Reply To: That cheap Parkside wood-lathe

[Dalboy]

On Dalboy Said:

It may get someone started, but the odd spindle size is enough to put some off buying one, also when you decide to upgrade if you want to progress to a more capable machine then reselling it will be harder.

As a woodturner, I personally would tell people to avoid this machine, and buy one at least with a good resell value. That way at least you will get a reasonable return if it is not for you.

Try turning something like this on one.

 

 

How is resale value for a tool that costs £65 worth worrying about? That’s less than a tank of petrol, or taking someone out to dinner. Every time these things are on sale, I have to convince myself not to buy one for the couple of times a year I want a nice wooden/plastic handle or knob for something. I’d be using it on a Workmate in the garden so as not to have to deal with the mess on my metal lathe. Then it would go back to leaning against the pile of Metro parts in the shed. Think of that £65 as the equivalent of the ‘taster’ courses for various hobbies and sports that help you to decide if golf, bowling, bell-ringing/whatever is worth your time and money.

Spending several times as much just because it’s potentially slightly better and might retain half what you spent on it is just a bigger expense and not an investment. That applies to well thought of tool brands like Snap-on – the ones I have cost several thousand pounds over the years, but their monetary return is pennies on the pound just like all the cheaper stuff I have. Like all tools, most hobby/sports/utility equipment, and new cars their real value is what they allowed the owner to do. I turned 54 a month ago and I reckon I’ve another twenty years of using tools, both mine and those inherited from Mum&Dad(sewing and woodwork, neither of which are of much interest to me), and have no heirs. I hope to give them away to someone who will use them but, like Dave, accept that many will end up in the house clearance skip. Grandad shared his around his colleagues when he retired….