I joined several minutes ago

[Shikyo]

I joined here several minutes ago.
I am considering getting a small lathe for the first time.
I have never done anything on metal lathe nor even touched one before.
I saw this ad on the Craigslist, http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/van/bar/3201676509.html
The model he is selling is BV20L-1.
I have tried to find dealers who sell those in North America, however,
I haven't found any. I know there is a small article about it on mini-lathe.com.
Samuel Machines, who was used to be the distributor, went a bankrupt several years ago.
I worry a little getting a machine which nobody seem to sell in NA, since getting any parts for it will be a nightmare. If you could give me some advice on this, I would appreciate. I joined 9x20 lathe Yahoo group yesterday, however, my thread hasn't yet been listed there.

I offered $600 for the lathe, however, the seller is insisting $700 for it. I was told
$100 worth of tools are included.

 

[KIMFAB]

I can understand someone selling those tools he has because of health or divorce but to want to trade them makes me wonder about their source and the seller's motivation.

All I can come up with is they are hot or he wants to make money buying and selling.

Either way you will have enough problems being new to this, You don't need to add non-supported tools to the problem.

 

[Shikyo]

I don't think the seller is trying to make money nor the price he is asking is a hot price. The mini-lathe. com said it was sold for $895. Although I cannot find anybody using one,the lathe seems to be very common in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and in Europe they are sold for 990 Euro, about $1,200US, a base cabinet included. The reason I offered him $600 was because of those figures.
I know many companies are selling the same lathes with different paints and seals, etc., however, nobody seems to be selling BV20 lathes in that manners.

 

[Tin Falcon]

first of all welcome to the board. this is a good place for advice on small lathes.
the CL link is dead.
9 x 20 lathes are pretty common and like you said provided by many retailers.
as far as I know the parts should be interchangeable littlemachineshop.com supports the mini lathes and mills as well as some parts for the micros and I believe parts and accessories for the 9 x 20. IMHO an offer of $ 600 is reasonable for that machine unless a lot of extras are thrown in .
Compare this manual
http://www.cnc.info.pl/files/bv20_1_imp_537.pdf
with this one :

http://cdn0.grizzly.com/manuals/g4000_m.pdf
looking closer.
that lathe may be an orphan in this part of the world.
tin