05-01-2014, 10:35 PM
Thanks for your observations guys - all valid points.
I guess it depends on whether one wishes to buy a fully functional lathe, or to spend time restoring and old one, with all that entails - sourcing and buying rare parts and materials to make unobtainable parts (using another lathe), maybe over several months. Clearly many derive much satisfaction from the challenge of so doing (not least Col and Al on this forum), but as I said in my earlier post, such equipment soon becomes a 'money pit' and a hobby in its own right, just as does for example restoring a 'basket case' classic car or motorbike. But then all hobbies and pastimes involve costs which aren't recoverable - it's the price we pay for the enjoyment we derive, which is the other side of the equation.
My little lathe cost me nothing, and apart from a S/H motor, (£20), has cost me nothing to put into use. In the three years or so that I've had it in use, even if instead I'd have bought a mini-lathe, by now, with all the little jobs I've been able to do, it would have paid for itself, and putting the lathe into good order hasn't taken time I could ill afford to have spent on fettling up a real 'basket case'. It's enhance my radio restoration activites rather than detracted from it. It certianly came into its own when I restored my S/H Hameg 203-7 'scope.
As I said in my first post, this is just my own perspective - I don't expect others to concur. Our interests, competence, skills, resources and free time differ. I take my hat off to anyone who spends time, money and skills to reclaim anything, putting it into good order, giving a new lease of life to it, rescuing it from the scrapheap. After all, that's the cornerstone of our hobby of vintage radio and electronics restoration is it not?
Night night all!
I guess it depends on whether one wishes to buy a fully functional lathe, or to spend time restoring and old one, with all that entails - sourcing and buying rare parts and materials to make unobtainable parts (using another lathe), maybe over several months. Clearly many derive much satisfaction from the challenge of so doing (not least Col and Al on this forum), but as I said in my earlier post, such equipment soon becomes a 'money pit' and a hobby in its own right, just as does for example restoring a 'basket case' classic car or motorbike. But then all hobbies and pastimes involve costs which aren't recoverable - it's the price we pay for the enjoyment we derive, which is the other side of the equation.
My little lathe cost me nothing, and apart from a S/H motor, (£20), has cost me nothing to put into use. In the three years or so that I've had it in use, even if instead I'd have bought a mini-lathe, by now, with all the little jobs I've been able to do, it would have paid for itself, and putting the lathe into good order hasn't taken time I could ill afford to have spent on fettling up a real 'basket case'. It's enhance my radio restoration activites rather than detracted from it. It certianly came into its own when I restored my S/H Hameg 203-7 'scope.
As I said in my first post, this is just my own perspective - I don't expect others to concur. Our interests, competence, skills, resources and free time differ. I take my hat off to anyone who spends time, money and skills to reclaim anything, putting it into good order, giving a new lease of life to it, rescuing it from the scrapheap. After all, that's the cornerstone of our hobby of vintage radio and electronics restoration is it not?
Night night all!
Regards, David.
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
