Clausing 12x36

[rhncue]

Hmmmm. That is interesting. So do you think I am faced with anything serious here? Also, if you have any good tips on transport and move in, I would be your humble servant for a day.

Both of these lathes are very well made and top of the line. Chances are a little oil leakage is nothing to worry about but if I was you it would give me cause to get a machinist or someone with knowledge to check it out for severe wear on the rails in the chuck area. That is wear usually occurs. If it was a cheaper Chinese lathe it wouldn't be of any significant worry as they aren't built to such high standards. It sounds to me, as long as neither are worn out, that you are getting a great buy in either case. The Cincinnati is overkill for a cue lathe but it still is a great lathe. I'm lathed up and have no use for another but up until about 5 years ago I would of bought both of these in a heart beat.

Dick

 

[SK Custom Cues]

Both of these lathes are very well made and top of the line. Chances are a little oil leakage is nothing to worry about but if I was you it would give me cause to get a machinist or someone with knowledge to check it out for severe wear on the rails in the chuck area. That is wear usually occurs. If it was a cheaper Chinese lathe it wouldn't be of any significant worry as they aren't built to such high standards. It sounds to me, as long as neither are worn out, that you are getting a great buy in either case. The Cincinnati is overkill for a cue lathe but it still is a great lathe. I'm lathed up and have no use for another but up until about 5 years ago I would of bought both of these in a heart beat.

Dick

Really? So, you're familiar with the Cincinnati? Do you know, how dependable that lathe is, and if it were to break down, would I still be able to get parts for it?

I don't know if I have the opportunity to still buy it. I look at it and it is such a beast of a machine. That Clausing is so much more of an exact fit. If I had enough cash, I would probably buy both, and set them up for different tasks. Since funds are tight, the Clausing is my first choice, that is, if everything checks out.

 

[macguy]

Really? So, you're familiar with the Cincinnati? Do you know, how dependable that lathe is, and if it were to break down, would I still be able to get parts for it?

I don't know if I have the opportunity to still buy it. I look at it and it is such a beast of a machine. That Clausing is so much more of an exact fit. If I had enough cash, I would probably buy both, and set them up for different tasks. Since funds are tight, the Clausing is my first choice, that is, if everything checks out.

Without knowing any of the specifics of the lathe you are looking at here are some of my thoughts from my experience. I have 6 lathes set up. Except for a wood lathe, they are all metal lathes one from the 1940's. Every one needed work before it could be put into operation. I just set up one I bought over a year ago. I had to take much of it apart if for no other reason to get it back into dependable shape. Here is the deal. Lathes like that for the most part come from machine shops. They get used every day for hours for years. It is almost a given they probably have problems, maybe even serious problems requiring expensive repair. You really need to know what you are looking at and pay accordingly.

Also, a lathe someone else may consider a good buy, because they will set it aside and spend time, maybe months, restoring it before using it. May not be a good buy to the guy who wants to set it up and get right to work. Not everyone is interested in having to rebuild it before it can be used. Sometimes it is a better idea to get a pretty new lathe, especially if you know it's history. Many guys hold their noses at the Chinese stuff but you have to take a reality check. Working on cues is not really that demanding on the machine. The most light duty lathe can be used for cues. Look at some of the cue building lathes that are sold. They are almost toy like compared to an engine lathe, but they do the job and that is all that counts. Who the buyer is determines if it is a good buy or not. A good buy on a car to a guy who is a car mechanic, may not be a good buy to a guy who can't even change his own oil, and has not interest in doing so.

Just some thoughts.

 

[MVPCues]

Without knowing any of the specifics of the lathe you are looking at here are some of my thoughts from my experience. I have 6 lathes set up. Except for a wood lathe, they are all metal lathes one from the 1940's. Every one needed work before it could be put into operation. I just set up one I bought over a year ago. I had to take much of it apart if for no other reason to get it back into dependable shape. Here is the deal. Lathes like that for the most part come from machine shops. They get used every day for hours for years. It is almost a given they probably have problems, maybe even serious problems requiring expensive repair. You really need to know what you are looking at and pay accordingly.

