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When I put an indicator on the chuck it was three thousandths off. But if you have only one turning and facing holder and you need to change the cutter to a different one during a job, you will have to go through the setup procedure each time that you change. The other holders you are unlikely to ever need more than one of. Also, if you buy the Quick Change, go ahead and buy at least 3 additional #1 (or #101) and/or #2 (#102) holders. But you will be stuck with having to only use their brand of tool holders. There is one sold, and AFAIK it's otherwise OK. And don't buy one that doesn't clearly state that the holders are interchangeable with Aloris, etc. If you decide to get the 101.28990 and then decide to buy the QCTP, don't buy one of the other cheaper ones most sites list that has an aluminum tool post. But to use it you will have to have all of the tool holders near the bottom of their range and the tool post, holders and cutters all cost more. If you look through that and other sites, you will see claims that the BXA (next size up) is also usable on a 12". Yes, that's the type tool post I was referring to. I wouldn't tell the guy who put you onto the 12x36 that he's wrong. But the larger machine is also a much better machine, even if your work could have all been run on the 6". If you were going to keep it, we could help you figure out where the problem is. But no one ever mentioned it being lighter that the earlier one. The spindle has a different part number from the one in the long-lived Atlas 618 (Craftsman 101.21400) (roughly 1938 through 1972) and the machine has ball bearings instead of Timken tapered roller bearing. 10100 is the 6" MK2 that came out in 1972 or 73. (I meant given name, not User ID - that is always shown but some are cumbersome to write out) But Sears sold 6" lathes that weren't made by Atlas and some of those have a history of bent spindles. On the 6", I don't think I ever recall anyone reporting a bent spindle on an Atlas built Craftsman 6" lathe (of which there were three models, not counting the 101.07300). If it is in good condition (not worn out), it is certainly worth $800 regardless of what comes with it.įirst thing that you should probably do if you buy it is to replace the lantern style tool post with a steel AXA size Quick Change Tool Post. I've had one for 34 years and wouldn't trade it for anything unless for some reason I had to have something larger like a 20" or 24" swing machine (which ain't going to happen). Going price varies somewhat depending upon what part of the country the machine is in but I would put the typical price for either model number at around $1250 without any accessories or tooling. The 101.28990 is the same as the Atlas 3996, the last and probably best machine that Atlas ever built. It has the QC gear box but that's about all I can discern from the picture he sent. It is set-up and ready to run so I can inspect it thoroughly before purchase. Turns out a friend of a friend has a Craftsman 12X48 on a dedicated bench with a bunch of tooling and he wants $800. When I told him about the bent spindle he immediately offered to take it back which was quite a stand-up thing to do.
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He had inherited the lathe and had never actually run it. The drive pulley had such a wobble that it would have walked off the work bench if not bolted down.Ĭaveat emptor, right? I could not even be mad at the seller, he was a really cool older gentleman with a '65 Dart, '70 Chevelle, and a '32 International in his shop. Unfortunately, I discovered the spindle was bent. The fact that it only weighs 95 pounds and easily fit into the back of my SUV was a selling point. I was super excited to get it home and start turning.
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Also included was a Montgomery Ward split phase 1/3 hp motor. It came with some tooling and a 3 jaw and NIB 4 jaw chuck. I bought the first used lathe I found: a Atlas Clausing 6". I found myself in need of a lathe and I made the normal rookie mistake. I've owned a Grizzly mini mill for several years and used it to make all manner of hobby pieces. This is my first post so I will apologize ahead of time if I am long winded.