"charlieb" wrote in message
...
I guess I'm recalling my jewelry making days. I knew
far to many amateur jewelry makers who owned every
jewelry making tool, machine and ALL the accessories.
Most were under the impression that they could buy
knowledge, skills and abilities - if they spent enough
on the equiptment

And I've known several guys who owned a car that
could go 0-60 in 3.6 seconds and with a top end of
well over 160 mph - with disc brakes the size of
pizza pans - the LARGE sized pizza pans. Two actually
got their car up to 110 mph - scared themselves -
into trading their dream car in for something a bit
more useful - and a hell of a lot less expensive to
insure.

The Stubby is a unique machine, designed from the
ground up to a) be rock solid and b) provide plenty
of capacity and flexability. It has many unique
features.

My concern would be, god forbid, replacement parts.
If you have to put up a grand for the deposit just to
get on the list for a unit, then wait 3 or 4 months to
get it- after putting up almost another five grand - and
then some for shipping cost - I wonder about how long it
would take to get a replacement part. Having
NO working lathe for a couple of months would
"disturb" me.

charlie b

Assuming this post is a response to my inquiry about Stubby lathes, is that
a touch of envy I detect in your post, Charlie? Your presumption that an
upper-end lathe would constitute little more than a trophy in my shop
appears suspiciously close to arrogance. Although a relative newcomer, my
learning curve is steep and I continue to improve. Becoming a competent
turner is a goal which I will achieve with time. That some individuals have
the financial ability to buy pretty much whatever they desire is irrelevant.

If not envy, are you implying that an expensive lathe is a poor investment
for a turner ultimately desirous of supplementing his retirement income with
his work? Or even for an aggressive amateur who simply enjoys making objets
d'art and/or gifts for friends? Or for one who appreciates fine machinery
and understands the annoyances and idiosyncrasies avoided by having top
quality machinery?

You comments w/r/t the Stubby are helpful. I am in the process of gathering
information about the better quality lathes available, and you obviously
know more about the Stubby than I. I regret that you found it necessary to
take a cheap shot at me first.

Max