did you get the most recent Woodcraft sales flyer this week? They have the JET mini with Nova chuck for $269 from what I remember. I think both items sold separately were $399. Seemed like a pretty good deal.

[thiggy]

That lathe looks identical to one that I have which I purchased about 30 years ago from AMT (American Machine Tool Co.). The firm was a purveyor of cheap woodworking tools before the days of Chinese imports. I certainly would not purchase it for $250 unless it included $250 worth of high quality (Henry Taylor, Robert Sorby, etc) chisels.

[bigsteel15]

Brian,

Did you get the most recent Woodcraft sales flyer this week? They have the JET mini with Nova chuck for $269 from what I remember. I think both items sold separately were $399. Seemed like a pretty good deal.

Brian,
Thanks for the note, but I live in Canada and I don't think shipping anything that heavy is worth it. I should buy something from them though so I can get the catalogs. A local Lee Valley is great but they don't have the variety that Woodcraft has for WW. Not that my wishlist on the LV site isn't huge...LOL.

I did find out though that a friend is a Jet retailer here.
He's looking into what kind of deal he can get me for the $3-400 range.
He also mentioned that he's heard Jet is getting out of some of the power tools. Don't know which ones though.