[TheForge] Re: Taiwanese Machine Tools - and some Yak

Tue Sep 23 13:16:00 2003

Andrew,  I have to fully agree with you.  I would even go on to say that
maybe the best machine tools are carefully rebuilt used machine tools.
Before retirement I worked with a company in Ohio -- Service Guide, that
never bought a new machine tool.  Just first quality used -- then rebuilt
them in their own shop.  The owner kept 2 full time machinery rebuilders
busy all of the time. (Some of his best folks.)  He was so in to this that
he kept track of all Gray boring mills ever made, same with G & L mills and
Lebond lathes.  When times got tough he would go buying at equipment sales.
Last time I was there in 2000 or so he still had several Gray boring mills
waiting to be rebuilt.

I also say some blacksmith are there too with the rebuild of their
powerhammers -- better than when new.  If you can afford the time -- almost
any quality machine tool can be rebuilt to very high standards.  In fact
some folks rebuilt their Asian tools right out of the box -- best way they
can get a good low cost tool for the money if they can, as I said can afford
the time.

Dave Smucker

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andrew Vida" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2003 11:55 AM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Re: Taiwanese Machine Tools - and some Yak

> On Tue, 23 Sep 2003 07:26:03 -0400, Steve Smith <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > I too have a hard time believing that machines made on the same line
with
> > different labels are significantly different. One difference does show
up
> > once the machine gets here in the company's support. If you dig around
in
> > the internet news archives, it's pretty easy to find excellent support
> > stories after the sale concerning Jet (for instance). Try finding a
> > similar story about Harbor Freight (for another instance).
>
> I cannot speak for smaller tools, but in larger machine tools,
> there actually is a difference.  While the castings are precisely
> the same, the machining, fit, and finish can vary significantly.
> >
> > So there are some differences. I still like used industrial tools over
> > the lighter built new Asian import stuff, but used often means you wait
> > until it shows up.
>
> Not all the Asian stuff is crap, but it is indeed all inferior
> to the older US and European made machinery.  There is nothing
> coming out of Asia that will compare to an old South Bend, far
> less so a Hardinge or Bridgeport, for example.
>
> I do not include Japan in this as Mori Seki and Okuma make some
> of the finest CNC machinery on the planet.
>
> -- 
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