Sherline Lathe…unbox, setup and projects

[MrBowcat]

Carbide insert tools, I use them for everything. I have some HSS but rarely use them.

[NoelSmith]

Scott, your Sherline Mini Lathe is a great investment, and you will find many uses for it in your model making endeavours. Once you get really used to it and looking at your previous posts you are already getting quite competent with the machine, the potential for scratch building models will be very obvious to you.
If you have not bought it already, I would suggest Joe Martin's book about Miniature Machining. He is CEO of Sherline and his book contains a wealth of information for anyone buying a miniature lathe whether a Sherline of other make. It will be on their website.
I have a little Unimat 4 machine. Very similar to the Sherline that I bought a number of years ago and it has proved invaluable in my model making.
I wish you well with your new machine. It will prove to be one of your best ever investments and will enable many more small engineering projects like the ones you have already been using it for.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Scott, your Sherline Mini Lathe is a great investment, and you will find many uses for it in your model making endeavours. Once you get really used to it and looking at your previous posts you are already getting quite competent with the machine, the potential for scratch building models will be very obvious to you.
If you have not bought it already, I would suggest Joe Martin's book about Miniature Machining. He is CEO of Sherline and his book contains a wealth of information for anyone buying a miniature lathe whether a Sherline of other make. It will be on their website.
I have a little Unimat 4 machine. Very similar to the Sherline that I bought a number of years ago and it has proved invaluable in my model making.
I wish you well with your new machine. It will prove to be one of your best ever investments and will enable many more small engineering projects like the ones you have already been using it for.

Thanks mate
So much to learn

[NoelSmith]

We live and learn all the time Scott!

I did a coach tour of BC a few years back from Vancouver out to Banff, across to Prince Edward, the inland passage and on to Victoria. It was my most memorable holiday. What a spectacular part of the world you live in for grand scenery. Do you live in Vancouver, Victoria or somewhere else in BC?

[Twokidsnosleep]

We live and learn all the time Scott!

I did a coach tour of BC a few years back from Vancouver out to Banff, across to Prince Edward, the inland passage and on to Victoria. It was my most memorable holiday. What a spectacular part of the world you live in for grand scenery. Do you live in Vancouver, Victoria or somewhere else in BC?

I am in Burnaby, the first suburb that borders with Vancouver
You have probably seen more of BC than I have!

[NoelSmith]

Vancouver is a lovely city from what I saw from my few days stopover there. We stayed at the Empire Landmark and had a last evening meal in their rotating Cloud Nine Restaurant that gave us spectacular views over the city and ocean.

Our coach driver was an English guy who lives in the Surrey suburb. I think he was relieved to have one English couple on the coach to relate to. The coach was mostly made up of German, Austrian and Dutch people and we had some good times and interesting conversations with our travelling companions.

It is amazing what you don't go to see in your own area. There is much of the UK that I have not seen either.

I am drifting from the core subject of this thread and will be following your Sherline projects with interest, so looking forward to reading your further posts.

[Twokidsnosleep]

So some lathe birthday gift loot to show…gotta love sending a wish list link to your wife

Extra drive belt


She got me the delux collet set in a wood box Awesome!!!




So these allow you to put round stock repeatedly into the lathe @ dead Center repeatably with good gription and less mucking about

[digger303]

So some lathe birthday gift loot to show…gotta love sending a wish list link to your wife

She got me the delux collet set in a wood box Awesome!!!


So these allow you to put round stock repeatedly into the lathe @ dead Center repeatably with good gription and less mucking about

lovely acquisition..very useful
A nice wipe over with gun oil will help preserve them from surface rust.

[MrBowcat]

Nice collets.

[Twokidsnosleep]

So some lathe birthday gift loot to show…gotta love sending a wish list link to your wife

She got me the delux collet set in a wood box Awesome!!!


So these allow you to put round stock repeatedly into the lathe @ dead Center repeatably with good gription and less mucking about

lovely acquisition..very useful
A nice wipe over with gun oil will help preserve them from surface rust.

Oooh I better do that. Haven’t touched the lathe since September

[MrBowcat]

I usually just use way oil for the chucks, tailstock, centres, etc. You've probably already got some on hand for the lathe ways, right?

