I'm not completely expert in the differences and just rambling from memory.
But first, I don't think anybody can say if lathe X is better than lathe Y - for YOU.
It is my understanding that the SC3 has a better motor arrangement and also a longer bed (7x16 instead of 7x14).
For ME, I would absolutely go with the longer bed.? That distance can gets used up pretty fast with a chuck in the headstock, work piece, drill, and Jacobs chuck in the tail stock.? I also like a longer bed so I can move the tailstock further out of my way when not using it.
But plenty are fine with the various shorter bed models.
Another thing I think about is the cost of the tooling.? And how I would feel paying the same money for tooling (chucks, better tool post, and on and on) for the lathe I didn't really want versus the lathe I really did want.? So, I suggest it is often best to go for the most machine you reasonably can unless cost is absolutely a major factor.
That would also mean looking at options other than C3 versus SC3 and perhaps other lathes.
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
