Can anybody help me with my Sherline mill?

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godogs57

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Apr 16, 2004
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I have had one of those Sherline mini mills (model 5000) for about 3 years and, while small and limited at what it can do, it always worked pretty good for me as long as I took my time.

My problem is that now, the milling vise, as they call it, does not want to hold my nickel silver or ss handguard material so I can mill out the guard slot or hidden tang slot. The jaws just won't hold on to it, no matter how hard I squeeze 'em down. I take great pains to ensure that both sides of the guard material are parallel, so there is 100% contact with the vise jaws. Still no good....I start milling my slot and the mill just pushes it out the end....

There has to be an answer....Thanks in advance.
 
Most mill vice designs include a mechanism to prevent the moving jaw from lifting. This mechanism pulls the moving jaw down to the bed as you crank it down. If there is a lot of sticky half dried old gunk between the bed and the moving jaw it might actually seize up and stick in place when cranking down, preventing adequate clamping of the work piece. This is a bit of a stretch, but I can't think of anything else that could cause a part heavily clamped on to easily move. Try cleaning your vice?
 
I am not familiar with the mini mill. I googled it and after looking at the pic on their site I still don't know too much. I would suggest two things. Take pictures and post them and contact Nathan the Machinist. He is very informative when it comes to machine associated items. Do a search for his name on BF!

See Nathan beat me to the post!:D
 
Check for loose faces, schmutz in the ways and cutouts for the clamp bolt, look
for the jaws lifting as you tighten.
 
I've been using basically the same mill (5500) and vise for 12 years and using it hard. I've never had that problem. Something isn't right with your vice.
 
The milling vise for the Sherline has a notched assembly for tightening the jaws. Back the hex bolt off until the jaws are very loose; with the allen wrench sutpplied move the handle up and slide the movable jaw in and out. Now push the jaw against the material you are milling hold the jaw firmly against the material as you tighten the hex bolt.
If the tightening arm is in the next notch out; the jaw will not tighten against the material.
I use my mini a lot and still have this happen to me.
 
Tried all those suggestions early on....took the vise apart, cleaned it good, snugged it up against the guard material before tightening so it was on the closest notch in the vise, spank brand new cutter. I agree with Don...something ain't right! In simple terms, I believe the faces on the vise are too slick....nothing to grab the material and hold it. I dunno....gonna go back to square one and see what might be wrong. Thanks for the help!
 
This might help. A long time ago, I closed my vice and centered it under a 1/8-5/32" endmill. I cut about a 3/32" deep groove the length of the vice jaws. This left a ledge on each vice face to set my guard stock on, hold down with finger and tighten. All level and holds tight.
 
I have the Model 5400 and have had a few problems from time-to-time. If you are using a set of parallels or have a groove milled like Don suggested, your problem may be related to a piece of stock that is not exact in size from end-to-end. If that is the case, the vise jaws are not making complete contact on the stock and therefore, will not hold it as tight as it could.

Here is a little tip that may help........ slip a piece or two of notebook paper between the stock and the vise jaws on one side then tighten. Sometimes, just sometimes, those few thousands of paper shim will help hold that booger in place.

Robert
 
that the stock is the same width from end to end, to the point of using a micrometer. The notebook paper is one idea. I have also thought about stealing one of my wife's emory boards to use on both sides of the stock while in the vise. The "sandpaper" on both sides might allow the vise to hold the stock in there....sure can't hurt can it?

hope she understands...

Idea #2: use my metal checkering file to file vertical groves in the jaws of the vise...think that'd work?
 
Instead or putting an abrasive in the vise, I'd try a thin sheet of lead, on the movable side only,

You still want the fixed jaw to be a flat and straight reference side
 
Talked with Fred at Sherline and was basically told if the stock is straight (parallel) then the jaws should grip...if they don't, obviously the faces of the jaw are slicker than they need to be. He recommended that I make my own jaw faces out of aluminum, as it will grip better. Also agreed with my idea of roughing up the faces as well. His first suggestion was almost like my idea of using my wife's emory boards in between the vise jaws and the stock....he suggested the sandpaper they use on drywalls, the "mesh" type sandpaper that is gritty on both sides....good idea.

I plan on roughing my existing faces on the jaw and see what happens before I do anything else.
 
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