[Twokidsnosleep]

I usually just use way oil for the chucks, tailstock, centres, etc. You've probably already got some on hand for the lathe ways, right?

Yes
It is a good reminder to give the lathe some winter love and protection
Mind you I have the little heater on in there at about 12C and it is insulated so it keeps things above the dew point

[digger303]

Been a while since anything was submitted to this thread, but here goes.

I recently acquired this set of F clamps from
https://www.rebell.com/tools/pincetter/ ... g-x-3.html
Unknown to all of us these are a 3d printed copy of the original clamps. However they aren't a faithful exact copy.

As you can see they are slightly smaller in size They open about 12mm less across the jaws and the jaws are 17mm short. While not sounding a lot and it may seem I'm going on about nothing it does make a difference and at a cost of 13 bucks each. I just assumed they would be the same size as the ones I had . There was no size in the listing, so maybe my fault for not asking.
Also the rubber grips keep falling off. They just won't stick.
Despite all this They work just as well as the originals this is just a heads up is all.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Need to add in some projects here

Teak wood chopstick




Black Pearl ship masts removal of moulded rope forms and replacement with real scale ropes

[Twokidsnosleep]

Then for the Black Pearl again, some round dead eyes for rope attachment on the ship’s hull









So far this has been a really useful addition as a modelling tool

[digger303]

That's a very good out come then. Nothing like buying something useless to rob you of fun and I've done it.

[Stokesy44]

Superb work. Cant believe the tools you are bringing to the hobby

[MrBowcat]

Looking good Scott.

I'm sure you probably have, but make sure you clean the ways well after cutting wood or using any abrasives. Both can be harmful to the machined surfaces.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Looking good Scott.

I'm sure you probably have, but make sure you clean the ways well after cutting wood or using any abrasives. Both can be harmful to the machined surfaces.

Indeed
A really good reminder though, she needs a good rub down and oil up after all the wood stuff is finished

[MrBowcat]

I was chasing zero's myself this weekend. I made an adapter for one of my rifles so I could change the barrel thread from 1/2 UNF to 1/2 UNEF for a moderator (suppressor).

A simple enough operation, but as a bullets going to be going through the hole in the middle it was critical to make sure the concentricity was as close to dead on as possible when the part was flipped. Managed to get it to within 0.005mm (five thousandths of a millimetre).

[Twokidsnosleep]

I was chasing zero's myself this weekend. I made an adapter for one of my rifles so I could change the barrel thread from 1/2 UNF to 1/2 UNEF for a moderator (suppressor).

A simple enough operation, but as a bullets going to be going through the hole in the middle it was critical to make sure the concentricity was as close to dead on as possible when the part was flipped. Managed to get it to within 0.005mm (five thousandths of a millimetre).

Ya wow that's good machining
I wouldn't be able to do that

[MrBowcat]

Give it time, it's taken me two years to get this far.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Some lathe made aluminum parts for the Ford coupe build

Shifter Piston head




Engine Pulleys

[MrBowcat]

Very nice Scott.

You know you can get perfect hole patterns with a mill, DRO and PCD function? Just saying (that it's a good excuse to buy a mill).

[bfrd]

Very nice Scott.

You know you can get perfect hole patterns with a mill, DRO and PCD function? Just saying (that it's a good excuse to buy a mill).

I have it on good authority that he can't fit a Bridgeport in his shop.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Very nice Scott.

You know you can get perfect hole patterns with a mill, DRO and PCD function? Just saying (that it's a good excuse to buy a mill).

I have zero room..but would LOVE a mill!!!!

[MrBowcat]

https://www.sherline.com/product/305030 ... escription

[digger303]

https://www.sherline.com/product/305030 ... escription

I've seen those, no idea how good they are.

I've seen the newest cheapest Chinese lathes when machining steel chatter because the bearing behind the chuck is cheap and nasty. Makes it hard to obtain the type of accuracy your achieving.

[RangerNeil]

https://www.sherline.com/product/305030 ... escription

I've seen those, no idea how good they are.

I've seen the newest cheapest Chinese lathes when machining steel chatter because the bearing behind the chuck is cheap and nasty. Makes it hard to obtain the type of accuracy your achieving.

How hard would it be to replace the bearing with a quality one???

