Michael, You will find the Atlas lathes at prices all over the map! I would expect that an "average" price would be in the $300 - $500 range, depending on location and accesories. You can easily find parts, not because it's a Craftsman, because Sears no longer stocks any parts for them! But Atlas- Clausing the builders, do have very complete stocks of spare parts and accesories. I still have the Atlas/ Sears lathe given to me for Christmas in 1961, and it is still a fine machine. For many years, it was my sole machine tool, and with that little lathe and a milling attachment, my Dad and I built a 3/4" scale Friends Models Tom Thumb, which is a good a locomotive today as it was when we built it! Yes, I have since added to the "lathe collection" and now have the products of the Derbyshire, Rivett and South Bend lathe companies. But you will never hear me say anything bad about that little "Craftsman" 6" swing lathe. It may not be as easy as having a full machine shop, but with that one tool you CAN build a live steam locomotive. A Jacobs chuck inthe spindle and the milling attachment even served as my only drill press for a long time! Keith Taylor ----- Original Message ----- From: "mdenning" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Multiple recipients of sslivesteam" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, October 04, 2002 8:18 AM Subject: Re: Lathes for Live Steamers
> What range of prices should I be looking for an Atlas/Craftsman 6 x 18 ? > Can I assume parts are readily available because it is a "Craftsman"? > Thanks > Michael > Florida > USA > Iron Nut > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: J.D. Toumanian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Friday, October 04, 2002 8:01 AM > Subject: Re: Lathes for Live Steamers > > > > Hello Group, > > With all the discussions of different lathes used by model engineers, I > > am surprised that Atlas/Clausing has not come up. I love them. They > > have flat ways like a Myford, are plenty rigid, and can be had at > > bargain prices. Most important to me is that they are American made, > > and nearly all parts are still available through Clausing. > > > > In recent years, I have become somewhat of a lathe 'collector'.... I > > have no fewer than five right now!... All of them made by Atlas: > > > > 1 Atlas/Craftsman 618 6" x 18" > > 2 Atlas QC54 10" x 36" > > 1 Atlas TH48 10" x 30" turret lathe > > 1 Atlas/Clausing Industrial 4804 13" x 40" > > > > I will be selling the 6 x 18 and one of the QC54s... I think three > > lathes is plenty! > > > > All are excellent machines. The 6 x 18 is small... bigger than a > > Sherline but smaller than a Grizzly 9 x 20. The Clausing Industrial 13 > > x 40 is large and heavy... about the same as a big South Bend > > (unfortunately parts are rare for it though). The 10-inchers are my > > favorites because they are common (made from about 1933 to about 1970) > > and parts are really cheap. > > > > Search on eBay for 'atlas lathe' and you are sure to come up with lots > > of machines. Look at completed auctions to check the going rates (or > > ask me!) before bidding. > > > > Just more food for thought... > > > > Regards, > > -Jon > > >
