Not sure that $3-4000 is aimed at either the home user or anyone on a budget.

Small businesses - yes - home user on a budget ? - no.

I'd be more interested in just the solutions. I could knock up my own tank and electrodes.

You basically need one solution to coat the print in conductive material and then a solution of metal ions to electroplate your model with.

So forget the machine - it's the solutions I'd be interested in.