[Twokidsnosleep]

I would get a separate standing mill.
don't like messing about with the Sherline motor to do angled cuts let alone realigning it for a mill
Another day of work today and then tomorrow I am making an oil filler tube for the Hot Rod

[digger303]

https://www.sherline.com/product/305030 ... escription

I've seen those, no idea how good they are.

I've seen the newest cheapest Chinese lathes when machining steel chatter because the bearing behind the chuck is cheap and nasty. Makes it hard to obtain the type of accuracy your achieving.

How hard would it be to replace the bearing with a quality one???

It's more to do with the type of bearing. In that it can't be preloaded to take out any built in movement or not as wide as needed.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Some new goodies for the Sherline lathe



A tool rest so you can use the lathe with hand chisels


A compound sliding base so I can cut angles and bevels by altering the cutting tools (good design) instead of the headstock and motor(dumb design)


I will take some pics when I have stuff mounted on and it will make more sense. Too dark and lazy for me tonight.
With some luck, some more stuff will follow with Christmas

[digger303]

Some new goodies for the Sherline lathe



A tool rest so you can use the lathe with hand chisels


A compound sliding base so I can cut angles and bevels by altering the cutting tools (good design) instead of the headstock and motor(dumb design)


I will take some pics when I have stuff mounted on and it will make more sense. Too dark and lazy for me tonight.
With some luck, some more stuff will follow with Christmas

Good additions I'm sure.
Can't wait to see how it all mounts up.

[MrBowcat]

Although not used that often, a compound slide is a handy thing when you need it.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Although not used that often, a compound slide is a handy thing when you need it.

The Sherline design is to angle the motor and thus headstock for tapering cuts.
This stresses the drive belt and the mounting points, no fine control for angles. So many moving parts f’d with
It is absolutely ludicrous.
The compound slide is something I wanted from day one and will considerably increase the usefulness of this lathe.

I haven’t spent any significant time out in the garage to get this stuff set up, but will at Christmas break to make a couple parts for presents

[digger303]

Although not used that often, a compound slide is a handy thing when you need it.

The Sherline design is to angle the motor and thus headstock for tapering cuts.
This stresses the drive belt and the mounting points, no fine control for angles. So many moving parts f’d with
It is absolutely ludicrous.
The compound slide is something I wanted from day one and will considerably increase the usefulness of this lathe.

I haven’t spent any significant time out in the garage to get this stuff set up, but will at Christmas break to make a couple parts for presents

Is your knee all good now ?

[Twokidsnosleep]

Although not used that often, a compound slide is a handy thing when you need it.

The Sherline design is to angle the motor and thus headstock for tapering cuts.
This stresses the drive belt and the mounting points, no fine control for angles. So many moving parts f’d with
It is absolutely ludicrous.
The compound slide is something I wanted from day one and will considerably increase the usefulness of this lathe.

I haven’t spent any significant time out in the garage to get this stuff set up, but will at Christmas break to make a couple parts for presents

Is your knee all good now ?

I have had cortisone injections into both recently so the pain levels are down, mobility bit better
Find out about heart stuff soonish I hope
Thanks for asking

[digger303]

The Sherline design is to angle the motor and thus headstock for tapering cuts.
This stresses the drive belt and the mounting points, no fine control for angles. So many moving parts f’d with
It is absolutely ludicrous.
The compound slide is something I wanted from day one and will considerably increase the usefulness of this lathe.

I haven’t spent any significant time out in the garage to get this stuff set up, but will at Christmas break to make a couple parts for presents

Is your knee all good now ?

I have had cortisone injections into both recently so the pain levels are down, mobility bit better
Find out about heart stuff soonish I hope
Thanks for asking

Just found out this morning that my mum is suffering from a stiff heart....yeah sounds a bit back woodsy, but it is plaque attaching itself to the inner wall thickening it which makes it less pliable. Five different stages she is stage 1, treatment not available unless your mega rich until stage 2 as the drugs are 12,000aud a month.

[MrBowcat]

Although not used that often, a compound slide is a handy thing when you need it.

The Sherline design is to angle the motor and thus headstock for tapering cuts.
This stresses the drive belt and the mounting points, no fine control for angles. So many moving parts f’d with
It is absolutely ludicrous.
The compound slide is something I wanted from day one and will considerably increase the usefulness of this lathe.

