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6" Atlas Lathe Model#10100

N

nbwha

Dan
I can't post the link because I'm still new here but there is a 6" Atlas lathe over in Lethbridge going for $200.

I did not think I would be getting a lathe before graduating but for the price and proximity, I sent the seller a message. Still waiting for a response but wish me luck.

If I do end up seeing it, any advise on what to do?

Thanks
 
I saw the ad, I think for $200 that is a good buy as long as everything is complete and working. Now of course you not getting a South Bend heavy 10 but for $200 you can learn and have fun for cheap. It appears to come with a milling vise attachment and that alone can be worth the asking price.
 
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I had a 618 and should have kept it. It was a good little machine to learn on, wide speed range and with the gears threaded well.
 
I agree with everything said - if it turns and is not beat to death I would grab it. Excellent starter lathe, and you can always pass it on for at least what you paid for it when you want to upgrade - or at that price keep it set up for a particular usage!
 
Are you familiar with lathes?

A few things to look for,
- see if any teeth are missing from the gears, some times the bull gear is missing teeth
- if you can run it, engage the half nuts to see the saddle moves.
- play in the spindle, headstock bearings can be replaced if needed.
- move all the handles to see if things move smoothly without to much play.

For the money claim it as an education expense.
 
I've been reading into lathes and watching videos but I am very much a novice. The first and last time I had touched a lathe was in Jr. High.

Thanks for the the tips on what to look for! In the meantime I will read/watch more about lathes and how they operate.
 
nbwha said:
The first and last time I had touched a lathe was in Jr. High
Click to expand...
I think that can be applied to many of us. I wish I had made the move to buy one much sooner, I envy you in that regard. South Bend put out a how to run a lathe book that can be applied to any lathe and is a great starting resource. A decent little bench grinder is going to be a necessity for grinding new bitd and sharpening old ones, so if you don't have one, now is a great time to start looking.
 
The pic in the ad doesn't show well, here is a better pic of what the handles on the apron should look like.

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Edit - BTW this machine is for sale in Prince George for $1,200
 
Last edited:
140mower said:
South Bend put out a how to run a lathe book that can be applied to any lathe and is a great starting resource.
Click to expand...
I found a pdf of "How to run a lathe" by South Bend on vintagemachinery.org. I'll be sure to give it a thorough read. Thank you!

YotaBota said:
The pic in the ad doesn't show well, here is a better pic of what the handles on the apron should look like.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the picture and pointers on how to inspect a lathe. I'm going to read the South Bend book and watch some more videos so I can develop a solid understanding of what I am inspecting.

When it comes to play in the handles and spindle, would I need to use a dial indicator or could I do I just watch if there is any lag when putting in input?

Thank you again for the help!
 
nbwha said:
When it comes to play in the handles and spindle, would I need to use a dial indicator or could I do I just watch if there is any lag when putting in input?
Click to expand...

Play in the spindle requires an indicator.

Backlash on the handles can be seen on the handle dials. But the backlash on most lathe handles can be adjusted, and quite often so can the spindle play.

Personally, I'd just look to see if the machine is clapped out or abused. Even if not, some repair might be necessary.
 
Upside of an Atlas 618:
Easy to use
cheap
hasn't got enough oomph to get you into too much trouble
lots of support on the web, many people learned how to run a lathe on one of these
small enough to fit in a spare bedroom or garden shed and easy to move
retain their value

Downside
MT1 tailstock
Zamak gears - when originally sold this was a good idea to have gears that break before something more critical, but now they're hard to find. In particular, the back gearing tends to get trashed easily.
 
whydontu said:
Upside of an Atlas 618:
Easy to use
cheap
hasn't got enough oomph to get you into too much trouble
lots of support on the web, many people learned how to run a lathe on one of these
small enough to fit in a spare bedroom or garden shed and easy to move
retain their value

Downside
MT1 tailstock
Zamak gears - when originally sold this was a good idea to have gears that break before something more critical, but now they're hard to find. In particular, the back gearing tends to get trashed easily.
Click to expand...
It is easy to 3D print more gears. Way cheaper than buying used ones. Mr. Pete tried them out on his and was happy with the results.
 
Tomc938 said:
It is easy to 3D print more gears. Way cheaper than buying used ones. Mr. Pete tried them out on his and was happy with the results.
Click to expand...

Ooh, that's interesting. I wonder how they hold up compared to zamak.

Thats a project I'll throw on the list. Is there a write up about the 3d printed gears?
 
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