Standard Modern or Sout Bend 10?

[wpala]

So here it is i have opportunity to buy South Band heavy 10 in decent condition or 12x30 Standard Modern in similar condition can anyone help me decide I kind of leaning towards Standard Modern since is gear head and and has roller bearings instead of bushings but a lot of guys swear by the SB 10 any insight would be appreciated
Paul.W

[SteveM]

Don't know enough about the Standard Modern, but the heavy 10 is one heck of a lathe in a small package. I've been searching for one for a few years, but haven't found one nearby in my price range (I'm a cheapskate).

A potential advantage may be parts availability, as you can find used parts all over. Not sure about the Standard Modern (someone else will have to chime in on that),

You can read about the heavy 10 here:
http://www.lathes.co.uk/southbend/page4.html

Steve

[wsippola]

Perhaps I'm biased being Canadian, but I'd go with the Standard Modern. Much more modern design. Course I've never used either, so the advice is worth what you paid for it.

Both are built sufficiently stout. Given similar bed wear, both with pwr long and cross feeds, and similar threading capacity, I'll take the gear head and proper rolling element bearings. What's the chuck mounting system on both? I suspect the SM will be a Dx-x, while the SB will be threaded - if so, the threaded spindle is the clear loser.

Wayne

[SteveM]

With roller bearings, the spindle speed on the Standard Modern is likely to be higher.

Steve

[wpala]

SM speed range is 50 to 1750rpm buy I could add VFD and control the speed yhat way then it might get even lower
Paul

[Conrad_R_Hoffman]

Much as I like good old iron, the SM is good new iron. I've used one at work some years ago. I'd probably go with the SM, but in equal condition they're both capable.

[SteveM]

SM speed range is 50 to 1750rpm buy I could add VFD and control the speed yhat way then it might get even lower

South bend is 50-1357.

Steve

[Fred Martin]

The SB with it's type of headstock bearings will supposedly give a better finish than the roller bearing type. I remember when in business I was running small lot production on a heavy 10 and the customer when picking up the parts asked "How do you get such a nice finish"? My reply was "trade secret".
The flat belt should be skivved together instead of the alligator crimp ons with a pin holding it together. If this is not a worry to you, the SM will remove more metal in a given time and a VFD that is capable of a horse or two better than what's on the SM would make it the best worker. Just a 70 year old opinion....BTDT, ohfred1941

[oldbrock]

I taught in a high school with standard modern lathes and found them a very capable lathe. Ours all had telescopic taper attachments, a big improvement on the South Bend plain taper attachment. I own a model K Southbend and I like it and it does a lot of work for me but if I could have a SM I would certainly switch. Hardened bed, camlock spindle, seperate leadscrew and feedrod, geared headstock, leaver tailstock clamp. Just a more convienent lathe in my book. I've been machining for more years than most of you have lived so I have learned a little. AND IT'S NOT MADE IN CHINA!!!!!!!!!! Peter

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

Both lathes have their advantages. I love old SBLs but
having said that, I think the SM will be a better machine.

Where the SBL shines is: it is a simple machine to learn and
use; parts are available and generally cheaper than SM parts;
similarly, accessories are easier to find and cheaper to acquire.

The SM has a more modern design and better spindle bearings
and (depending on the SBL), it will have a Flame Hardened bed
(some SBLs came with Flame Hardened beds but they weren't
common).

Good Luck!
-Blue Chips-
Webb

[stevec]

Paul, I agree with Webb and suspect that the guys mentionned in your original post who swear by the SB 10 have never had their mitts on a SM.

[linx]

Also standard Modern is still in bussiness. I have been to there plant in missisauga. They were helpfull to me when I was rebuilding my 9" utilathe.