[TheForge] grizzly high precision tool room metal lathe

[Andrew Vida]

You don't mention what sorts of jobs you have in mind - how large and 
how precise.  If you need high precision, you want a Hardinge HLV or a 
Schaublin 102 for smaller parts.  These are far and away superior to any 
lathe LeBlond ever produced, but they are both smaller.  An HLV runs 
somewhere around 13 x 24 - been a long time so I'd have to look it up. 
The Schaublin is 13 x 12.

Used machine tools can be checked with indicators to determine if they 
are in decent shape.  Grizzly is probably made in China.  I would not 
take a Chinese lathe if they gave it to me.  That is just my personal 
position on such products - YMMV.  I have used Jets and other Chinese 
made lathes - not very impressive, but my standards are very high where 
such machinery is concerned.  I'd prefer a LeBlond in good condition to 
anything coming out of China - 10 to 1.  If your machinists are willing 
to put indicators on used machinery to check them out correctly, why not 
let them?

terry l. ridder wrote:
> hello;
> 
> 
> i need a lathe to maintain the remotely operated vehicles (rovs) and i
> am looking at the grizzly  13" x 40" high precision toolroom lathe.
> g9731, 3 hp, 220 v, 3-phase.
> 
> would anyone in the list have experience with grizzly metal lathes?
> 
> the two machinist would like to search for a use leblond or two. given
> the investment in the rovs i would rather have a known precision lathe
> rather than an unknown lathe. so should i be listening to the two
> machinists and allow them the time and money to search for a used
> leblond or two?