South Bend Lathe

SBogusta · Mar 21, 2017

Can anyone tell me if this lathe is worth taking home? This machine came from a
manufacturing factory that closed down. I think the machine is from the 40's or 50's.
What kind of tools should I look for when I go to pick it up?
Thanks for any info!

TimV · Mar 21, 2017

South Bend made dozens of sizes of lathe, so it's hard to say in anything but the most generic of terms without having more info. With that said, in general, South Bend is a decent brand, with untold thousands still being used, and thus there's lots of stuff still available and/or makeable, and lots of support via Internet message boards and other places. As far as tooling, anything's useful--extra chucks, toolholders, tool bits, drills, drill chucks, centers, faceplates, dogs, mandrels, steady rests, follow rests, etc. etc. A Quick Change Tool Post setup like a Phase II / Aloris would be a definite bonus--I have one on my old South Bend and it works very well. Once you have some more specifics, let us know and we can give you better info.

SBogusta · Mar 21, 2017

Ill try to load a pic

Mike(NEOhio) · Mar 21, 2017

I was going to comment earlier but held back waiting for more information. That looks like a good one, I'd jump on that in a minute. Some of those were hand feed or change gears. I had one for free but the gears didn't come with it. Yours has the taper attachment and quick change gears, good options. Get a 4 jaw chuck if it doesn't have one. Although I've seen it done by millwrights who should know better, that's not the way to move a lathe. You'll probably be OK with a small one like that since the forks are out close to the supports. Good luck with it.

TimV · Mar 21, 2017

VERY nice! Looks to be a handy size--a bit larger than my tabletop one. One question--is it 110V? I see a plug, but can't tell if that's for the lathe or an accessory. Lots of industrial lathes, even small ones, are 3-phase, and that, of course, makes them harder for the average person to use. There's ways around that, of course, from re-motoring it to using one of the various types of phase converters, but if you can get away without it, it's better and cheaper. If you can get it reasonable, by all means do so--looks to have full quick-change gearing, which mine does not. Is the cross slide powered? Makes it handier if it is--many smaller lathes (including mine) are not.

4wdtom · Mar 22, 2017

While it is impossible to tell the actual condition of a lathe from a picture that one looks like it is worth a chance. It looks good. The ways are rusty. Try and remove the rust and not any metal when cleaning them. Lube everything before turning or starting it, especially the main spindle bearings.

Dick L · Mar 22, 2017

Looks like the one in my tool shop we have had in use for 40 years.

JF in MI · Mar 22, 2017

You didn't say how much money. It looks to have the 'quick change' gear system (pull the handle on the gear box in and out to change speeds). I have one similar (Clausing) and found that the taper attachment was worth as much as the rest of the lathe. Mine came with a 1 phase 220 motor on it but 3 phase doesn't bother me. I have a 3 phase milling machine with a 1 phase starter/adapter that works great. The gear speed selector requires frequent oiling (when they are engaged) and mine was seized requiring some work to fix, so see if it moves in and out.

markiz41 · Mar 22, 2017

If you mean "tooling", look for a spare chuck, a steady rest and a tool post at a minimum. Beyond that, there is a faceplate, dog plate, dogs, cutters, bits.. the more the better.

Janicholson · Mar 22, 2017

Grab it you will not be unhappy unless it has been trashed (looks good in photos) the cross feed and compound rest screws and drive nits are available if yours has dramatic backlash. The gibs and cams used to tighten and adjust are all made for long life and ease of maintenance. Get a book called How to Run a Lathe (by South Bend Lathe Corporation) it is a 3/8" thick paper back about 8X6 inches that is radically devoted to that type lathe. Indespensable and easy to find. Also the parts manual I found. Jim
Manual?

Ellis Kinney · Mar 22, 2017

It would be worth quite a bit as long as it did not come from a high school shop. I taught high school machine shop. Ellis

dr sportster · Mar 22, 2017

I see a fairly modern version South Bend . All the guards and covers intact. It has a taper attachment . Those may be worth 200 bucks. Any worn lathe that can turn a shaft is worth 400 bucks.

apm · Mar 23, 2017

(quoted from post at 22:20:11 03/22/17) I see a fairly modern version South Bend . All the guards and covers intact. It has a taper attachment . Those may be worth 200 bucks. Any worn lathe that can turn a shaft is worth 400 bucks.

That looks like a South Bend Heavy 10. It's a very popular lathe with gunsmiths because it's got an 1-3/8" hole through the spindle. Perfect for barrel work.

SBogusta · Mar 23, 2017

Hi,
This Lathe is free,
I think it is the one pictured in the catalog pic

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