Help me buy a lathe

AZLarry said:
Another vote for the Hardinge tool room lathe. We have a few at my work and they are the best of all the rest. Top of the line. Slowest spindle speed is about 70rpm.
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Amen. With a little practice though a guy can crank that up to close to what a CNC runs at. I devoted a couple Saturday's once to fiddling with steel round stock and got to where I could comfortably cut threads at 1300rpm.

The greatest advantage to this machine is the extreme rigidity of it. It's a solid bed, the tail stock is all one casting, and everything has very broad, high surface contact bedways. Next would be its total versatility in the shop. Screws, pins, estucheons, etc. Put an Aloris quick change post on the compound and you can just rip! Changing from chuck to 5C collets is done in about five minutes.

Awesome machines.
 
I have been shopping and the market here is flooded for sure. I really want a Hardinge but having only $6500 to $7000 to spend might be a problem.

Am I better off purchasing a new lathe?

I am going to buy a mill also +/- $3500, but it will be used for sure.
 
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