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Reasonable price for a Myford Lathe

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Intensemonerider

Member
What is a reasonable price for a Myford 7 or a 10? I don’t want to pay for nostalgia. If they are like classic cars with value captured in legacy/pedigree I will just purchase a brand new Asian lathe. What would the advantages be to an Myford over a brand new Craftex 10x22? Any recommendations on where to purchase one?
 
The only advantage I see is that there is a huge user base for Myfords. You will pay a premium for one.
@Tom Kitta thoughts?
 
Intensemonerider said:
What is a reasonable price for a Myford 7 or a 10? I don’t want to pay for nostalgia. If they are like classic cars with value captured in legacy/pedigree I will just purchase a brand new Asian lathe. What would the advantages be to an Myford over a brand new Craftex 10x22? Any recommendations on where to purchase one?
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You are asking a tough question. Those with MFords will say they love them. Those with a Craftex will say they love them too. I think its a blonde vs redhead thing. There is a machine out there for everyone - even the big ugly guys like me.

Both will do great work in the hands of someone who loves them. It's not if, it's just how.

I have a relatively new generic gear head lathe. I love it. But it's hard to get specific advice on tough problems because I am alone in the forest. I find that those myFord guys (and guys with other older makes) all stick together and are comfy giving each other advice and help. That kind of nostalgia is worth a whole lot of newness.

I know that's prolly not the answer you were looking for, but it's the advice I have to give.

If I were you, I'd focus less on red vs blue and more on what you want to do with it. Then look at the many ways to do that, and then go with your heart. You really can't lose because almost any lathe in good shape is 1000x better than no lathe.
 
In addition to the many users who will be able to offer advice, there are hundreds of books, magazine articles and websites detailing the construction of accessories to do almost anything within a Myford's capacity.

Depending on your location, a Myford in good shape with a few accessories is apt to be about the same price as a new Craftex CX706 or similar.

Before you ask, I've had a Myford S7b for over 20 years.
 
Another big factor is the confidence that parts are available and will continue to be available for the foreseeable future, probably back to S/N 00001. I don’t think you can say that for any of the economy Asian machines in that size class.

I see that plus the other factors mentioned like the large user base and fit & finish as the big distinguishers between a Myford and a new generic Asian machine. I’m not knocking all Asian machines, they can be very good, like my First mill but it’s a professional machine, not the same niche as the smaller lathes.

As a lathe it’s a good machine that comes with high quality components like Burnerd chucks and Dickson QCTP and well made parts. It’s also a bit quirky with Whitworth fasteners but it is a “timeless” British design.

You may have read up on all of the OEM & aftermarket accessories you can get for the Myfords but if not there are plenty, from collets to a vertical slide + vise for basic milling.

For my perspective, I have lived with my (time capsule score) 1988 S7 for about 7 years and my biggest complaint is that it’d be nice if it were bigger but that can be a different machine.

If you’re shopping for a Myford, look for a recent S7 with a QC gearbox and power cross feed then put a DRO on it!

Good luck!

D :cool:
 
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As a former ML7 owner, I would not recommend. The small motor, laughably small through bore spindle (~5/8”), and max RPM of 1250 makes it pretty slow to do work with and sometimes challenging to get a good finish.

The ML7R or the super 7 atleast have a slightly bigger motor and a max RPM of 2500, so you’ll atleast be able to get a better finish more easily on the small parts the lathe is designed for. If you can get one of those for a deal and it’s not clapped out, then I’d say go for it.
 
Owned an ML7, still own a Super7(had both in the shop at the same time), and figure it (the S7) will not get sent down the road, until I have a well equipped Schaublin 135 or 150 to replace it. I 'may' trade up to a 'better' S7!

Honestly, the lack of bore diameter has not bothered me, as much as the confidence in supply sources has given me comfort! Just SO much literature out there, based upon the Myford lathes!

Shop hard! A well worn out Myford is still in better shape than a pre-worn-out cheap end Chinese lathe brand new! But you also have to recognize when you ar elooking at a TOO worn out, good brand name machine!
The last Myford I saw selling for new prices, was asking $25 thousand dollars Canadian. Stupid money!

Shop based upon condition (if it looks good it likely is!, watch for original paint, and pay attention to the bed condition) and what comes with it, as accessories build up the cost in a hurry!
 
This invokes the age old home shop machining debate.....here's my view, worth what it cost ya.....

A S7 passed through my hands at one point. The fit and finish of the low cost Asian machines is imo not remotely comparable. I'm doubtful the new Myfords are in the same league; afaik Myford went belly up and the name was acquired by a distributor. I believe the parts (not sure about assembly) are made offshore and that it is largely selling nostalgia as you say (kind of like the Southbend saga) It is certainly not the Myford that was.

