Is anybody familiar with Sherline lathes ?

Is anybody familiar with Sherline lathes ? I am still after a small lathe ie. something I can pick up by myself. There is nothing available here in Australia so I may have to buy one of these Sherline lathes from the US. They weigh less than 15 KG .

What is an ''optional riser block'' ? This would allow me turn flywheels up to 6'' in diameter but I am not really sure what it is !

**LINK**

Update : yes, there are a few suppliers of Sherline lathes in Australia. I am not sure why they have never turned up in my searches before. It is more expensive to buy them from the Australian suppliers but in view of past experiences with lathes damaged in transit it is better to buy locally.

Hi Brian,

Not familiar with the Sherline but have aTaig and you can buy here in Australia but may not be what you want- also may be worthwhile looking at some of the small sieg lathes available from ausiee .com.au.

The Sherline will cost you though , I'm sure there were a few advertisers in AME but will have to dig out some old copies as the current one shows nothing but I think it was miniature steam pty ltd that sold them.

occasionally one will come up on EBAY but it was 4 months or more since I saw the last one and as usual it is a long way away and they wont post !

Ian

As discussed on another thread, I had already ordered two SIEG C0's but both arrived damaged. A full refund was given so now I am looking for something else.

There are Sherline lathes listed on ebay and they do list posting prices to Australia from the US. But you are right : it is a long way and anything can happen in transit. This is NOT something I want to have to send back if it is damaged !

UPDATE : never mind. I have just received a reply from a US supplier. He said that even with risers the maximum I could machine on a Sherline is 3''. I would at least like to be able to go up to 4''. Lathes are either too big or too small !

Edited By Brian John on 14/11/2014 04:28:53

G'day.

Sherline lathes were originally designed and sold in Australia before Mr. Sher sold out to the USA. My own model dates back over 40 years and it has the original brass bed. The 'raising block' lifts the headstock to accommodate larger diameters.

One useful feature is that the headstock may be swivelled for turning tapers.

They are a lovely little lathe and quite accurate too, I have made countless needle valve assemblies on mine as they are perfect for small jobs and as you have noted, they are very portable. All the 'usual' accessories for it's bigger brothers are available too, such as vertical milling slides, various chucks and WW collet sets.

* Danny M *

Brian,

I have no practical experience of the Sherline products, but I have been very impressed by the quality of the documentation and support that they provide. ... This is usually a sign of integrity.

If I was looking for a new lathe of that size, Sherline would certainly be high on the list of possibilities.

Have a good look around their website, and note Jason's closing remark.

MichaelG.

Brian it is possible to turn larger, take a look at number 2 here, that gearwheel being turned is 4.75" finished size so it is possible to do larger than 3" And having handled one of those Mery engine body castings she is working on in the mill I would say they are BIG

As I said in the message I deleted there is a lot of very detailed work done with these lathes and they would be a good investment compared with teh far easter types some examples of peoples work from their site

As Michael says if I wa slooking for a house lathe then this would be my likely choice

As you like the PMR engines this is a current thread of their steam drilling engine being done on Sherline machines though not sure how he will do the flywheel

Edited By JasonB on 14/11/2014 08:28:42

That is interesting. So I need the riser block kit with the riser tool post P/N 1291 to do those larger peices. That restores the Sherline lathe to the top of my list.

http://www.sherline.com/1290inst.htm

http://www.sherline.com/1291pg.htm

Edited By Brian John on 14/11/2014 09:51:48

If you also intend to drill and ream the bores on the lathe then the tailstock riser will also be needed along with the headstock/toolpost riser kit.

J