You're a great wife. I have one like you and thank God every day.
EMCO from the UK made "Compact 5" lathes and mills that were CNC controlled but the size of the non CNC 'benchtop' lathes advertised today. The company has new models out now that are in the $1500 range new, but the old ones can be found online when trade schools upgrade or go out of business. As a fully-certified "dumpster diver" I'm of the opinion of getting something old and working on it. I'd contact your local trade school and see if they have one in the corner somewhere. Lacking that, you could get him a new bemchtop lathe or mill (lathes make round parts, mills make flat parts and with some ingenuity lathes can make anything) for $500-$600. In a few years add a digital readout for $600-750 (be careful what brand you buy) so you can add drives and a PC to make it a full CNC in the third stage.
A neglected fact is that unlike golf, skiing or some other hobbies, this one can pay for the future widgets the hobby requires. If you design some crafty thing and your husband makes 5 of them and then you two spend a happy Saturday (together) undera tent selling them at $20 each the local flea market, This hobby could bring some togetherness and pay its own way after the first investment.  |