Thread: Do I want a new car, or an SMW chuck?

Got a flyer in the mail today from Thomas Skinner, and I see they have SMW front end air power chucks listed. My American Tool lathe has one, and it is old and the jaws tend to tilt quite a bit, it would be nice to have it rebuilt somewhere.

Anyways, I see this new 12" chuck listed at $37,575.00 The 16" chuck is $76,185.00 Come on, do they want to sell any of those, or not, do you think?

Maybe that is like the LAST Pristene Antique wachamacallit in the Art auction.... and it sells for a high price...

Then you ask the auctioneer after the auction who bought it because you got here late and really want to buy it...Upon hearing you say that, the auctioneer says... hold on, we've got another one just like it in the basement.

HFD

rebuilding a chuck costs approximately 30% of the price of a new Chuck out here.

Whats the ratio like there ?? just for the info...

MJM

I would choose the car.

whats the return on investment on the car D?

Wille,
there is no return but I would enjoy a new Hummer (mine is getting worn out) more than a new chuck, besides when I retire the auctioneer won't give me much return on the chuck either. (two years before retirement is coming fast, real fast)
I've had many new machines and toys for work and the shop through the years now it's my turn. Although other people may be in a differant position.

Danny

Come, come now!

For most people, the purchase of a car is their largest purchase after buying a house. Somehow, unless a new chuck is essential- forget it.

New cars????? well, they go down in value like lead balloons. I have bought two brand new ones in the past 9 months and still have two fairly new Mercedes. OK, one is 8 years of age but it was chosen because it had to slowest rate of depreciation and being an SLK230 has every chance of becoming a classic collector's item.
We have a 270 CDI Merc Estate which is diesel and returns some 55 mpg at maximum British road speeds-- and a bit more! It is now at 60, 000 miles since new.

In a fit of Third Childhood, I bought a Mini Cooper! The xenon lights cost more than my first mini 850 and the aircon cost more than my whole MiniCooper way back in 1963.

In Spain, I bought a Hyundai Getz. Brand new, all the bells and whistles but no rattles for a tad over $13K Now these Oriental rice burners are surprisingly good and I have a guarantee that it will cook paella for 5 years.

It doesn't answer the question but 35 years ago I was offered a house for the price of a Mini which was about £450 or $900 then. Suffice to relate that I didn't buy it. Later, I was offered another Spanish home for the price of a Volvo estate at £7500. I never did get the Volvo.
Today, the little Spanish whatsit- like the earlier one- is worth a cool £250 or £300K or in shades of green, a cool half million- or more.

You may have an answer! Look at my other postings today.
Yes?

Norm

Ya, guys, but along with the chuck purchase goes a divorce

Yeah,
And in the Divorce, SHE keeps the car... You would get to keep the chuck [img]smile.gif[/img]

Think of the degrees of nipping up the job in hand. Divorce or a chuck?
Both sound very painful.

Chucking a wife---Hmmmm? Ah, well!
Better you than me.

Norm,
The people over here look at cars a little differant on this side of the pond. For example i'm getting a new hummer next week for a mere $80,000.00 US I don't even look at the MPG which I think is around 12MPG at best (not even sure). You see to me it's just a toy not transportation with 50 MPG. But you have to relize when I was making my shop grow I bought many very expensive quality machines I didn't really need but it was again to me considered toys. Hense my theory the bigger the boy the bigger the toy. Than there is my 45ft sportsfisherman (boat) that cost 8 times what my house cost.LOL

Danny

Neither. Cars are a waste of money. Have your chuck rebuilt and continue using it; rebuilding and re-using is the most elegant form of recycling.

BTW, skip the car regardless, and buy a bicycle instead. Donate the balance to Veterans assistance programs or the charity of your choice. You'll feel better, be happier & healthier, and live longer.

Not trying to be contentious, just offering an alternative you may not have considered.

The chuck has the potential to make you more money in its life than personal transportation does. The time/ quality savings of a better designed different chuck could buy you the car and the chuck in thoe course of a year. If you need the chuck and yours is a POS and a PITA go for the chuck first.

Willie I agree with you if you are going to be working for a while and need to make your shop grow or build your retirement than by all means rebuild the chuck and keep all your machinery in pristine condition.But the only reason I didn't mention it that way is because I'm on the other side of the fence, already owned my own shop for 35 years and was very lucky throughout the years and have made my retirement. We are in the process of an employee buy-out. Hope to have it completed with in 2 years.

Anvil,
I have always been a big supporter of the american cancer society having lost my mom and dad at an early age to cancer and having a wife that is a 10 year surviver of breast cancer it makes you feel real good to be able to help other people that could have a chance from your help.
By the way I would be glad to ride a bike but the nearest country store or any store is at least 12 miles one way.

Danny

I would love to reply to Danny but perhaps the reply should go to Anvil.
In September 1948, two boys met. We put on uniforms and by the 21st April 1949 we were staring into the sightless, burned eyes of our friends who had every long bone in their precious bodies broken. A year later, we parted and made a promise to meet 50 years to the day to honour the Dead. No one else would!
Johnny and I were injured but life is like that.
For some chance of fate, we met up again and precisely 50 years to the day, we would stood with the Queen's pilot and the relatives to finally honour the three.

Johnny had fared badly- a costly divorce at almost 70 and his injuries from a Spitfire engine had left him very impoverished. He had mastoiditis and no penicillin in those days.
Nasty stuff and I took his case on. We were brothers- well, almost.
Johnny has his War Pension now.
We sat over a pint- as brothers do.
He asked me why I had done all this.
My reply was simple. He had been the engine fitter who had strapped me into the aircraft harness time and time. The little plane had never faltered. It was not like many others who didn't make it. 'My brother' had seen that it was always 100%.
It was my turn to thank him for giving me 77 years of life.

The story does not end there.
In the ceremony of the 21st April 1999, one relative would not attend. Finally, I prevailed and she turned up at the unveiling.

At the end, she tugged at my old sleeve and said
'Thank you, my brother Fred is remembered today but a month ago, my only surviving relative- was murdered. I can go on now. There is a way forward'

Later, that day, an older lady tugged my sleeve.
" You are the only person who really knows how my brother died. You have kept the secret safe"
I looked into Vronnie's old eyes and replied
" The man who sabotaged that plane in which your brother piloted is dead. I am sorry, but I was too late in having him killed"

Money is but a small part of life.

I have faced the relatives- I now face my God!

Norm, that was put into words I will always remember and you just told it in a way no one else can ever repeat. I absoultly agree money is but a small part of life when it comes to real life. If you will notice I only said I was lucky and did not imply us americans think money is everything or even that important. Like I said I just got lucky to have it, my wife and 3 daughters mean everything to me.and of course the friends I've been lucky enough to meet.

Danny