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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2020
    Location
    Geraldton Western Australia
    Posts
    132

    Default Lathe restoration


  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    34
    Posts
    1,075

    Default

    The only problem with restorations is that you never get back what you put in.

    Is it a good job? Absolutely. Is it now a $4k lathe? I'd say probably not.
    Gear cutting specialists and general engineers www.hardmanbros.com.au
    Fine pitch gear cutting from 0.1 Module www.rigear.com.au

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2020
    Location
    Geraldton Western Australia
    Posts
    132

    Default

    Exactly what I was thinking.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,651

    Default

    I wouldn’t personally pay $4k, but if someone was after that size/type of machine, didn’t have the time or skills to do a restoration themself but didn’t want a clapped out sloppy machine….then it might fetch a good chunk of that price.

    Steve

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    6,439

    Default

    Hi Guys,

    I thought that the restoration paint job was very nice, but Steve is right ! If someone particularly wants a small lathe then great. Its about 25% more than I would want to pay.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Southern Flinders Ranges
    Posts
    1,536

    Default

    It’s not concourse, the plastic cable ties on the power cables aren’t period correct

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Age
    56
    Posts
    1,416

    Default

    I remember getting rid of my earlier hercus I bought for $750 with tooling and then buying a Chinese toolex 12x36 lathe new for $3000 with full power feeds and a dedicated feed shaft etc.
    Heaps more rigid, capacity etc what a difference/upgrade in everything it was.

    I wouldn't pay that for that machine, no matter the condition.

    Sent from my 5007U using Tapatalk
    Using Tapatalk

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    1,656

    Default

    It's on gumtree you never pay the asking price and the seller does not expect to get the asking price, unless he/she is naive.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    574

    Default

    There are people out there that would use lathe of that vintage simply for the experience, throw in a nice fat wallet and you could have a sale, one of my mates is like that - he's into the forging side of metal working and even though he has power tools he prefers to use an old blacksmith's hand cranked post drill he feels it brings a bit of artistry and skill to metal working.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Say the machine was a Hercus of that similar model and year of production, all and Brightly painted up up real spiffy but without a motor.

    Would you pay pay $4000 of your hard earned dollars?

    Grahame

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Southern Highlands NSW
    Posts
    1,894

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Dave J View Post
    I remember getting rid of my earlier hercus I bought for $750 with tooling and then buying a Chinese toolex 12x36 lathe new for $3000 with full power feeds and a dedicated feed shaft etc.
    Heaps more rigid, capacity etc what a difference/upgrade in everything it was.

    I wouldn't pay that for that machine, no matter the condition.

    Sent from my 5007U using Tapatalk
    Fair enough, but an A model Hercus does all those power feeds too, and there is zero disadvantage to their smart use of one shaft for both traversing and screwcutting.
    I'd say that some valid shortcomings are that the ways aren't hardened (unless by special order), and the graduated dials aren't the clearest.
    But that's nitpicking.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Age
    56
    Posts
    1,416

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by nadroj View Post
    Fair enough, but an A model Hercus does all those power feeds too, and there is zero disadvantage to their smart use of one shaft for both traversing and screwcutting.
    I'd say that some valid shortcomings are that the ways aren't hardened (unless by special order), and the graduated dials aren't the clearest.
    But that's nitpicking.
    Fair enough, but can those speeds and feed rates be changed with a lever with minimal change gears? Power cross feed as mine never had it.

    I hated going through the whole change gears to do something, and still do with the minimul change gears I have to do these days.

    I was so over the moon unboxing my new Chinese 12x36 lathe with all the features and still have it today.
    Totally accurate and marked 11/ 2003, but I bought it February 2004.

    I get your point and don't think they are a bad lathe at all, it was a good learning lathe when I had it for all those years, but I'd never go back.

    If a Hercus lathe was listed for sale and a decent Chinese 12x36 for the same price, I'd pick the Chinese lathe everyday of the week.
    More mass, D1-4 mount and like I said less gear changes etc.


    Sent from my 5007U using Tapatalk
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  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Location
    Geelong
    Posts
    37

    Default

    That lathe looks beautiful- it would be a shame to mark it up by actually making parts on it lol. It will probably go into some rich bastards garage below the framed and signed jersey of is favourite football team and next to the antique restored petrol bowser.
    i had a nice massey ferguson mf35, all done up with bright red paint and front end loader. It was a good little machine, ready to work. I put it on gumtree for 7500, as stated before, not expecting to get anywhere near that. A lady called me and said she would take it, as a gift for her husband. Full price. No question asked, sight unseen (do you want to come and look at it? "No, I wouldnt know what i was looking at anyway").
    he was an anaesthetist who owned a holiday 'farm' in dromana and she wanted the tractor so they could have a proper farm experience i suppose. Whatever, i was stoked haha.
    so he may get the price...

  14. #14
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    I understand what you're saying. Here's a MF35 $4850 No LOADER
    https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/will...ion/1286782826
    People will pay what ever for the privilege of owning a certain piece of equipment or whatever. Money doesn't seem to be a problem to some people.
    My boss just sold his house, and the person that bought it paid an extra $15K over what was agreed on, as he'd heard someone else was interested in it!!!!!!!!
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Southern Highlands NSW
    Posts
    1,894

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Dave J View Post
    Fair enough, but can those speeds and feed rates be changed with a lever with minimal change gears? Power cross feed as mine never had it.
    Yes, just as the South Bend model A which is the subject of this thread.
    Your Hercus was probably a C model, which has carriage traverse by the leadscrew only, and no gearbox to select threads and feeds - just loose gears under the left side cover.
    The A & B models have the carriage and cross slide able to be driven via a slot in the combined leadscrew/feed shaft.
    The A model is the one with the works, including a 2 lever gearbox.

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