To be fair, I was gathering my thoughts to make a post along the same lines as Mr Barnsley's. I might have been more diplomatic, I might have been less. I certainly have a reputation at work for saying the truth, rather than what my bosses want to hear.
I spent four years rebuilding a Hardinge HLV, using parts from five different machines plus a lot of parts I made myself plus a lot of scraping and spot grinding work.
Then I painted it. I'm part way through rebuilding a Beaver BVRP milling machine and I've just finished scraping 10 thou of hog and four thou of wear out of the table. I can now use that as a master for the saddle. I had to make completely new feed screw nuts, but the variation on the X screw itself is less than a thou, so still good for climb milling when I'm finished (I had plans for re-lapping the scew, but am glad I don't need to).
Mr Barnsley said that the machine has got 8 thou of wear on it because, by visual inspection, it's almost certainly got that much or more. If the machine is to be used over its full range for profit making work, it's not worth the effort. If it's to be used over its full range for hobby work, it will cause irritation every time it's used. If it's to be used over a very small part of its range, then it's probably usable. But a new small milling machine of no particular brand or country would probably be a better investment.
I've got a specific use for my 10x48" boat anchor and no-one's paying for my time (The wife would probably pay to keep me out of the house though
). That project will demand that I can mill 24" long features parallel and normal to better than half a thou per foot as originally specified. But if it was in the condition it was when I got it, or like the Brad's machine looks at the moment, then it wouldn't justify a lick of paint on it after the basic clean up.
So Mr Jacob, rather than getting all upset, take the comments in good part. If the machine's only going to be used for small parts and non-precision stuff, no problem. If it's wanted to produce large pieces that don't need later filing and scraping for a good fit, then it needs a lot more work before paint choices become meaningful.
Assuming that it's not the major bread-winner for the family, have fun with it anyway.
Regards
Mark Rand