For a novice who wants to knock some steel into something useful - or just fun - you will get the most bang for your buck with a mig welder, a side grinder with some cutoff blades and some sanding discs and a bench mounted drill press.
You can get all new - easily - for under $1000 USD....
Or hit some garage sales. You would be AMAZED at some of the good quality tools you can find at such sales....
I got both bandsaws (vert and horz) for $50 each. My floor mount Packard drill press for $40. I got a new Ryobi sawzall for $2. It's well worth a bit of driving about on a Saturday morning with the SO....
He who dies with the most TOOLS wins...
You can get all new - easily - for under $1000 USD....
Or hit some garage sales. You would be AMAZED at some of the good quality tools you can find at such sales....
I got both bandsaws (vert and horz) for $50 each. My floor mount Packard drill press for $40. I got a new Ryobi sawzall for $2. It's well worth a bit of driving about on a Saturday morning with the SO....
He who dies with the most TOOLS wins...
