LeBlond Regal 15x32, any drawbacks?

[T.Hoffman]

AND, it just occurred to me that the two shops are being consolidated to one, and the shop that I know well is having to get rid of this Leblond and BP.

But what is the other shop needing to get rid of?!?
I'm trying to find that out this morning....

[Rustybolt]

Congratulations Hoff. That is some great equipment. The LeBlond will be a pleasure to use.

[T.Hoffman]

Who's the happiest guy in the company today?!?

Looks like I get my new toys!!

Here's the response from my email:

Thank you, Todd for such a thorough assessment. (The Yugo - Cadillac analogy really illustrates the point !)

Yes, we should acquire it and the other equipment . Will need to do an asset transfer as well.
We just need to make sure if there are any additional costs to maintain it (any service contracts?), that we understand the final cost to the dept.

Thanks for looking out for departmental improvements.

[T.Hoffman]

I wouldn't say they are incompetent idiots, some very sharp people around here too.
Just that their specialties and so different than anything to do with machine shop equipment subjects.

Just like if they get me involved with in-depth biochemistry details in some meetings, makes my head spin...
I'm all about design, physics, math, etc. Outside of that stuff it seems my eyes start to glaze over.

I'm sure if I start talking about collet chucks, depths of cut, rotary tables, and such, it is the same sort of thing to them.

[uncle pete]

So, As per SOP in large companys it seems that those who make the decisions have no idea what their deciding about? Maybe a unrequested written report circulated to all those in charge about what exactly the shop does, specifications the work is done to, How important the work and equipment is, Yada, Yada. You get the idea. Maybe in addition to this would be to mention the report was needed because the recipients know nothing and are overpaid incompetent idiots?

Maybe slightly reword that last part.

Yeah I've worked for big companys too. It's not uncomman to watch them spend $10,000 to save $10.

Pete

[T.Hoffman]

Some of the management making this yes/no decision on my potential equipment really have no idea what this stuff even is.
One of the people, as nice as she is, has been down in my shop once in the last five years.

So the email of my sales pitch was aimed at the management with little to no knowledge of what this stuff is, what it does, or how it would improve the situation for all involved. People like pictures, so I included some nice pics in the email pitch too.

I mentioned that even though we have a newer lathe, it's an Asian import that is towards the lower end of the lathe spectrum.
Far better than no lathe at all, but not in the league of something like the Leblond we are being offered.

I compared it to having a cheaper Yugo car, and someone offers you a nice Cadillac with 40k miles and all you have to do is pay for the title transfer.

[T.Hoffman]

So.....um.....wouldn't they still be paying for the rigging? Just as well move it to where it can be put to use.

Our company is so large, there are numerous departments that each have their "operating budget".
If we want the machines, our dept pays for the move and connect.
If we don't take the machines, the current owning dept will have to pay for the move to IR.

It's all 'funny money' as we call it, yes we all work under the same umbrella of the company but individual departments are very protective of their own individual budgets....

If my dept doesn't want to pay for the move, it will be because they don't want to spend the $700-900 out of our budget for it.
If we decline taking the machinery, our dept won't be spending any of our budget. Some other dept will be using their budget for the move.

I'm almost tempted to offer to throw in some of my own personal money towards the move to make it happen.... I really want this stuff for my shop!

[Boostinjdm]

Doesn't work that way here. If we don't transfer the equipment to our dept, it goes to a central building for our work complex called Investment Recovery.

So.....um.....wouldn't they still be paying for the rigging? Just as well move it to where it can be put to use.

[uncle pete]

Too bad that's their policy. That really would be the ultimate tool gloat for a home shop.

Pete

[T.Hoffman]

If they don't want to pay for the move, offer to take it off their hands for $$$. They get a little $$$ instead of an expense and you get a nice piece of equipment to take home for dirt cheap.

Doesn't work that way here. If we don't transfer the equipment to our dept, it goes to a central building for our work complex called Investment Recovery.

Once items are in IR, they are estimated for value and then they are available for purchase to the general public. And they want way overpriced amounts for equipment. Last I saw a Jet round column mill/drill on a stand, bearings were not good, table had several abuses to it, and the price for that was $1500.

I pointed out I could buy a nice used BP on Craigslist for around $2k. Doesn't matter, that's the price. I suppose if they don't sell it in a long time the price may be adjusted down, but I rarely bother going over there to see what's around because CL is a much better route to go to find personal deals.

So either I get it free for my shop at work, or watch it get priced for probably $5k or more in investment recovery.

[T.Hoffman]

Hmmmm, depending on the background of your PTB they might find it hard to comprehend why they should spend money putting the old stuff where you already have that very nice new, shiny, equipment in your shop!

Exactly. The Jet mill and Griz lathe are about three years old now, I keep it in pristine condition so it does look brand new yet.

But I can certainly see how the uppers around here might say, "Hey that stuff down there is fairly new. Why should we pay to get stuff that is 40yrs old?!?"

Entirely possible for that to be the case, unfortunately.

[Boostinjdm]

If they don't want to pay for the move, offer to take it off their hands for $$$. They get a little $$$ instead of an expense and you get a nice piece of equipment to take home for dirt cheap.

[The Artful Bodger]

Hmmmm, depending on the background of your PTB they might find it hard to comprehend why they should spend money putting the old stuff where you already have that very nice new, shiny, equipment in your shop!

[jugs]

It's just a pile of old scrap, & some the paint is scrached.... put them on some pallets & ship them to me for safe disposal, I'll even take the BP (but don't tell sir john)

[T.Hoffman]

Looks like Sir John was right all along, they really are worthless....

Ouch, not nice.