Also, a lathe someone else may consider a good buy, because they will set it aside and spend time, maybe months, restoring it before using it. May not be a good buy to the guy who wants to set it up and get right to work. Not everyone is interested in having to rebuild it before it can be used. Sometimes it is a better idea to get a pretty new lathe, especially if you know it's history. Many guys hold their noses at the Chinese stuff but you have to take a reality check. Working on cues is not really that demanding on the machine. The most light duty lathe can be used for cues. Look at some of the cue building lathes that are sold. They are almost toy like compared to an engine lathe, but they do the job and that is all that counts. Who the buyer is determines if it is a good buy or not. A good buy on a car to a guy who is a car mechanic, may not be a good buy to a guy who can't even change his own oil, and has not interest in doing so.

Just some thoughts.

I agree. I was (still am perhaps) one of those guys who decided buying a new lathe was in my best interest. I selected a Jet, in part at least because of the 2 year on site warranty. When it came in, I did not know how to turn it on, but I learned on it. I have a good cuemaking friend who helped me with long distance support, but in the end it was me standing at the lathe having to learn how to use it (and how to NOT use it). I had some electrical issues with it, so the on site warranty was a huge bonus, and every time the repair guy was over I was able to pick his brain a little. Buying a big metal lathe can be intimidating, especially for someone with zero background in that type of machinery, but if buying a new one at least you have the peace of mind knowing anything wrong with the lathe will be from your hand, you will learn from it, and there won't be (hopefully) any hidden surprises or problems.

Kelly

 

[Paul Dayton]

Everything else aside, you will come to regret a 36" bed length. With a chuck and live center you will lose 7 or more inches. Almost everybody is using a 40" bed.

 

[DaveK]

I let the cincinnati go for the moment to consider the clausing. I much rather have the Clausing over the Cincinnati.

I think that is wise for several reasons.

He said, that there is something like a keyway that needs replacing to get to the lower speeds and there is a leak somewhere and he didn't know where it was coming from. He said all you gotta do is just replace the fluid. I didn't know you had to keep fluids in a lathe?!??

My 1963 Ta Shing 10x24 lathe leaks oil :shrug: I have to top off both headstock bearing resevoirs montly or so. It also means I have to wipe down the lathe a little mope often, which is possibly a benefit to a slob like myself. I have also not had any issues with rust :grin:

Good luck.

Dave

 

[Pancerny]

Clausing Lathe

I have a similar lathe but the thru hole on mine is only 1", which makes it pretty useless for manu cue operations. It does make a great tapering lathe for butts, shafts, prongs and handles, router and a taper bar can be attached with a bit of ingenuity.

 

[bdcues]

The 36" Clausing can be a bit short depending on your setups. I have a 36" that I only use for spraying. Also have a 48" Clausing which is good for anything cuewise and if you have a special project come up gives you some more length also.
I would agree that the import lathes are plenty good for cue making. The new Grizzly or Jet repeat very well and will last for years of light duty work.

Bob Danielson
www.bdcuesandcomix.com

 

[rhncue]

The 36" Clausing can be a bit short depending on your setups. I have a 36" that I only use for spraying. Also have a 48" Clausing which is good for anything cuewise and if you have a special project come up gives you some more length also.
I would agree that the import lathes are plenty good for cue making. The new Grizzly or Jet repeat very well and will last for years of light duty work.

Bob Danielson
www.bdcuesandcomix.com

I am a full time cue maker/mechanic and have many lathes. I only have one larger lathe that I bought new and that is an Enco 13X36 that I bought in 1992. I had a lot of trouble with it for the first few months but the company stood behind it furnishing me with all new parts for free even though all of the problems that occurred was because of my not cleaning the cosmoline off of the machine good enough before putting the lathe to use. Since then I haven't put .50 cents into that machine as far as repairs and it has run for 1000s of hours. I still have some of the 1st quart of oil I bought for topping off the reservoirs. You'll never hear of me knocking the quality and durability of a Chinese lathe. I also have a 12X40 Jet that I bought used out of a machine shop that I have installed a J-2 collet system and have never put a cent into it.

