Thanks everyone. I’m leaning more towards the standard belt rather than the link one.
Im based in Somerset.
Beginners are advised to prefer low risk options at first!
- Link belts are easy to fit and nothing is disturbed. Very little lost if a link belt doesn’t perform. Actually, they do work, but it has to be the right size and type.
- Standard belts are hard to fit because the spindle is significantly disturbed. Messing up is painful. Though it’s a council of perfection, I wouldn’t do it unless a link belt proved hopeless.
Beware well-meant advice from time-served Model Engineers! They sometimes forget it took them years to acquire skills. The danger is they might assume beginners are just as smart as they are, which is unlikely!
Take it step by step. In particular, don’t start by dismantling the lathe and giving it a deep clean. Risks introducing new problems due to mis-assembly: is the lathe faulty, or has the owner grokked it! Although lathes aren’t rocket-science, there are a number of gotchas. Doesn’t take long to build experience, but don’t rush it!
Dave