Urgent - opinions of lathe I am going to view/buy

All I know is that boxfords are good lathes when in good condition.

The first thing I noted was the grease on the gears. I wondered how the gears and studs were lubricated - grease blocks the lube holes? That might mean something, but may not. Grease also collects trash which might traverse the spindle - not good.

As most have said, condition is everything. Possibly worth a trip, with someone who knows what to look for.

I agree with what Clive said except only after a careful inspection of all its faults. Clive said “If I were at all interested I'd put in an offer considerably below the asking price.”

Three hours travelling, to check it over, could save a huge amount of aggravation (and cost). I looked at several lathes (Raglan 5&rdquo before I found one that fitted my criteria at a good price. I go expecting to walk away with my money in my pocket. There is always another better one at the same or better cost in the future.

Thread cutting, back gear operating, powered cross feed, QCGB, slotted cross slide, good bearings throughout and slideways that do not tighten up at the extremes (gibs are often left loose to hide those troubles) or with huge backlash in the feed screws in the central ‘most worn’ section. are just some of the things I look for.

Dud motors, damaged speed setting pulleys are other minor troubles to look for. Damaged or worn beds are mega-expensive to put right, even if they can be fixed.

If going to look at it, note down all the faults you can find and work out the cost of rectification. These things can soon add up to more than buying a more expensive machine in good working condition. If a dud motor, cost in a three phase replacement with VFD. Single phase motors are a poor choice unless there is a clutch somewhere in the drive.

If you want a project, go have a look with £400 in your pocket and start with a £300 offer. Assuming of couse ther is no major damage.
I would not worry about a quick change gearbox, consider an electronic leadscrew (stepper motor driving the leadscrew electrically syncronised ot the spindle.
Future improvements could be a variable speed drive.

At £400 If it turns out a complete dog you would get most if not all of your money back selling the new chucks seperately and the lathe with faults described. You will also have learning exercise. As others have said £750 is too much. Someone stood there with a bunch of twenties is a strong incentive to sell for less.

Robert G8RPI.

Nice one (3 phase) sitting on eby at £530 3 days to go... Higher spec etc etc

Gives you an idea of what you could get

Hey guys - thanks for all the comments - much appreciate it. I am restoring/learning on a little lathe as per other thread so I am not yet desperate for another one yet.

There are interesting signs of value but the lack of detail and communication is a concern. It is on facebook marketplace near Inverness but he is using his partners profile? He first advertised a M type cheap, then the Boxford and now an EMCO maximat.

Seller did not call me and has been remarkably reluctant with information.
Asked about tool holders - he replied there were some.
Asked if the two new chucks were threaded and fitted the lathe - no comment.
Asked about motor HP and range of spindle speed - no comment.
Asked about more changewheels and spindle stop - no comment

Just said his dad had been using it a few months ago.

He wanted £1000, would not take 600 but came down to 750. Ebay sold shows prices from 700 to 1500 and there are CUDs on facebook for 2500. ML7s vary from 1009 to 2000. Seems impossible to understand.

I think you have saved me from that strange longing we get to own more tools. I do want a Boxford, preferably UD, but they may never come up locally and down south is collection only. Had an attack of FOMO. If anyone is selling or has suggestions - let me know. Cheers

I have experience of converting an old lathe into a CNC machine. You don't need power cross slide or a compound slide or a quick change gearbox or 127/120 compound gear or tumbler reverse. You just need the headstock, tailstock, carriage and bed to be in good condition and to be able to spin the chuck. This would make a good CNC project for someone who already has a lathe and wants a project to get a second lathe that can be used for CNC. As a lathe for a beginner and costing £750 I would say no. For someone wanting a project I would say yes but not at that price unless you could sell some of the unwanted parts to get a good percentage of that £750 back and that would be a gamble.

Martin C

I recall an issue with a similar Ebay seller who was supposedly based in Inverness. I am not sure if there is a post on this forum somewhere. The general consensus was that he was unreliable and never helpful with detail. Might be worth digging around. I hope I am wrong about this person but best to be sure.

Imagine seeing this lathe at an auction. You can look, but not try it. Wind the screws in and out, rotate the spindle, look at the motor. But basically you will not see any hidden faults. Now consider what this lathe is like compared to a dog in an auction sale room.

I was trying to suggest things to do to establish its condition, no one has helped by saying that you can indeed look at the motor and drive, does the top of the headstock open to look at the spindle? I don't know. The things you really need to know are the state of the bed, damaged or cracked, the spindle, does it rotate easily, the carriage, does it move smoothy.

