Edward Fagnant
Junior Member
Offline
WR Rocks!
Posts: 35
In transition Rhode Island USA
Gender:
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I LOVE yard sales! During the course of the season, I find myself driving through middle class areas of the state into the completely differant realm of reality of the super wealthy coastal communities. I am usually fishing under the cover of darkness, and am on my way home as most folks are setting up their sales. On the particular day I found this lathe I had actually stopped in because I saw fishing rods leaning against the house. I have, in the past, picked up tackle that "used to belong to Grand Dad" for a song as most folks have no idea that Grandpa's "old Junk" is actually highly sought after collector items. The rods were nothing to get excited about and I was leaving the driveway headed for the truck when I almost tripped over the lathe. There were 3 boxes next to it that contained the tools, accessories, and some turning stock,that I did not know the contents of, as they were closed at the time. I inquired about the lathe, and the woman told me that it had belonged to her Brother and he dropped it off telling her to get as close to $75 as she could. We plugged it in, and having been told that the motor was blown, I wanted to see if it wasnt some other issue. I flipped the switch and could hear the fan kick on, and the motor hum as it turned very slowly. I turned the speed dial and could tell that it was spinning freely. I called my wife, had her go on line and checked the cost of the dial. Under $10.00. I asked again what she would take for the lathe. he repeated $75. i couldn't even think about trying to under cut that price and feel good about myself. I backed the truck up and was loading the lathe into the back when she brought the boxes over. I asked what was in them? She said she didnt know but her brother told her hat they go with the machine. The first lage box I opened has the turning knives, and the Sorbey's stood out like a sore thumb. 4 of them were unused bowl tools still in the plastic sleeves. When I got home, I took my Harbor Freight off the bench, and put the Craftsman there. I removed the plate, took the dial out hot wired the lathe and plugged it in. BINGO! straight to max speed. I went upstairs, went online and ordered the new dial. Went back down stairs, took the foot control from my hanging flex shaft carver and plugged the lathe into it. Used the foot control to run the lathe until the replacement prt came in and going on 7 years later, still turning strong. As a side note I recently saw the same exact lathe on that popular classifieds web site for $450.00 with half the tools I got with mine along with a grinding machine . Sooooooooooo, I wouldnt say I stole it, I would say I was given a very generous gift by the ignorance of strangers. smiley=thumbsup.gif
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