Thank you, all! This is very helpful.
Story with this lathe, is, that where it came from, the guy fitted a single phase motor to it..... but it is a 1/2 or 3/4 HP.... something like that..... greatly under powered..... (and for some reason it is running in reverse...... but that is meant to be getting sorted out before it is delivered to me).... It still has the original 3 phase motor and panel, too, so I could easily get that refitted, and buy an inverter/converter....
Hmm, talking of which..... Some people use inverters... others converters..... I know what the visual differences are, and know someone who uses a transwave converter, which is pretty good..... but are inverters the better option? They certainly seem a lot cheaper.... I am happy to do that option if a suitable single phase motor doesn't appear....
Your advise would be very much appreciated