As one who has reconditioned machines, I know how challenging it is (and expensive) to achieve the level of precision in the geometry and fit between mating parts that makes for a great machine. I would say I probably didn't fully appreciate it until i learned to measure and replicate it. That's why the higher class hobby machines like Myford and Emco went away, no one wanted to pay the price that it took to achieve it. That doesn't mean there wasn't value there......and you can get the same if you get one in good shape. Being hobby lathes, many are very lightly used and loveing kept clean and oiled to point there is minimal wear

For a really well equipped super 7 in good shape, I'd go up to around $5M. Hopefully less, depends where you are. Seems like a lot of money to cheap old me, but when I look at what is suppose to be the low cost stuff goes for......

Unless it needs to go down the basement stairs, for bang for the buck and a better lathe than either choice, I'd be looking for a Standard Modern in great shape loaded with accessories. They are a step up, very well made, more solid, more power and there are lots out there.
 
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I'm glad that @mygyver raised Emco as the Maximat V10 or V10P is very highly rated. I have seen two for sale in the last few months, the last was a V10-P with the milling head for $3000 which was a fair price.

A person has to look hard at the type of work they want to do and figure out which machine has the work envelope and most mass for the dollar.

I went through this recently and came very close to laying down cash for a 10x22 from direct from Weiss. I lucked out and found a 12x36 Clausing 100 MK3 local to me. I did buy a VM32 mill (same machine as a Craftex CX601 except narrower table) from Weiss and have been impressed by it. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a lathe from them should my needs change.
 
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Which ML7 are we talking here about? I assume in Canada? Say in Calgary area?

Depending on which ML7 we are talking here about the price for lightly used one will go between around 1500 to well over 5000.

Also depending on which ML7 you pick their utility vs. Craftex 10x22 will vary.

Generally ML7 lathes are not some kind of a ferrari old iron. They are model maker machine - light weight.

I think Super7 is better in many respects to Craftex 10x22 (also say used a bit) but not by a factor of over 2.

I honestly think that ML lathes are mostly had as pride of ownership and having something cool to work with - not just another Asian crap. Yes, quality of ML7 is better, but its not spectacular. It is nowhere close to say my Chipmaster.

As to basic work that can be done with both I would assume a skilled machinist would do good work with both at about same rate.

To summarize, if you get lucky and get Super7 for a price of Craftex 10x22 go for it - but I would not pay full market price for Super7 if I actually am mostly interested in actual lathe work.

Oh, I forgot to add - resale value of ML will only go up - Asian stuff will go up as well, but not as high. So you may buy Super7 as an "stable investment". Yes, its over priced but you can play with it for few years and sell for more - if you buy new craftex you may only break even after few years.
 
Worth knowing the family lineage of the ML/Super7 series lathes, too.

Early on, the ML7 was a plain bearing lathe with a lighter, slower RPM rated spindle than the Super7. The later ML7R machines, used the same headstock as the Super7, with slightly cheaper to make cross slide and compounds.
In their later years they also made a Super7 Plus (IIRC) which had a larger bore, and larger spindle thread (missing, it has been noted, a very obvious opportunity to install a quick change chuck mount) and several other minor improvements, at the top end of the range.

Throughout the period from post WW2 until Myford died off some years ago, they were pretty close to the ultimate hobby machine, and a HUGE step up from most of what else was available, as well as being capable enough to get pretty well established in light industrial usages too. Ultimately, they priced themselves out of their own market. For the price of a new Myford, at the end, you could buy some really good, and honestly Industrial equipment, if you have the space and capacity to move it around, stuff like a Hardinge HLVH, or a Monarch 10EE, or similar. No matter how you squint, a Myford is not equal to the likes of those, for the same money!
 
Tecnico said:
If you’re shopping for a Myford, look for a recent S7 with a QC gearbox and power cross feed then put a DRO on it!
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I wouldn't be too fussy about it being a recent machine. All Myford S7 (not ML7) are virtually identical other than the paint colour (old ones grey, recent ones green). What really matters is that it has been well cared for. The QC gearbox is a definite plus and I love my power crossfeed. If you're lucky you can find one with 4-jaw and 3-jaw chucks and maybe a faceplate. The 0xA QCTP sold by Accusize works well and may be more cost effective than purchasing addition Dickson tool holders.
 
trevj said:
if you have the space and capacity to move it around, stuff like a Hardinge HLVH, or a Monarch 10EE, or similar. No matter how you squint, a Myford is not equal to the likes of those, for the same money!
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Perhaps I'm not reading the right adverts but I've never seen a usable HLV for anything close to the price of a Myford in great nick. I'll happily trade my very nice condition S7b for a good HLV...
 
kstrauss said:
I wouldn't be too fussy about it being a recent machine. All Myford S7 (not ML7) are virtually identical other than the paint colour (old ones grey, recent ones green). What really matters is that it has been well cared for. The QC gearbox is a definite plus and I love my power crossfeed. If you're lucky you can find one with 4-jaw and 3-jaw chucks and maybe a faceplate. The 0xA QCTP sold by Accusize works well and may be more cost effective than purchasing addition Dickson tool holders.
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QCGB adds at least 1500 CAD to the price if not more.

