Hello all

My first post in the metal work forums I think.

Anyways, onto my dilemna, which I think I have made up my mind about, but would like some confirmation.

As I approach old age, really only ever having done woodwork, I thought I might like to get into some metal work. Initially maybe just turning up some chess pieces, or pens, or salt and pepper shakers, knurled nuts, threaded knobs, perhaps as I advance make some small engines - just small hobbyist type things.

Now, I have never really done any metal work other than welding bits together to make lattice arches and things like that, so all I know about lathes is what I have googled and watched on youtube.

I was pretty intent on getting a Sieg C3 14" (as I don't have a lot of money to outlay and need to reserve some for tooling), but a gentleman recently contacted me and asked if I was interested in a Hercus. I was pretty excited about that opportunity.

But after some further questioning I found it was a Hercus 9 from 1963. So now I am less excited because I don't think I know enough to assess the machine properly, and being older than me it has no power feeds and is probably not metric. Not to mention I don't have three phase and so would have to replace the motor with a decent HP single phase motor. I'm assuming it will be quite a job to move it as well? (How heavy are those things exactly)

Assuming a similar spend on both, I am still thinking I would be better off with the shiny new machine that should pretty much work out of the box, given the sort of projects I have in mind.

Thoughts? (Please don't start a holy war on this.)


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