I haven’t spent any significant time out in the garage to get this stuff set up, but will at Christmas break to make a couple parts for presents

Yes, I've seen it and agree it a dumb design. Most particularly because you must have to dial it back in straight every time you have had it angled. Sounds as much of a PITA as clocking a vice in on a mill if you take it off (one of the reasons I try to never remove my mill vice)

[NoelSmith]

The Sherline is a nice little bit of kit.

The company CEO Joe Martin has written a book about using the Sherline Machines and worth obtaining from Sherline taking the rank beginner through the basics of miniature machining. There is another book that was published back in the seventies 'Unimat Lathe Projects' by the late master modeller Gerald Wingrove. The book describes making useful small tools using the machine. One of the projects was a four way tool post for the machine that saves me a lot of tool setup time on the machine since I made it.

I have a Unimat 4. Nice little machine similar to the Sherline in size and concept. Unfortunately the Unimats stopped production a number of years ago, so if mine packs up completely the Sherline will be a viable option.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Another weekend (or two) project on the lathe
This project is for work as a little aluminum sterilization tube that holds long polishing strips; Ours has stripped threads and is useless.
New one is over $100!

heading

So I sanded off the blue paint and tried a brass tube insert to make threads for more grab…nope


Then talking with Matthew and my son Ced, came up with this design of a threaded plug that is hollow drilled out.


Problem was needed to increase internal diameter of tube, but not big enough drill bit and chuck on lathe too small anyaways. So ordered a boring tool set for the lathe from Amazon.


I lopped off the useless short threaded extension


Then I made the plug out of Delrin rod.
It is an acetate plastic that mills nicely. I was testing my lathe skills and threading.
I have a hunk of aluminum rod but didn’t want to f that up.


Ended up with this






Will test how it does with heat and pressure of our smaller sterilizer. The stats say the plastic should be fine
I can always make the aluminum plug if it fails.

[digger303]

Very industrious of you, looks very good.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Very industrious of you, looks very good.

I suppose I could have bought a new blue tube, but it gave an excuse for buying a boring tool instead

[MrBowcat]

Nice job Scott.

If you don't mind a little bit of advice, boring bars are prone to vibration (and therefore chatter), so best practice is to keep the stick out a minimal as possible to improve rigidity. This normally means working blind and relying on your dials or DRO.

Probably not an issue with Delrin, but probably more so if you make again in ali.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Nice job Scott.

If you don't mind a little bit of advice, boring bars are prone to vibration (and therefore chatter), so best practice is to keep the stick out a minimal as possible to improve rigidity. This normally means working blind and relying on your dials or DRO.

Probably not an issue with Delrin, but probably more so if you make again in ali.

Interesting. I appreciate the input.
Matthew helped me set up a solid shim (steel) to get the tool to the right height and stable = the z shape under the tool

The blue tape is my depth mark to 25 mm
I am pulling out in that photo, can't be much closer really as the tool has to go in 25mm:think:
Super spirochetes of aluminum off that so it was cutting well.
Nice smooth shoulder 25 mm inside for the plug to sit into

[MrBowcat]

Fair enough, looks like you have it as far in as it will go.

If you do experience chatter, just take lighter cuts and all should be OK. Are you using WD40 as a lubricant for ali?

[Twokidsnosleep]

Fair enough, looks like you have it as far in as it will go.

If you do experience chatter, just take lighter cuts and all should be OK. Are you using WD40 as a lubricant for ali?

Thanks
Not much chatter with the aluminum and I had some tap fluid in there which worked well

The plastic plug failed,seemingly shrinking and won't catch the internal threads.... so I will remake the plug in aluminum maybe this weekend

[Twokidsnosleep]

Saturday remake day.
The plug done entirely in aluminum now.
I spoiled a large diameter of aluminum and not happy with the waste and the time it took

[digger303]

Just like a new one

[Twokidsnosleep]

Just like a new one

Yes. It is much more solid.
I have to start with a more appropriate stoc dimension, I hare the waste.

Took some time to clean up the ‘temporary” rolling lathe cart shelf and organize the tools n such