A question to the chemists here:

If one would have the option to get an older HPLC system quite cheap from a lab.
Would that make any sense?
E.g. currently I could get a Jasco gradient unit, pump and UV/Vis detector quite cheaply.
But what would be needed to run it?
I think one would certainly need the column and then the additional stuff for tube wiring.
Is that generally cheaply available and doable without years of studying?

Also how would one connect such old HW to analyze the output.
E.g. the detector would be a Jasco UV-975, and I couldn't find anywhere some SW or a handbook about it. Where would one find such things?

So would it generally make sense to buy such old stuff from labs (which have used these), or should one rather forget this option...

It can be done, there is a member here who actually has done this. But its project that you could get done in a weekend. Maybe when he (benzyme) comes back you can ask him.

But its no simple investment, be prepared to invest at least that of a used car in ordering new parts, tools, etc. Troubleshooting the machine itself is a whole another investment as well, the time it takes to get to know the machine, there is always some problem that needs to be addressed even in brand new machines, let alone old ones.

HPLC also needs dedicated gas cylinders, nitrogen and helium, for running the pumps and sparging the solvent for the samples..

So not cheaply, not easily, I expect if your a working person it would take up nearly all of your hobby time to get it up and running in a reasonable amount of time (6 months maybe).

Definitely talk to benzyme if you get the chance, hehe he knows exactly how to answer your questions.

Thank you very much for your answer.
Unfortunately not what I hoped to hear.
I hoped HPLC wouldn't need that much stuff as GC.
It would've been too easy and cheap that way, it seems...