I would not cheap out on Accusize or other China stuff - if you are paying super premium for a lathe you can afford a proper stuff. For small lathe Aloris works well (original).
 
kstrauss said:
Perhaps I'm not reading the right adverts but I've never seen a usable HLV for anything close to the price of a Myford in great nick. I'll happily trade my very nice condition S7b for a good HLV...
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Depends on how good condition is your S7b and how good condition is HLV.

Generally yes, HLV will cost touch more. So tooled up S7b is roughly not tooled up HLV.

I know, difference is astronomical but this is why MyFord is seen as over priced.

A not so good condition HLV can be easily traded for S7b.
 
kstrauss said:
Perhaps I'm not reading the right adverts but I've never seen a usable HLV for anything close to the price of a Myford in great nick. I'll happily trade my very nice condition S7b for a good HLV...
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In the same year Myford cratered, a dealer in Vancouver had listed a New Super7 with no accessories, for right around $23,000 CDN.
Conversely, at about the same time frame, you could buy a well equipped Hardinge clone from Cyclematic (a well thought of outfit) for $18K.

THAT is where the comparisons get hairy! At half that, which they were maybe ten years earlier, they still amounted to a poor buy, as comparatively to buying a new Myford, you could buy a decent used Hardinge for that.

I like mine, but there is pretty much no scenario I could imagine, where I thought a Myford was going to be a $10K lathe, let along over double that! In their last few years the price asked for new ones went up exponentially, and the value did not.

The blessing of all the Cheap import machines being around, is that it has in part, dragged the prices of some pretty good gear, down to the point where you can do so much better accepting a used, but well cared for machine, than you can do buying new, provided you have some comfort level with the risks involved.

A friend of mine showed me the receipt for his new-bought, circa 1983-ish, Myford Tri-Leva (an ML7, with a three lever speed control assembly mounted) that he had paid less than $3000 for direct from the factory with tooling. Not an insubstantial sum, but affordable at the time. At some point, they lost their track and stopped providing value for money.
 
kstrauss said:
You should be able to get a good condition Myford S7 with a few accessories for somewhat less than a new BusyBee 10x22. See https://www.kijiji.ca/v-power-tool/kingston-on/myford-super-7-metal-lathe/1665199659 for a currently active advert. I have no particular knowledge of this lathe; it popped up on Kijiji.
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Yeah, that is one of my main reference points, when shopping. If I can buy a used, quality built machine, for less or at least near, the price of an Import machine sells for new, I will take the quality machine every time.

I would rather accept some wear on a machine that was originally built UP to a quality level, than go after a new machine that was built DOWN to a price point.

Given the usage levels of a Myford lathe, it generally figures, that a lathe that is forty or more years old, likely has not very many hours of actual use on it, and if the original owner remembers what they actually paid for it at that time, like as not, it was nowhere near what prices were being asked new at the end of their run.

For me personally, I would seriously consider paying up to maybe $4000-$5000 for a really nice, more up to date Super7 in really nice shape to get the power cross feed, maybe a long bed, etc. It would have to look VERY nice, to get my interest, at that level though.

Condition, tooling, accessories, transport arrangements, and a bunch of other factors do need to be considered, but I have seen a lot of listings for better machines than I have in my basement, at far lower prices than the $4K above.

From my perspective, at $2K that Myford in the link is a no-brainer to buy. Has 3 and 4 jaw chucks, I see both a 4 way (which I am not fond of) and the factory top clamp tool holders, face plate, a Myford as well as another milling slide, a couple related vises, some unrelated stuff like the pipe vise, and some other vises that are maybe of use, plus it looks to have the Myford Tool Rest for wood turning use as well. And a factory metal stand. Plus a bunch of other stuff that may or may not be of use, but comes with.

I don't see the lack of a gearbox as a terrible issue, they are nice to have, but for most uses, changing gears is pretty quick and effective.
 
trevj said:
A friend of mine showed me the receipt for his new-bought, circa 1983-ish, Myford Tri-Leva (an ML7, with a three lever speed control assembly mounted) that he had paid less than $3000 for direct from the factory with tooling.
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Yeah, but a Toyota Tercel was $4995. You get get a little Susuki for 3200. US, but the dollar was close to par. Whats the cheapest car now? I remember in the past the Myfords being the better part of a mid level car. Not out of range for the average guy, but he had scrimp and save for awhile and getting it was a big deal. They weren't overpriced, just build to decent standard, not Schaublin or Hardinge, but a decent standard.
 
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