American made equipment were made to high quality standards. Much better than Chinese but when purchasing you must take a few precautions to insure the lathe has no problems as parts are getting expensive and harder to come by. Of coarse if you have a lathe and a mill you can make many of the needed parts.

Dick

 

[SK Custom Cues]

Today's visit

I went to see the lathe today. He had to start it up like an old lawnmower with a string wrapped around the motor. There are a couple of things wrong with it, but nothing that is going to stop me from buying it.

The ways look perfect, everything to the right of the chuck looked good. The keyway to the slow gear in the top and towards the back spins freely and needs replacing, but the faster speeds work without engaging that gear. There is a crack on the metal underneath the chuck in a place where the forks seemed to make contact when moving it, but it appears to be only cosmetic. I will have to keep fluid in it, but aside from that, everything appears to be in great shape.

It was owned by a machinist and he apparently took very good care of it. He even painted it. The fella who owns it now drove 4 hrs from Tulsa to Dallas to get it. He claims he knew nothing about lathes until he bought this 8-9 months ago. He did some reading and read the manual and now he appears to have a good deal of knowledge. He told me he is selling because he doesn't really need something this big. He said he wanted a 9x20 and a mill and wanted to spread his money out between those two machines. I offered him my 7x12 and $800 (I bought it for $550 early this year) and he countered that with my 7x12 and $900. I agreed to it. I am supposed to pick it up tomorrow.

My best friend is an electrician, so wiring it won't be a problem. My building doesn't have three phase, so I suppose it is time for a converter. When the dude started this puppy up, it hummed like a fine sports car. Very quiet, and very stable sounding. I was very, very impressed with the way everything felt. The cross slide, the compound, tail stock, and all the knobs worked with precision. I could tell that the chuck would need replacing. That thing looked like it was old. He had a metal shaft chucked up between centers and it looked a bit wobbly. I don't know if that was the shaft or because of something else.

I felt a strong connection with this machine the minute I came into it's presence. It's as if we were old friends. I know that sounds a bit tacky, but that's how I feel. I welcome everyone's comments, last minute warnings, or advice on what to do next........ Thanks, Sung

 

[SK Custom Cues]

Clausing Pictures

Pictures of the lathe. I am supposed to go pick it up tonight. It is raining a bit, but I have a tarp. I am pretty dang excited....:dance:

You can see where there is a corner of the iron cracked. He said it was where the forks touched. I honestly don't know if that is a big deal or not. It doesn't appear to be.......

 

[97Buick22]

Nice lathe.... You will be very happy with that. I'm going this AM to pick up my Clausing as well. I also went with the 12 X 36 and found a deal I could not refuse. I will post some pics of mine later.

 

[SK Custom Cues]

Well, just to let everyone who is wondering know, I am now a proud owner of a 12x36 Clausing. It is a 5911 model which just the owner tells me is the first and most rare model made. The manual I have is for a 5914 and it is the closest thing available.

The chuck's runout is disgustingly bad. I am going to get a 6 jaw bison and zero this bad boy out after I level it and bolt it down.

This thing is three phase and my brother, who is an electrician wired it directly into the circuit breaker for now......

It's probably going to be a while before I can really have a feel for this thing. I am going to have someone make me some taper bars and hopefully get someone (Darrin Hill) to make me a router mount for my ridgid laminate trimmer. First things first though, I gotta get this thing leveled out and zeroed in........... I'm so happy...... Thanks everyone for the tips and the help. I can't explain how much easier it is with a whole forum of knowledgeable people who've been down the same road to call upon when you need it......

 

[Mr Hoppe]

Pete Tonkin makes some nice router mounts and fixtures. Here is just one example.
Mr H