Boice-Crane 36" lathe

[Jim Woods]

I am interested in a Boice-Crane 36" lathe as an upgrade from my Craftsman 15" lathe. Does anyone have

any experience with this lathe. Currently this one has a 1/2 hp motor. I was thinking of getting a 1.5 hp and VFD. Looks like a better base would be needed. I guess I really would like a PM 3520, but they are 2k and this one is asking 495.
I would like something I could eventually use with a coring system and bowls up to 15/16 inches. Would riser blocks be an option on this lathe?
BTW, my Craftsman has performed quite well, I am getting good at replacing the @#$%^ toothed belt, but it is definitely a weak link.

 

[Mark Jundanian]

I know nothing about the lathe, but I am curious about the purpose of the platform with the miter slot?

 

[Roger Chandler]

I doubt seriously the lathe you are considering here is an “upgrade” whatsoever from your Craftsman 15” lathe. My first lathe was a Craftsman 15” Variable Speed unit, so I know what you have. For me, rather than spending for a new motor, vfd, etc, I would just save for a while until I could get a good lathe.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Looks like you could easily upsize the motor and if you wanted variable speed find a 3-phase motor and power it with a VFD.
Based on the design of the lathe you could easily add riser blocks if desired.
Does the headstock and tailstock have a standard Morse taper bore? What is the spindle thread pitch?
You want a common thread pitch and Morse taper so accessories will be readily available.

 

[Jim Woods]

Mark,
Another picture had a couple spindle mount disk sanding pads, so I assumed that was the function of the platform.

 

[Rick Crawford]

Check the bearings...they might be proprietary, which might be a challenge to find replacements. Go to the old woodworking machines site, you'll probably come across someone that has the same lathe.

 

[Robert D Evans]

If you were just getting started and wanted to try your hand at spindle turning, this would probably be a decent starter lathe. I'd be very reluctant to spend much money trying to improve a 40+ year old orphan lathe. If something breaks, well, that company (which doesn't exist anymore) hasn't made the part since the 1970's. Especially if you want to do coring and large bowl turning. I would recommend saving your money and getting one of the many full size lathes on the market today that can handle what you're trying to do. Used lathes show up on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace all the time. Just my $.02.

 

[Richard Coers]

I wouldn't like that small v-belt if you want to core bowl blanks. Modern lathes have a much wider poly-v belt and you can still make the belt squeal if you get aggressive.

 

[Jim Woods]

Thanks to all for the sage advice. It caught my eye as a possible poor man's powermatic. Closer look at pics online look like the ways are not cast, but 2 channel iron facing each other.
Now it is time to replace the @#$& toothed reduction belt on the Craftsman. If they only made a carbon-fiber toothed belt.

 

[Gary Beasley]

If theres enough room to tie it back out of the way you can hang an extra belt on the shaft as long as you have it apart so next time is a lot easier to deal with.

 

[Tom McClellan]

Just want to mention you can skip all the hassle and get the pulley version of the 1221 with 5 year warranty for the same money

https://bisjettools.com/719115-jet-jwl-1221sp-step-pulley-wood-lathe.html

 

[Robert D Evans]

Just want to mention you can skip all the hassle and get the pulley version of the 1221 with 5 year warranty for the same money

https://bisjettools.com/719115-jet-jwl-1221sp-step-pulley-wood-lathe.html

Yea, but he said he wanted to core and turn 16" bowls. Gonna need a bigger boat.....

 

[David Shumaker]

I know nothing about the lathe, but I am curious about the purpose of the platform with the miter slot?

Sanding disk/ table.

 

[kenvalaska]

That is the lathe that was in my Junior High shop class.

Price is on the high side. My estimate of value is about 1/3 of the asking price you listed.

 

[Tom McClellan]

Yea, but he said he wanted to core and turn 16" bowls. Gonna need a bigger boat.....

Between the stated price range and stated swing spec, I'm liable to believe the price range. If there was a good 16" machine available around $500, I'd buy it myself

 

[olaf Vogel]

I am interested in a Boice-Crane 36" lathe as an upgrade from my Craftsman 15" lathe. Does anyone have

any experience with this lathe. Currently this one has a 1/2 hp motor. I was thinking of getting a 1.5 hp and VFD. Looks like a better base would be needed. I guess I really would like a PM 3520, but they are 2k and this one is asking 495.
I would like something I could eventually use with a coring system and bowls up to 15/16 inches. Would riser blocks be an option on this lathe?
BTW, my Craftsman has performed quite well, I am getting good at replacing the @#$%^ toothed belt, but it is definitely a weak link.

Hey Jim,

BC made some good equipment in their time. This is one of the most recent lathes made.
manual is here: http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=6240

Its likely very heavily built, for its size. Its a gap bed lathe, so 16" is likely only close to the headstock.

Bearings, if needed, are likely standard, but the guys at owwm.org will know.
IMO an major upgrade from any recent Craftsman (I've used a few and found them lightly built.

3 phase motors, used, are really cheap.

Other than that, $500 seems too high, maybe offer half.

 

[Jim Woods]

Hey Jim,

BC made some good equipment in their time. This is one of the most recent lathes made.
manual is here: http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=6240

Its likely very heavily built, for its size. Its a gap bed lathe, so 16" is likely only close to the headstock.

Bearings, if needed, are likely standard, but the guys at owwm.org will know.
IMO an major upgrade from any recent Craftsman (I've used a few and found them lightly built.

3 phase motors, used, are really cheap.

Other than that, $500 seems too high, maybe offer half.

Olaf, thank you for chiming in. The manual is exactly what I was looking for.
I was thinking of putting a 3 ph 110v motor on it and a VFD. Then make 2" riser blocks for the head and tailstock. Does that sound practical. Btw, ask is now reduced.

 

[Jim Woods]

I wouldn't like that small v-belt if you want to core bowl blanks. Modern lathes have a much wider poly-v belt and you can still make the belt squeal if you get aggressive.

Richard, yes the 1/2 hp motor and belt would not work out. I would need 1hp or 1 1/2 hp. Maybe 3phase with a VFD?

 

[olaf Vogel]

Olaf, thank you for chiming in. The manual is exactly what I was looking for.
I was thinking of putting a 3 ph 110v motor on it and a VFD. Then make 2" riser blocks for the head and tailstock. Does that sound practical. Btw, ask is now reduced.

Risers at the tailstock are possible .
From the pics, I can't tell about the headstock.

If you are serious, go here
http://owwm.org/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=d7851229fefa95ed6a9590cdb3c61115
And ask all the tech questions. Someone will have one of these and can answer your questions.

That crowd is REALLY competant, some hobbiests, many professional machinists.
They helped me buy and restore 8 major machines, over 100 years old.