I have one of these. It is not set up right now, as I have 2 other larger more substantial machines (a Jet1024 and a 10" Sheldon) that I use. I keep this 109 only because it belonged to a great old friend of mine who is a gunsmith, and used it for years to make firing pins and such. One of my best friends in the world, in spite of the fact that he has kids almost my age. One day I'll set it up just to mess around with.
He got a bit in a hurry one day, got the cutting tool to dig in trying to take a bit too deep a cut, and guess what, bent the spindle. I got him a repalcement spindle, helped him install it, and then he gave me the lathe. He is slowing down a bit, and figures that if he needs a lathe, he'll come over here and use mine.
I can't get rid of it, just because it was his.
-AL A.