Originally Posted by
bangerjim
Thread is wandering a bit.............. back to OP's question:
Right now the "least expensive" functional metal lathe you can buy (new) is the HF unit. I have one and know all the goods and bads of it! After some serious tweaking and adjusting and swearing, I got it hone in to an accurate little machine. Adding a zero-set chuck and an Aloris-style tool post helped! I never change the gears on it....in fact I don't even know where the gear set is in my hobby shop! Variable speed control takes care of my needs on that little hobby lathe.
He is not trying for production speed and output and not making fine Swiss watches, so the accuracy of the little HF machine as-purchased will probably fill his needs.....for now! Later, by keeping a sharp eye out, a used quality lathe could/will show up. And sell the HF thing on here! Enough people on here are hungry for small inexpensive lathes, well-maintained, one-owner, and not mistreated, it would move rapidly.
I started out old, used, and small, on all my many metal and wood working machines as you can read in my above threads. But I finally got the tools of my dreams by watching and waiting (and saving $$).
Good luck to the OP in his choices!
banger