Logan Lathe Bushings From McMaster

[kev74]

A few of the brass bushings in the gear box of my Logan 922 were getting sloppy. I was ready to order from Logan - 5 sleeve bushings were going to be $98 with shipping - but had a hard time pulling the trigger.

I have the gear box apart already, so I decided to measure everything up and see if I could source the bushings elsewhere. I found the same 5 bushings at McMaster-Carr for about $8 and another $8 for shipping. As a bonus, McMaster is giving a shipping quote in the shopping cart, so no more getting surprised by postage charges! I added a couple of 1 foot lengths of steel and aluminum stock to the order and it only bumped the shipping up by a dollar.

I feel like Christmas came early this year!

[Dan Dubeau]

Mcmaster is always a wonderful experience to deal with. Even with cad-us conversion and shipping it's still the best option for a lot of stuff for me. I just had a similar experience with oil lines for my mill. Saved about $80 and have a lifetime supply of lines and fitting vs going the OEM route.

[J Tiers]

The sad thing here is that Logan is actually quite reasonable.

If you had needed to order parts from some other manufacturers, or the companies that have taken over servicing parts for them, you probably would consider that $98 cheap. There are stories, unquestionably true, of bolts for $300, and crossfeed screws for over $2000.

Some parts must either be made locally, or need to come from the manufacturer. But most "common" parts were not made specifically for the application, and those can generally be found through other normal commercial channels.

McMaster, and others, are set up to make money supplying all sizes of order. They are much more efficient for such items, and should really be the first choice as a supplier. They sell hundreds or thousands of the part every year, while Logan may sell a dozen.

Some things you need to buy from, for instance, Logan, because either they are special parts for the machine, or because they are parts which while actually available, are "special run" parts, or are otherwise semi-custom. Buying those from the "official parts supplier" (the manufacturer, or the authorized supplier) is usually cheaper even at the high price, because the part will be made to the original specifications, even though you may be able to make a similar part yourself or have it made locally.

[mattthemuppet]

that's pretty cool news on both fronts - that Logan still stocks parts for their machines and that McMaster has the shipping quote showing in the cart now. It may seem like a big mark up on Logan's part, but they do a pretty amazing job of stocking parts for lathes that haven't been made for decades. Just don't get a Monarch - they offer the same service but at an order of magnitude higher prices (admittedly for a much more expensive lathe).

[kev74]

I wanted to support Logan. That's why I checked there first. I just couldn't bear paying more than 5x for the parts and 3x as much for shipping.

When I bought my clausing mill, I lost the quill handle on the way home. I tried getting a replacement from Clausing. That was real sticker shock! I made a replacement instead.

[Bented]

I have worked in commercial machine shops for 30 years, it is not uncommon that customer drawings specify off the shelf stock or components with a McM number.

[elf]

Closer to 2x than 5x

[Bob Engelhardt]

Closer to 2x than 5x

Actually, more than 6X: $98 from Logan $16 (8+8) McM

[gambler]

what logan do you have, I have the 820 and have sourced 2 bushings at my local hardware store. probable need more though,

[DR]

Yeah, parts from manufacturers supporting obsolete equipment can be obscenely expensive. But, when you figure they may have these parts on the shelf for decades after the original cost to make and paying inventory taxes it all that adds up. Then figure in the cost for the order taker to deal with a customer who likely doesn't know the exact part number. It could easily take a half hour to verify the part needed and possibly tell customer how to install the part.

I recall 20 some years ago a 4-1/2 Morse taper spindle sleeve for my old Sheldon lathe, the company who took over Sheldon parts wanted $1400 for it. I passed on that one.

Then the missing bolt for my Hardinge mill, $75. And the Di Acro bender bushing for $80. Both those parts I ordered through a dealer without asking for prices since we needed them to use the machines.

On the other hand my old Lagun mill fell off the forklift when my friend was moving it. Lagun had the table castings in stock and gave them to the friend. They figured they'd never sell them anyway.

[kev74]

what logan do you have, I have the 820 and have sourced 2 bushings at my local hardware store. probable need more though,

I've got a 922. 11 inch swing.

If you need others, I would suggest measuring up what you need and find what stock parts will fit.

[gambler]

I've got a 922. 11 inch swing.

If you need others, I would suggest measuring up what you need and find what stock parts will fit.

thank youj

[kev74]

Bushings are in and work well.