Machinist

[Lawrence London <lfljvenaura@gmail.com>]

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general/12-15-inch-american-lathes-277287/index2.html

12-23-2013, 12:37 PM #34

11 Bravo

Cast Iron

Join Date

Feb 2008

Location

Gillette, Wyoming

Posts

332

For the original question and extra information given, I think the LeBlond Regal fits the bill pretty well.

No doubt it is the lightest machine on the OPs list and lighter than about everything else suggested, but they are nicely built machines and capable of good accuracy if anchored and leveled properly. Obviously, the thin headstock gears are not well suited to heavy production work, but the OP is looking for a machine to do assorted repair work and projects. Odds are it probably wont run more than a couple of days a week. There really will not be a need for any hogging unless he just wants to run it that way. The machines, parts, and accessories are pretty abundant. It won't take any heavy equipment to unload, won't be problematic for about any garage floor, and a nice condition unit could be found within the budget. Staying with a Regal would avoid any concerns about the servo-shift mechanisms.

I am not retired, but I do work very similar to what the OP outlined in my shop at home (which is not my full time job just to be clear). I do a fair amount of work for some guys that rebuild old farm tractors. Mostly repair work, some new part manufacture here and there, build special tools, some hydraulic cylinder work once in a while and so on. My machines just don't get worked any where near what a production shop would work them. I have a mid 60's vintage 15" Regal that does just fine. It's no Pacemaker, but I fully expect that it will outlast me.

While I think the Regal has some shortcomings, on balance it think it would fit the OPs listed requirements quite well.