alde Posted May 26, 2014 Share #1 Posted May 26, 2014 (edited) I just got what I thought was a good deal on a used Sherline 4000 Lathe. It runs great and seems nice and tight but there is one problem. The distance from the top of the cross slide to the center of the chuck should be .94". Mine measures .69". I noticed there was something wrong when I could not get a tool close to the center of the work and I could not chuck up a 1.5" diameter aluminum rod over the cross slide. My cross slide is .88" thick. Can somebody please measure the thickness of their Sherline lathe cross slide for me? Here is a picture of mine with a brand new rear mount cut off tool that goes over a piece mounted in the chuck. Thanks for any help, Al Edited May 26, 2014 by alde Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
normanh Posted May 26, 2014 Share #2 Posted May 26, 2014 Usually you would align the tip of the tool ( cutting edge ) to the centreline of the job in the chuck, your parting tool is way to high in the toolpost.It will never work as a parting tool as it is. Norman WackoWolf 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alde Posted May 26, 2014 Author Share #3 Posted May 26, 2014 Usually you would align the tip of the tool ( cutting edge ) to the centreline of the job in the chuck, your parting tool is way to high in the toolpost.It will never work as a parting tool as it is. Norman Yes, and after looking at it and comparing it to pictures of other Sherline lathes and a drawing with dimensions I found on the company site it looks like my cross slide it too thick by 0.25". It was bought used. I am thinking somebody switched the slide with one from a mill or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted May 26, 2014 Share #4 Posted May 26, 2014 A full quarter inch????? The did something weird. Are there any part numbers on the slide? If so, you might contact Sherline and see what they think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alde Posted May 26, 2014 Author Share #5 Posted May 26, 2014 A full quarter inch????? The did something weird. Are there any part numbers on the slide? If so, you might contact Sherline and see what they think. Mark, I had the slide off and could not find a part number. I went ahead and ordered the slide that should be correct for my lathe directly from Sherline. It was $35 but it will be well worth it if it works right. mtaylor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dziadeczek Posted May 26, 2014 Share #6 Posted May 26, 2014 I have a Sherline lathe model 4410 and the thickness of my crossslide is .62. Hope this helps... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alde Posted May 26, 2014 Author Share #7 Posted May 26, 2014 I have a Sherline lathe model 4410 and the thickness of my crossslide is .62. Hope this helps... Thank you. This is just the information I was looking for. Yours is a full 0.25" thinner. I must have the wrong part on my lathe. I sure hope the part I get from Sherline works. Thanks again for all the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dziadeczek Posted May 27, 2014 Share #8 Posted May 27, 2014 Upon closer examination of your pic, it seems to me that you have possibly mounted the cut-off tool post incorrectly in your lathe. Are you sure that the post is not mounted upside down? (the slanted surface should be facing down). Besides, I am not sure you can turn anything on Sherline lathes in the reversed position, from the back of your cross slide. Try to mount it the right side up and in front (facing you) of the cross slide table. This should lower the tip of your cut off tool, hopefully just at the center of your work piece. WackoWolf 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dziadeczek Posted May 27, 2014 Share #9 Posted May 27, 2014 (edited) OK, I figured it out. You have a rear mounted cut off tool holder (post) instead of the standard one (front mounted, rightside up). Also, it looks that your lathe came with a cross slide taken from their mill. You have to exchange it into a thinner one - dedicated to their lathe. Sorry for the confusion. Thomas Edited May 27, 2014 by Dziadeczek alde 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted May 27, 2014 Share #10 Posted May 27, 2014 Rear mounted? I didn't know there was such a thing. Alde, which way is the rotation of the chuck? I believe on the Sherline it should be such that it rotates the material into the top of the tool. From your picture, it should be clockwise. If the cutter were on the other side, it would be counter-clock wise. Is it possible that the tool holder/slide has been somehow installed backwards? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alde Posted May 27, 2014 Author Share #11 Posted May 27, 2014 OK, I figured it out. You have a rear mounted cut off tool holder (post) instead of the standard one (front mounted, rightside up). Also, it looks that your lathe came with a cross slide taken from their mill. You have to exchange it into a thinner one - dedicated to their lathe. Sorry for the confusion. Thomas Yes, it's the rear mount tool holder. I got it because I thought it might be better if I make several parts like cannon barrels. I have the thinner table on the way and it should solve the problem. Thanks again for all the help. I will post back when I get the new part and have it up and running. Then I have the fun of learning how to use it. Al D. mtaylor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alde Posted May 27, 2014 Author Share #12 Posted May 27, 2014 Rear mounted? I didn't know there was such a thing. Alde, which way is the rotation of the chuck? I believe on the Sherline it should be such that it rotates the material into the top of the tool. From your picture, it should be clockwise. If the cutter were on the other side, it would be counter-clock wise. Is it possible that the tool holder/slide has been somehow installed backwards? Yes, the standard tool holders that go on the operator side are about 1/4" shorter so they cut from the top. The rear mount is designed to cut from the bottom and the cut off tool is put upside down. mtaylor and WackoWolf 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgbot Posted June 20, 2014 Share #13 Posted June 20, 2014 (edited) When using the rear mounted post you also need the riser for the head stock. The rules for using a cut off tool have not changed. The only difference is instead of cutting from the front you are doing the reverse . While replacing the slide is a start you could still use the milling slide to do the same thing. David B Edited June 20, 2014 by dgbot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgbot Posted June 20, 2014 Share #14 Posted June 20, 2014 Learn something new all the time. The few people I know have that set up use a riser unless I did not get a real close look. David B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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