atlas or the logan, same money, pick one

Two machines in the same county, both asking 900. Atlas 10 inch with a three-jaw that looks honest, and a Logan 10 with a tailstock that has been a hammer at some point. I can only haul one. I already own too many toolholders and that is not a reason.

Take the one with a bed you can still see a scrape mark on. The hammered tailstock is a lathe you will fight for a year. The Atlas is lighter. You already know that.

Logan beds hold up better if the previous owner wasn't a butcher. That tailstock story says he was. Don't be sentimental about the name.

I'd take the Logan. Parts are everywhere and the Atlas gearbox always feels vague to me. You can dress a tailstock barrel.

Dressing a barrel does not fix a bored hole that is oval. Put indicator on the ram, lock it, push side to side. If it moves more than a thou or two, leave the Logan.

Went back with a mag base. Logan ram walked about four thou side to side locked. Atlas bed still had a faint scrape and the chuck ran out three at four inches, which I can live with. Hauling the Atlas Saturday. Ken, the gearbox is vague. I'm choosing the bed anyway.