Beginer lathe

[dave h 2]

Don't be suckered by the MD65 mill attachment either it's for tiny stuff.
An ML1 is ancient pre 1947

The Southbend will go in the back of a Jeep GC
A beginner may break the Hobbymat the Southbend will just shrug it's shoulders.

 

[addjunkie]

Hobbymats for the size are quite good/rigid for a mini lathe/mill depending on condition of course.
I've not got space for anything bigger right now and I wouldn't be without them, used often for smaller machining. But you will quickly get tired of the capacity limitations, Dom (Optima) who's not around anymore used to manage some amazing stuff on his but it took a lot of thought and planning.

I guess the pro of a Hobbymat is you usually get back what you bought it for £200-£300 for an ok one.
Try and avoid the lathe mounted mill setup, they are not rigid enough. Standalone hobbymat mini mill is much better.
The other pro is that you can literally pick them up and stick it on a shelf being only about 45kg.

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When I grow up I would love a southbend @dobbslc that looks great, I should keep my eye out!

Thats the name Optima I was trying to think off, did we upset him, hes gone with out trace