All good points I think. The type of things I can think of in the past would be 2to 6” round by 10 to 20” long, that being said, I’m a welder so I’m use to fabing the ends and welding them to something else. I’m sure my taste will grow. Space for machines isn’t a problem (30x40). Moving equipment isn’t a problem ( have a couple of 100 hp tractors). My equipment right now isn’t cheap stuff so not really looking to be cheap now but really had a budget in mind. I hear all the bigger is better, but trying to put size and need in perspective, if someone asked about starting out welding as a hobby I wouldn’t send in the direction of bigger is always better. I have several sizes of mig welders, pulse aluminum, tig, couple gas arc welders, plasma cutter, torches, track torches, pipe Beverlers, metal miter saws, drill presses, band saw, cold saw, grinders of every size, but all this might be overkill for the beginner (you think). So if asked the question I would probably send that guy out to get a small mig welder 220volt running 023 wire and he would learn a lot real fast, after that he would probably be able to answer more questions himself. I understand the tooling needs will never end. So all that being said, my original post I was basically wanting to know if the PM 1236 was a good starting point or maybe it should be a little different. Like I said I don’t know anything about lathes or mills, but I do know vast amounts about all types of materials. Pretty sure my attitude about machining will be like every thing else and that is I Got This. And if it isn’t working I’ll learn to manipulate it. I do appreciate all the responses, just trying to explain..Later