Newbie here, looking to buy a used Sherline, advice requested......

Crow Horse said:
Greetings! I'm new here and looking to purchase a used Sherline. My budget is small so I'm looking at the #4000's but ideally would love to find a #4400. Locally and not so locally, finding a used one is impossible so I'm relegated to finding one online. Any buying tips would be greatly appreciated.

Actually, I'm not quite a newbie. I just retired after 11 years working in a large metal fabrication shop. Perhaps you've seen some of our products. We built most of the goal posts for the NFL and colleges around the country. Most of my time there I worked in the powder coating department but on some rare occasions I did help out in the machining dept.. I have operated a lathe and a mill, but these machines were set up for me by others and doing what I did a well trained monkey could have done. Now that I'm retired, I want to learn more (on a smaller scale) of lathe and milling. I'm focusing on getting a Sherline based on their reputation and what I want to be able to make are small brass pendulums. I'm sure other projects will spin off from this as I'm a hopeless confirmed "tinkerer", always trying to reinvent the wheel.

I have lots of homework to do, culling through the forum for info on lathes & Sherlines. I have no doubt that it'll take some time to come up to speed to be able to produce quality items, but it's not the destination that's important but rather it's the journey that is paramount.

Any info you can shoot my way will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance......
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I can definitely give you a tip on buying. I’m also retired & started building scale models 4 years ago, that morphed into me building Ultra Detailed Autos 1:24 scale. I had been adding numerous custom aftermarket detail parts that were all made on a lathe. After a $1000+ Spent over a 2-yr period I’d started my research into getting a metal lathe. After careful research & conversations with skilled lathe operators who made the parts I’d been buying, In the beginning I almost made the mistake of buying something that looked good, with a price south of $1k. My budget at the time was about $700. A buddy told me to keep saving my money & get a Sherline. I just wish I had saved a bit longer & purchased the 4000 with a package including everything I needed! As a result I’m paying up a big premium by now adding the attachments I want & need. Example: I just spent $400+ on a COMPOUND SLIDE & ZERO ADJUST HANDWHEELS + a few other items that were all included in the “C” package. I got the “B” package with the regular adjust hand wheels.
I would have saved myself $200+ I also asked to speak with one of the Product Specialist “Pam” , who spent an hour with me on the phone helping me. She told me that I would do the EXACT SAME THING THAT I DID…

You will absolutely love the Lathe! It was SOLID, & worked PERFECTLY after a simple setup. None of the problems that I’ve read from other buyers of lathes that are…. Less expensive … I actually have asked what the “Less expensive” lathe owners have invested (ALL IN) on their machine. And the costs are actually equal…Its only that initial investment that is more… Hope this was helpful- I’ve got more helpful anecdotal comments, but this being my 1st comment on the site, I didn’t want to wear out my welcome. Feel free to hit me up for any other ?’s on the matter, that’s the beauty of RETIREMENT- PLENTY OF FREE-TIME
Lee
 
I can definitely give you a tip on buying. I’m also retired & started building scale models 4 years ago, that morphed into me building Ultra Detailed Autos 1:24 scale. I had been adding numerous custom aftermarket detail parts that were all made on a lathe. After a "$1000+ Spent over a 2-yr period I’d started my research into getting a metal lathe. After careful research & conversations with skilled lathe operators who made the parts I’d been buying, In the beginning I almost made the mistake of buying something that looked good, with a price south of $1k. My budget at the time was about $700. A buddy told me to keep saving my money & get a Sherline. I just wish I had saved a bit longer & purchased the 4000 with a package including everything I needed! As a result I’m paying up a big premium by now adding the attachments I want & need. Example: I just spent $400+ on a COMPOUND SLIDE & ZERO ADJUST HANDWHEELS + a few other items that were all included in the “C” package. I got the “B” package with the regular adjust hand wheels.
I would have saved myself $200+ I also asked to speak with one of the Product Specialist “Pam” , who spent an hour with me on the phone helping me. She told me that I would do the EXACT SAME THING THAT I DID…

You will absolutely love the Lathe! It was SOLID, & worked PERFECTLY after a simple setup. None of the problems that I’ve read from other buyers of lathes that are…. Less expensive … I actually have asked what the “Less expensive” lathe owners have invested (ALL IN) on their machine. And the costs are actually equal…Its only that initial investment that is more… Hope this was helpful- I’ve got more helpful anecdotal comments, but this being my 1st comment on the site, I didn’t want to wear out my welcome. Feel free to hit me up for any other ?’s on the matter, that’s the beauty of RETIREMENT- PLENTY OF FREE-TIME"
Lee

I picked up a used 4000 that is almost 40 years old that had several items that I required for my purposes. I did place a sizeable order to Sherline for additional upgrades using the advice shared here. I've also purchased several used items that saved a little bit of money. One advantage of buying a good used unit (other than initial cost savings) is that in tearing it down, cleaning, adjusting, and reassembly, you get a better sense of how the lathe operates. This might not be important to some folks, but I always have found this method to provide the best education in a new arena. All bets are off if you find a particularly troublesome unit that refuses to operate properly. That is insanely frustrating.

