The more the better where tooling is concerned. Tooling can easily end up costing a small fortune if you start from scratch. The one thing I would say is worthwhile is looking for a machine with at least some tooling supplied. Conversely, (and people in the third world countries demonstrate this daily), someone who is adept can work wonders with the most basic of things. A person could have the best machine available, but if their abilities are nonexistent or poor, it's nothing more than a fancy doorstop. If you find a machine you like, without too much wear at a price you're happy with, then go for it.

If you use it and find you need something more in the future, by then you'll know how you're limited with your current machine, if at all, so you can look for something more suited to you. To get away from the elitism which always seems to crop up whenever lathes are mentioned, just make sure the machine will do what *you* want. A worn machine will have you cursing like there's no tomorrow eventually, though you can easily compensate for minor wear during use. Generally decent condition is the most important thing. You don't need quick change gearboxes, a massive machine, MT2 or above etc. With regards the lathe, there's no good/bad per se. They're generally somewhat flimsy, apparently. IF that lathe was in real nice shape, they sell for $800 to $1000, they are a good little lathe 'USED WITHIN THEIR MEANS'. Those chucks also are suspect look pretty crappy with the rust.

(The back edge is were the gibs rub and wear shows up there.) The stack of change gears. Place the straightedge along the 'Back ' edge of the bed, and also the top flats. One very important place to check on the bed is the first 12 inches for wear, not easy to eyeball, you really need a straightedge and a feeler gauge. Looking at the overall condition i'd say this lathe could be neglected, the gears look totally dry. The rear drive stand, there should be a black knob lever to tighten or loosen the drive belt, i don t see that in the pics. The cross slide handle is aslo missing, subsituted with a home built one. First, in myopinion, that 618 isn't too bad a deal, but it is missing a few of the original handles like the lock down for the quill in the tailstock.

Atlas lathe 618