Resources
Faq Floor
A workshop FAQ guide for South African buyers looking at new and used metalworking machines for the floor.
How Faq Floor fits into a working machine shop week
FAQ Floor brings together the common questions buyers ask when looking at new and used metalworking machines. It helps workshop teams compare condition, capacity, power needs, included tooling, and what to inspect before a machine is moved onto site.
Begin the FAQ with the machine category, bar length or swing, and the power available at your premises. In Gauteng, dust, rigging access and load shedding all change what should be asked before a lathe, boring machine or valve grinder is inspected. Buyers in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town usually need the same basics first: condition, capacity, tooling and what is missing.
Take a full front and side photo before any parts are removed or cleaned. That image helps the buyer check guards, controls, bed wear areas and loose accessories against the written answers. Keep the FAQ sheet near the machine file so the workshop can add spindle play, motor plate details and chuck size while the unit is still on site.
Questions to answer before viewing
A useful FAQ page should pin down spindle speeds, tailstock condition, feed engagement and the state of the electrics. It should also record what comes with the machine, such as steadies, chucks, toolposts and manuals. Clear answers matter more than a long list of vague comments.
Gather machine photos, serial plate details and any faults seen during inspection. Check whether loose tooling, guards and coolant items will travel with the machine before collection is arranged. Name the machine and add one recent photo so our technician can see its condition.
- Capacity, power and tooling listed clearly
- Photos taken before cleaning or stripping
- Faults and missing parts written plainly
Checks shaped by South African workshops
Questions for a machine in Crown Mines are not always the same as questions for one standing near the coast. Rust on bright steel, dust in slides, three-phase supply, forklift access and transport height limits all affect the buying decision. A proper FAQ should capture those conditions while the machine can still be inspected.
Inland workshops often focus on way covers, lubrication points and dust build-up around motors. Coastal buyers tend to look harder at corrosion on chucks, leadscrews and electrical cabinets. Load shedding also matters, because some machines cannot be demonstrated fully without stable power.
Operated by Astros Marketing (Pty) Ltd from 2 Makro Place, Sunnyrock 1401.
Machine details worth recording
Use the FAQ floor note to cover machine photos, lead times, and known faults already on the floor. Keep the subject line plain.
Fill in the FAQ while the machine, seller and accessories are still in front of you. Note the make, model, bed length, motor data, included tooling and any known defects in one place. That record is useful when comparing a used lathe against another option from the same resources section.