Rexvalter VF-118 lathe (was: old Myford Ml7)

[DennisCA]

I didn't really have plans to buy a lathe now... but I've been looking around and learning about lathes and the renovation thereof. Anyway stumbled on this on a local site, 699 is the buy it now price but a lower offer could be made.

It's a finnish site but the pictures are the important thing:
http://www.huuto.net/kohteet/myford--metallisorvi--jalusta-1950-luku/441626238

Is this worth bothering with at all do you think? It's a few hundred km away from me so it'd be a long drive... Seems several gears are missing too.

 

[brightspark]

its over priced gears missing guards missing and no 4 jaw chuck and had a bit of a hard life. 400 max and that's being generous that's just my opinion though others may say different

 

[DennisCA]

I agree it's overpriced, but it does seem to have guards, just they are removed in some photos.

 

[gaz1]

its a bit high priced and its been near wood as sawdust is on it sawdust a swine to clean up

gears are in top right some are missing

800-1000 for everything is the going price that only worth 500 or less on condition if going near meatl oil and sawdust dont mix

 

[DennisCA]

Thanks for the feedback, think I will pass on this, no need to drag home something I don't have time for anyway.

 

[brightspark]

its a bit high priced and its been near wood as sawdust is on it sawdust a swine to clean up

gears are in top right some are missing

800-1000 for everything is the going price that only worth 500 or less on condition if going near meatl oil and sawdust dont mix

rather have sawdust on lathe rather than cutting cast iron on one

 

[Rannsachair]

That's about what I paid for my ML7, which I think is in much better condition and came with lots of accessories, I even sold some that I would never use (woodworking) knocking almost £100 off what I paid. As said above too much for the condition.

Much as I love my ML7 you can get bigger and better for less money. The Myford is easy to get parts and accessories for but limited capacity depending on what you want it for.

To give you an idea of condition and accessories:

You could spend a fortune on accessories if they do not come with the lathe:chuck's centres, face plates, milling attachment, boring bar, steadies.....mine came from a retired model maker who had looked after it well and all the extra's made it a good buy, just take your time and the right lathe will turn up, I was not even looking for one, when I saw this come up

 

[RichardM]

Thanks for the feedback, think I will pass on this, no need to drag home something I don't have time for anyway.

Wise move, do you have a local model engineering club, ask there if anyone knows of one for sale.

 

[DennisCA]

I don't know of any such clubs. Don't think there are any to be honest. I'm in a pretty sparsely populated part of Finland so I'm mostly relegated to looking on the various 2nd hand sites, auctions if any pop up. Or personal tips from people I know.

The scrap yeard nearby would be good if I could visit every day as they seem to receive old machines fairly regularly (and crush them, though I know of several that have been saved), unfortunately my work hours and theirs never mix so I managed a few visits a year to go through the scrap heaps.


My long term plan is to build a small uninsulated shed on my yard, 5x5 meters, to store various things in, as well as lumber for woodworking. Then I can empty out a storage room in my workshop, which would free up around 10 square meters that I could put machines of the metal working persuasion. If not any machine would have to share with woodworking machines, which I would like to avoid.

 

[DennisCA]

Been scanning the used sites, despite telling myself now is not the proper time... Why do I do it? That old myford is still out there, nobody's buying, guess they all know it's way overpriced. I wonder if it'd be worth it if I could get it for say 200€.

I might have access to the storage room soon without having to build a whole new shed when we're transforming a small room in our house to a storage that should be able to take almost everything we keep there now. Would be nice, then I could have an area for metal tools and other not-woodworking stuff.

 

[Rig Pig]

If the price is ok then any lathe is better than no lathe!

 

[brightspark]

probably worth 2oo because the cabinet is with it and u could soon scrap it and sell all the parts for more than that if u needed to or just clean it up and use as is

 

[DennisCA]

That old lathe never got sold, seller relisted and never accepted any offers he got (up to 400€, more than I was willing to pay). Here's another guy trying to sell an ML7:
https://www.nettikone.com/muu-merkki/myford-sorvi/1651909

Based on what I have learned though I don't think I want an ML7 lathe, a super 7 or bust, or something else entirely. I am just posting this so you can see what I got to deal with in terms of price levels. People here in general seem to overvalue their stuff, never found any deals like I keep reading about on this forum... But even with the condition and it having a VFD and 3phase motor I think this is severely overvalued even by finnish standards...

 

[MattF]

Plenty of people ask silly money for stuff over here too. The occasional bargains are merely found through the application of patience etc. Certain times of year, people have less spare cash so prices tend to be reasonable, for example. Looking at various sources also helps. Plus, looking at brands of similar or better quality where the name alone doesn't command a premium helps.

I've never spent stupid amounts on any of my equipment, but conversely, it's taken a good few years to build my collection up, and some of my gear has needed a good fettling to get it in usable condition. It's the old: "right place, right time" scenario.

 

[DennisCA]

when it comes to woodworking machinery I have found some good deals, metal lathes though seem to be an exception. I have often contemplated if it would be worth trying abroad.

 

[MattF]

Do you just look for specific brands of lathe, or just for lathes in general? I'm guessing transportation costs would be a killer if you widened your search area.

 

[DennisCA]

Looking now and then for lathes in general on finnish 2nd hand sites to see if any deals show up.

 

[MattF]

It's also worth joining a few forums & mailing-lists dedicated, else covering, your area of interest too. They can sometimes be a good source. My last lathe, for example, came from a chap who had posted on the Drummond list. Reasonable price, good few bits included, and he was a top bloke who threw in some extras. The fact I paid the price he asked without haggling, (I agreed to buy it at the price, so never see the point of haggling once I'm there), possibly helped towards him being so accommodating too. Couldn't have wished to meet a nicer chap, and I came away happy, as did he, I hope.

 

[Henrik]

The thing with Scandinavia and Finland IMO is that there just aren't as many metal working hobbyists, so something myford sized will be rare. It's quite odd, really, as I think e.g car hobbies are much more prevalent over there per capita than in the uk. Also, IMO myford is quite an English brand IMO - if be surprised to run into one in Sweden.

However at least in Sweden there are some old big lathes (ex industry types) around in people's workshops, but no idea what the situation is like at that front in Finland.

Dennis, whereabouts in Finland are you based? I've spent many a summer and winter in the forests around rovaniemi

 

[Richard.]

Myford prices come simply from there convenience.
Every thing you could want for an ml7 is readily available at a tap of a button. Your not gonna be stuck for too long if you break something but this convenience comes with a hefty price tag.
They are also one of few lathes of decent quality that you can go and pick up in a ford mondeo and slap it on a 13amp socket in a 4foot square shed. Yes you can do this with a warco or Clarke but a Myford is a better tool and again this is very convenient and that convenience makes them more appealing and the prices show it. They are certainly not the best or the worst but there high price tag is simply because it's very easy to own a Myford. I have a little ml10,it's a great tool I love it. I got a great deal on it too. £600 I paid but it was as complete as they come. I haven't needed to buy anything for it other than tips and lubes.