I have an aged Atlas 5" lathe which needs reconditioning. To have the bed ground flat, buy a new leadscrew, new half nuts, belts, possibly a new motor and various other sundries will cost about =A3700.00.
For that I will have (hopefully) an accurate lathe with power feed both to the carriage and crosslide, forward and reverse feed for the carriage, screwcutting capability, thread indicator, sixteen speeds including back gear, easy access to all the working parts. I have several 3 and 4 jaw chucks, the full range of change gears, t-slotted crosslide, drawbar and 3C collets and a general use drawbar.
But I will still have an old lathe with a diminishing number of new parts available.
For about a =A31,000.00 I can buy a new Warco WM250 (the current new lathe favourite) which has about the same dimensions as the Atlas. It comes well equipped and the only serious gripe I have read is they are a bit underpowered. Warco have a good reputation and a friend who is a retired toolmaker has one of their lathes and is pleased with it.
I can afford the =A31,000.00 but no more and I haven't got room for anything larger.
I am in a quandry as to which way to go. Any suggestions and reasons to go either way would be welcome.
John H