You make some really good points so I think I need to explain my situation.? So I am a retired Boilermaker.? These days keep active by building various things in my shed. Every now and then I run into a situation where I might need a shaf to run between bearings, or a bronze bush, an aluminium pulley or a simple hinge, you get the idea. Up until now I have been either trying to buy these things off the shelf, or paying someone to machine something for me. I just thought it would be nice to have a little machine so I can do most of these tasks myself.
I am no machinist that's for sure, infact only ti.e I've even been near a lathe was in metalwork class at high school and possibly at trade school though I am competent enough to learn or at least have a go at it.