That said, everyone takes the plunge in a manner that is most comfortable for them.

I'm really happy that I chose a Sherline lathe. I'm very impressed that virtually everything is backwards compatible, their website is easy to navigate, they provide instructions for all their products online, and they have a wide variety of "upgrades" to suit a users needs. In addition but certainly not the least important, is their stellar customer service. I've sent them several questions and they replied within hours and in some cases, just minutes. It doesn't get much better than that. Exceptional customer support is quite rare these day but Sherline nails it.

I firmly believe that any skill that one excels in is very much like the relationship that a professional musician has with their instrument. The musicians input is instinctual and the instrument executes their creative expression, producing music that is pleasing to the ears. There is no separation between the two and there is a "oneness". In it's pureest sense, it's a communion of the two. The same holds true for a lathe operator, machinist, machine operator, welder, painter, etc. etc..
 
Crow Horse said:
I can definitely give you a tip on buying. I’m also retired & started building scale models 4 years ago, that morphed into me building Ultra Detailed Autos 1:24 scale. I had been adding numerous custom aftermarket detail parts that were all made on a lathe. After a "$1000+ Spent over a 2-yr period I’d started my research into getting a metal lathe. After careful research & conversations with skilled lathe operators who made the parts I’d been buying, In the beginning I almost made the mistake of buying something that looked good, with a price south of $1k. My budget at the time was about $700. A buddy told me to keep saving my money & get a Sherline. I just wish I had saved a bit longer & purchased the 4000 with a package including everything I needed! As a result I’m paying up a big premium by now adding the attachments I want & need. Example: I just spent $400+ on a COMPOUND SLIDE & ZERO ADJUST HANDWHEELS + a few other items that were all included in the “C” package. I got the “B” package with the regular adjust hand wheels.
I would have saved myself $200+ I also asked to speak with one of the Product Specialist “Pam” , who spent an hour with me on the phone helping me. She told me that I would do the EXACT SAME THING THAT I DID…

You will absolutely love the Lathe! It was SOLID, & worked PERFECTLY after a simple setup. None of the problems that I’ve read from other buyers of lathes that are…. Less expensive … I actually have asked what the “Less expensive” lathe owners have invested (ALL IN) on their machine. And the costs are actually equal…Its only that initial investment that is more… Hope this was helpful- I’ve got more helpful anecdotal comments, but this being my 1st comment on the site, I didn’t want to wear out my welcome. Feel free to hit me up for any other ?’s on the matter, that’s the beauty of RETIREMENT- PLENTY OF FREE-TIME"
Lee

I picked up a used 4000 that is almost 40 years old that had several items that I required for my purposes. I did place a sizeable order to Sherline for additional upgrades using the advice shared here. I've also purchased several used items that saved a little bit of money. One advantage of buying a good used unit (other than initial cost savings) is that in tearing it down, cleaning, adjusting, and reassembly, you get a better sense of how the lathe operates. This might not be important to some folks, but I always have found this method to provide the best education in a new arena. All bets are off if you find a particularly troublesome unit that refuses to operate properly. That is insanely frustrating.

That said, everyone takes the plunge in a manner that is most comfortable for them.

I'm really happy that I chose a Sherline lathe. I'm very impressed that virtually everything is backwards compatible, their website is easy to navigate, they provide instructions for all their products online, and they have a wide variety of "upgrades" to suit a users needs. In addition but certainly not the least important, is their stellar customer service. I've sent them several questions and they replied within hours and in some cases, just minutes. It doesn't get much better than that. Exceptional customer support is quite rare these day but Sherline nails it.

I firmly believe that any skill that one excels in is very much like the relationship that a professional musician has with their instrument. The musicians input is instinctual and the instrument executes their creative expression, producing music that is pleasing to the ears. There is no separation between the two and there is a "oneness". In it's pureest sense, it's a communion of the two. The same holds true for a lathe operator, machinist, machine operator, welder, painter, etc. etc..
Click to expand...
Anything that still operates after 40 years of use is wonderful
 
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