Don't forget that if the seller is an arts graduate then their knowledge of lathes will be negative, don't expect to have your questions understood, let alone answered. Go to look with a pile of cash in your pocket and a means to bring it home, found that riffling a wodge of notes does tend to change people's minds. On the other hand I have also found that screwing the price down also is foolish, you get an irritated seller. But your primary job is to establish a value to YOU, not others on the forum who last bought a machine years ago. I buy stuff on sales, usually auctions, and NOT ebay, on a regular basis. I have found that the good and the bad do even out, but that also requires you to buy on a regular basis. It is an easy price improvement to simply clean the thing. Also have other chucks so you can swap them around etc etc.

A three hour drive is just the investment you have to make to buy a machine, or anything in fact, enjoy it!

Hi, looking at the photo and the price and being the seller isn't very forth coming with info, I wouldn't even consider going to look. The spindle lock is clearly missing, but what of the high / low spindle gear change lever which isn't in view, which makes me wonder why. I bought my Boxford from Glasgow without going to look at it, but photos of it represented it well and communication with the seller was good, the price even taken into account the time difference from then to the present was much lower and the condition was 3 or 4 times better and I've had no problems with it.

Regards Nick.

Hi everyone, looks to me like the electrics have been altered as well. The light gray box on the front is a modern starter that has been fitted in the original electrical compartment. This would have had a blue door similar to the other doors on the machine with the start/stop buttons fitted in the door. It may be OK but I can't see how you start it in reverse. It could need some work to sort the electrics out. IMHO leave well alone. Tom.

Hi guys - thanks for comments - so you deserve to know what happened - in case you are curious.

Phoned this morning and left message to ring back - no reply. Finally got him at lunchtime.

Asked where workshop was - he repeated address for a country cottage. Since I had already looked I pointed out that I could not see any workshop on streetview. At first he said it was out the back - but I said no since that is clearly visible. Then he claimed google maps takes you to the wrong place and they are a mile further up the road nearer xxx. Not obvious to me on satellite or streetview but possible I guess.

Asked about extra QC toolholders - dismissed with there is lots of tooling and more stuff we can sell you. So I asked what was actually included. Was rudely dismissed - "can't be expected to go and count them for you". Asked about missing spindle lock and backgear - "For goodness sake it is a second hand machine"

Asked if new chucks were threaded and fitted - "I can't be expected to know but machining a new back plate is a 10 min job". (Even if it does take longer I think this shows he is very familar with lathes and not just selling one for his deceased father). To be fair I asked if I could see it running - he did say "Bring a bit if steel and we can turn it".

By this time he was getting even less inclined to chat and more tetchy and rude. Eventually said "He couldnt be expected to run around and know everything if you want it come and see it for yourself if not don't bother I don't care".

At this point my suspicious aroused I declined and was called a f..ing time waster. Subsequently he has posted more pictures with a fair number of toolholders and the old chucks mounted but none of the beds or motor etc. It may be above board but I still find the whole affair fishy and suspect he deals. He is not personally on facebook or ebay I find that suscipious. Let us know if someone here does buy some if his kit.

So I will continue my quest - must spend more time with my current lathe and less time looking.

From the sound of him I wouldn't have bought a brass washer off him, never mind a lathe.

You made the right decision, Andy.

Hi Andy, you definitely made the right choice. I am a long time Boxford owner and would highly recommend the model A. I would expect to find a decent one privately for the price you quoted. Good luck with the search.

John

Well just to end the story on a happy note.

Thanks to the forum - I met with Martin who was very helpful and I am now the proud owner of a Mk1 AUD. There is a known issue with the gearbox, but Martin was completely honest and we think it can be fixed. It was reflected in the price (and a bacon roll and tea was thrown in as well).

I am sure I will have questions when I get into restoration so "I'll be back"

Welcome to the AUD club. I am sure that you will be pleased that you went this route. As you may know, the Boxford is very similar to the American Southbend, just be aware (I think) that the Southbend spindle nose is 60degree thread angle and the Boxford 55 degrees.

Look up mrpete on Youtube. He had a series on rebuiling a SouthBend 9" gearbox which is almost identical to the Boxford one. It may be of help to you. Glad you found a Boxford to suit you they are excellent machines.

regards

Well, how much did you pay for it?

.

Is that important ?

Andy has bought a secondhand machine, with which he is happy

… The next one on offer will inevitably be different.

MichaelG.

Thanks guys - and those videos of Tubal Cain doing the south bend were very helpful.

I will be a bit coy on the price - in case people think either I or Martin were foolish. Let me say that it is a better machine for a lot less money than the one from our fishy friend above. Martin bought the machine in its current state and has not used it. He was intending to fix for himself but he already has a Viceroy and with other projects was happy to pass it on to me. I am very happy with the price and the straight dealing - even if the gearbox cannot be fully fixed.

When I get sorted I will take pictures and start a thread on the restoration.