QUOTE: What is a cheep (under $500) way to get into the craft?
There is no cheap way, but you can start with files and small grinder. However this is kind of like I told my son years ago when he said he wanted to get into racing. Go dig a hole in the back yard by the back door and every time you pass it throw a $20.00 bill at it! His response was, but I go in and out of the door sometimes 5 times a day! Yepper that is what I am trying to say!!
If you are handy you can build a lot of what you need but it takes time to acquire what most makers have in there shop! Start small and see what you think about it!
I always say a prayer, please don't let my wife sell my shop for what she thinks I have in it!
On the flip side of that someone would get a deal to start up there own shop!!!
You can work with the minimum and after you sell a few, reinvest that profit back into the tools!!
to the obsession!!