- Joined
- Nov 14, 2016
- Messages
- 3,008
I'm still very much just learning with less than 50 hours on my lathe, probably more like 20 but I'll also plug the Sherline. I spent about 2 years researching mini-lathes before I finally settled on one to buy. I assume I'm not odd being reluctant to spend $1000+ without a lot of thought.
I've only diddled the knobs of the Harbor Freight version of the Chinese lathes in the store but compared to the Sherline they feel sloppy and cheap. Plastic handles, loose fit etc. Granted the HF version of these lathes is about as cheap as they get, and these were display models. The fit and finish of the LMS or Grizzly lathes may be much better, I haven't seen one in person. Most of the Chinese lathes are the basically the same piece of equipment, the major difference is the required standards and quality control of the importer.
The Sherline controls are largely aluminium and feel very solid and crisp. All of the Sherline tooling also has this very fine refined feel to it. If it matters to you, Sherline is based in Southern California and all its machines are made in the US.
The Sherline is a very small lathe though, 3.5" diameter and an 8 or 14" length.
That is well within my needs, but if you need bigger that will be an issue. They do offer riser to allow larger diameter work, but at that point you may be better off going with a larger lathe off the bat.
I ordered mine with their C package which gave me everything I needed and more to start with at just under $1300 + shipping so about your price range.
I have added more tooling since then but that has been more for the future. I really haven't felt limited with the tooling it came with.
Sherlines customer service has been excellent, I haven't had one issue. I bought their 5400 mill in October.
As far as set up I followed the instructions and was cutting metal within 24 hours of receiving it (had to go buy some metal first or it would have been quicker ). The instructions are very clear, it took me a couple hours to assemble it and I was ready to go. This last bit was ultimately what sold me on it. I heard too many people talking about buying a Chinese lathe and then having to take it all apart to fine tune it. Probably not a big deal if you know what you are doing but I knew I didn't so that was out.
It is a very good little lathe, but it is little.
Mikey is a font of knowledge on the Sherline lathes, pick his brain if you have technical questions about it.
I've only diddled the knobs of the Harbor Freight version of the Chinese lathes in the store but compared to the Sherline they feel sloppy and cheap. Plastic handles, loose fit etc. Granted the HF version of these lathes is about as cheap as they get, and these were display models. The fit and finish of the LMS or Grizzly lathes may be much better, I haven't seen one in person. Most of the Chinese lathes are the basically the same piece of equipment, the major difference is the required standards and quality control of the importer.
The Sherline controls are largely aluminium and feel very solid and crisp. All of the Sherline tooling also has this very fine refined feel to it. If it matters to you, Sherline is based in Southern California and all its machines are made in the US.
The Sherline is a very small lathe though, 3.5" diameter and an 8 or 14" length.
That is well within my needs, but if you need bigger that will be an issue. They do offer riser to allow larger diameter work, but at that point you may be better off going with a larger lathe off the bat.
I ordered mine with their C package which gave me everything I needed and more to start with at just under $1300 + shipping so about your price range.
I have added more tooling since then but that has been more for the future. I really haven't felt limited with the tooling it came with.
Sherlines customer service has been excellent, I haven't had one issue. I bought their 5400 mill in October.
As far as set up I followed the instructions and was cutting metal within 24 hours of receiving it (had to go buy some metal first or it would have been quicker ). The instructions are very clear, it took me a couple hours to assemble it and I was ready to go. This last bit was ultimately what sold me on it. I heard too many people talking about buying a Chinese lathe and then having to take it all apart to fine tune it. Probably not a big deal if you know what you are doing but I knew I didn't so that was out.
It is a very good little lathe, but it is little.
Mikey is a font of knowledge on the Sherline lathes, pick his brain if you have technical questions about it.