Sherline Lathe.

[lancelot]

Hello all,
would anyone using the ''Sherline Lathe'' as supplied [Millhill supplies uk] or having obtained from other sources, like to give a review on their experiences with using this machine, ie...what inherent problems they found ..if any...motor powerful enough?...taper turning?...ridgidity of machine e/t/c.
I do certainly know it is in no way as preciice as the Cowells, but my problem with the Cowells is ''lead time'' and the very limited hole size in mandrel.
So any one out there using a Sherline please air your views .
All the best for now,
John.

[Jo]

I have had a number of the smaller lathes but not a Sherline. Generally I have tried to do more on them than the motor could cope with.

For my small lathe I now have a Hobbymat which is excellent (and they are available second hand for less money than Millhill want for the Sherline lathe.) The few odd irritations were corrected by aftermarket additions such as rotating handles, lever tailstock feed and multi change tool post. My only regret is that no one made a capstan tailstock for it: so I have to put up with using a morse taper multi tool holder instead. I have found it ideal for making the bits of the Corliss.

I suppose the real question is do you really need to go that small? If you are watch making the Cowells would be worth waiting for.

Jo

[Chris Kelland]

Hi John,

I had a Sherline lathe and milling machine for some years, treated carefully it is able to produce reasonably 'accurate' work, look at the Sherline web site to see what some people can achieve. I was even able to machine a worn Simplex valveface. Realistically it is only able to handle very small work, though you may be able to machine a small 3 1/2 on one.

I will say that it is very easy to use, powerful for its size and as it is built on the 'everything fits everything else' principle there is very little duplication of accessories. Do have a look at the Sherline website. www.sherline.com/tools.htmIf all you want to do is very small work, it's as good as anything else.

Chris

[lancelot]

Thank you for your input to this post, I have studied the Sherline site reviews and conversed with a few American users and more or less made my mind up on getting one, its main use will be in making all the linkages and small bits for the steam engines I am building.
No Jo, not ''watchmaking'' ...should I be so good...if cash was not a consideration I might have gone for ''Cowells''but lead time on the new machine and the small capacity of the mandrel hole rather put me off plus the 2n/d hand ones were as scarce as Grasshopper poo... by the way, how are you getting on with your ''Corliss'' build.
Chris, I note ...you had... a Sherline lathe, did it die a natural death, or did you part with it for some other reason?
All the best for now,
John.

[Jo]

Hi John,

Everything is a bit on hold at the moment: I am having a dining room (= more indoor model storage) built. I think the building inspector cottoned on to its real use and asked for calculations as to the load bearing capability of the proposed concrete floor. A bit overkill if you ask me I was only going to keep my 5" loco's in there not any 7 1/4.

As for the Sherline: What is making you think of buying one? Space? Accuracy?

If you compare a new Cowells to a new Myford they seem rather cheap.

Jo

[Chris Kelland]

Hi All,

I did like the Sherline, both the lathe and the milling machine, but they were just not big enough for machining a serious 5 inch loco.
Then there was cost, after buying all the bits and pieces it actually came to more than the Warco 918 I bought to replace the Sherline.

The main reason I bought the Sherline was convenience, Millhill was at one time just round the corner from me in Crowmarsh (Oxfordshire) and I knew Tony who ran it quite well. When he retired I sold both machines.


Chris.

[lancelot]

Jo, you have sussed it,..space is at a premium, accuracy is to 1/2 a thou...depending on what my current level of skill is at that time the idea of the Cowells has rather gone by the wayside, over priced and unsuitable. I have looked at a lot of reviews by very happy users, seen the results of their work using this machine, all I will need is the basic lathe lathe plus a few other bits of tooling,Chris, it will be used only for the small connecting linkages and such, therefore not holding up a setup on the big lathe. One added advantage is that a lot of the tooling can be made for this lathe out of ''Aircraft Quality Aluminum'' for which I have a good source.
All the best for now,
John.

[Chris Kelland]

Hi John,

I think you have made the right choice!

Chris.