- Joined
- Jan 22, 2011
- Messages
- 8,031
My feeling on it is that the lower cost imported machines in general were purchased primarily on price by shops that knew they weren't high quality machines to begin with and they wouldn't lose much using it roughly, or even abusing it. I know of a couple of shops that bought cheap for a specific job and once it was done, they sold it off. They treated it like consumable tooling, and in so doing, neglected maintenance and really didn't care if it were abused, as long as it made the contract. So I'd be wary of a used low end machine that came from a production shop.
In some shops, perhaps they ended up deciding they would move up a notch or two and are selling to upgrade. In that case, it might be a sweet deal, as long as you know what you are getting. In themselves, for hobby use, as long as they are on decent shape, there's nothing wrong with any of them. But, be cautious on older low end import machines, as parts may be impossible to get, should the need arise.
If you don't want a restoration project, buy a used import to get in the game, then decide if it serves your purposes and needs. Later, when you have more experience, you may decide you need more machine. Then you won't be under time constraints, and can save up and then sell off the entry level machine to add to the fund.
In some shops, perhaps they ended up deciding they would move up a notch or two and are selling to upgrade. In that case, it might be a sweet deal, as long as you know what you are getting. In themselves, for hobby use, as long as they are on decent shape, there's nothing wrong with any of them. But, be cautious on older low end import machines, as parts may be impossible to get, should the need arise.
If you don't want a restoration project, buy a used import to get in the game, then decide if it serves your purposes and needs. Later, when you have more experience, you may decide you need more machine. Then you won't be under time constraints, and can save up and then sell off the entry level machine to add to the fund.