- Joined
- Nov 9, 2018
- Messages
- 377
I think if your interests / hobbies are vintage machinery (and that’s freakin fantastic), AND you have a truck, AND you have a forklift, AND you have a lot of time AND you’re pretty well-off financially, then vintage lathes are a great choice for you.
If however, your business is engineering, designing and fabricating prototype and custom *automotive* performance parts, then a lathe is just a tool, and one that works with the minimal amount of fuss is the best choice.
If however, your business is engineering, designing and fabricating prototype and custom *automotive* performance parts, then a lathe is just a tool, and one that works with the minimal amount of fuss is the best choice.
That isn't uncommon on older lathes, one of the reasons those link belts you can break apart have become popular. Your experience is why I don't think vintage lathes are a great choice for new hobbyists. There are advantages to both, with a vintage machine you can get a lot for your money. New is new, it is really nice when you can just call someone up and get them to make things right.
I have no experience with the path you are considering, and it sounds like nobody else does either. Good luck whichever way you go, and if you do import please document the experience here. I know I'm curious and if it works out, it might be an option for others.