Using Collets on Sherline Lathe

Hi Guys, I will be using my Sherline lathe mostly for micro horological work (Clocks) and some larger stuff in relation to tool making. The Sherline will take vis an adapter WW collets which I have but 14 at present. my question is has anyone any tips in relation to using collets on the Sherline that I could benefit from as a beginner/

kind Regards

Chris

I use 8mm collets in my Sherline lathe and mill.

Definitely get the headstock adapter.

It would be a good idea to splash out on the WW tailstock adapter and the adjustable tailstock tool holder. With these you can achieve near perfect tailstock alignment and the ability to hold tiny drills. You can also make custom tools like long or half centres for the tool holder. It's a very useful tool and really ups the level of precision attainable.

I also use a collet holder on the rotary table.

Be aware that Sherline make collet adapters in two different types - WW and 8mm. These vary slightly in size of bore. Have a look at the Sherline website for sizes and other details and carefully measure your own collets to make sure you don't get the wrong type. Maybe use your new dial calipers!

Steve

I also use the Sherline adjustable tail stock holders for the live center + tail stock chuck, these adjustable holders make centering & drilling more accurate than the standard live center & Jacobs chuck. Without these adjustable holders i believe Sherline even state that there tail stock alignment can be around .003" out. Re collets i don't use the very small collets personally, i use larger ER25 collets 1mm - 16mm. I fitted an Emco ER25 collet chuck from an Emco Compact 8 lathe that i had.

Thanks Steve and Martin very interesting posts. Its way too early for me to express a definitive opinion on collets. Having said that I am at this point interested in the ER25 collets as they allowone chuck to cover the range I would expect to cover. How easy was it to fit the Emco collet chuck on the Sherline Martin?

I have come across a sheadstock conversion at www.sherlinecollet.com, any good for my intended precision work ?? Will have to investigate further.If changing or swapping the headstock end is not a long or difficult task then it will be a possibility but I would have to look into the knock on effects of changing the intended design.

Regards

Chris

The emco ER25 collet chuck i used was the one for the Compact 8 lathe, there is also a smaller bodied ER25 collet chuck that is for the Emco Compact 5 lathe. I just happened to have the Compact 8 collet chuck doing nothing, i kept it simple & wanted to mount it so that i could move the chuck around to get it running as true as possible. So i did not turn a register on the backing plate the chuck was mounted onto but just sat the chuck onto a flat backplate with 3 5mm cap screws holding the chuck on to the back plate. I figured that being a tiny lathe the loads put on the work piece & collet chuck wouldn't be that great & the chuck wouldn't move on the back plate not having a positive register. The chuck has not moved at all & i probably use it more than the 3 & 4 chucks that i have. I actually used the Sherline face plate as the back plate, simply faced it off & mounted the collet chuck to it & it works great for what i want & is very accurate. The ER25 collets i use are from Pro Machine Tools & are made in Germany by Farion & are .0002" accuracy.