Tutorials for Sherline mill

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hi all. I have had a Sherline mill for about a year, and I keep
procrastinating about learning anything beyond having the best damn
drill press ever. The literature and book available through the
company are overwhelming and not at all geared toward jwelery making.

Does anyone have knowledge of other tutorials or assistance avialable
for this machine that are simpler and less oriented to the engineer?
Thanks!

Allan Mason

2 
Does anyone have knowledge of other tutorials or assistance
avialable for this machine that are simpler and less oriented to
the engineer?

Hello Allan,

Oh, you lucky man! I have a Sherline lathe and I can’t tell you how
much I look forward to getting the mill. I pine, I dream, I have
little milling fantasies. Sigh.

To your question: you might want to try “The Home Machinist’s
Handbook” by Doug Briney. Although the text covers both miniature
lathes and mills it does so from a fairly non-technical point of
view and would, I think, take you a goody distance down the path
toward getting to know your mill. After that book the stuff in the
Sherline books, “Tabletop Machining” in particular, should be a
little more accessible.

FWIW I’ve been gathering literature on the tabletop machining
subject for a few years now and unfortunately I think you’ll find
that in order to make use of much of it you are going to have to
learn to think and talk a little bit like an engineer. In my
experience it’s just the nature of the beast, but on the other hand
it’s not too difficult to learn the basics. Like I said, the Briney
book will get you started.

Good luck, you lucky devil!

Cheers,
Trevor F.
in The City of Light

3

Hi Allan,

I highly recommend hands-on training. Reading about lathe operation
is much more difficult than watching a demonstration and immediately
trying it yourself. I had the fortunate experience of learning a lot
about lathe operation from a crazy Irish jeweller, Eimear Conyard,
who makes one-off watches and taught at the Nova Scotia College of
Art and Design for a number of years. Why not check out your local
community college for an evening course on machining? You can apply
most of what you learn, in some form, to jewellery making.

4 
    Does anyone have knowledge of other tutorials or assistance
avialable for this machine that are simpler and less oriented to
the engineer? for Sherline mill

Hi Allan,

Phil Poirier is teaching an extensive class on Micromachining here
September 26-30. It is geared toward jewelers and metalsmiths. We
have one or 2 spots open.

Check out this link to see all that is covered.
http://www.katewolfdesigns.com/workshop/workshops.htm

Have a great day!
Kate Wolf in Portland, Maine, hosting wicked good workshops by the bay.