Mini Machines For Gunsmiths

Want an inexpensive lathe or mill? Ones that don’t need elaborate or permanent installation or require sacrificing half your meager workshop space? Something that will work for occasional small jobs that won’t break the bank? I own a gunsmithing shop and have been doing gunsmithing for about 12 years. While I do use a large lathe and mill for bigger work, I find that mini machines are more than adequate for many gunsmithing tasks. When being used they run very smooth, just like a large lathe or mill.

They are machine operated with a belt drive to the head stock. Their motors run smooth and are powerful. For smaller work, my small lathe is by Sherline (sherline.com) which costs about $700 new. Despite its size, it operates the same as a large lathe and will cut titanium steel when using a carbide cutter. I make firing pins, small screws, gun pins, and bore small holes and other cuts. For some jobs I like to cut back a small firing pin to allow more firing pin protrusion.

I’ve also found that turning apiece of round stock for slave pins can be set up just as fast as a big lathe. This small lathe moves in increments of 0.001" for cuts and is very accurate. In fact, I’ve found it to be as accurate as a large lathe. My lathe has a 3-jaw chuck that is self centering, though you can also get a 4-jaw chuck and adjust each jaw. There many accessories available depending what you need to turn and cut. Sherline makes a high quality miniature machine.

I’ve been able to turn a diameter close to the chuck on the lathe within 0.0002". My particular lathe is a model 4000 series at 3.5"x8". Sherline also makes their 4500, which is the same size but features adjustable "zero" hand wheels, and a larger model 4400 with a 17" bed. The hand wheels are precisely laser engraved in graduations of 0.001 inch. I have been very happy using this bench lathe for small jobs. In addition to lathes, Sherline also makes mini milling machines and CNC packages.

They’re all fully capable of precision work within their size capacity. I also use a mini mill made by Unimat out of Australia that can be had for around $600. I use it to cut very small gun parts and to surface grind them. This mill will also do the same work as a big mill within its smaller capacity. I have used it to cut dove tails in barrels for mounting better and bigger sights for a customer I had that was assembling a kit gun.

I’ve also cut weaver sight bases. The same variety of square and ball end mill cutters, other cutters and collets sizes are available for this mill as bigger units. As a bonus, they can be changed faster on the smaller unit. These small mills can use right and left hand cutting tools for HSS steel, or you can get the same in carbide cutting tools. Most gunsmiths, especially small and one-man shops, are not doing any kind of production work.

Bigger machines will be needed to set back rifle barrels, reline barrels, put muzzle breaks on rifle barrels, thread barrels, and make large parts or tools. However, you can put pistol or revolver barrels on a mini lathe or mill. Mini machines can’t do everything, but they work for me and I have fun working on them. The cuts are clean and smooth on the metal with no vibrations with either the lathe or the mill. Full-size machines are nice but mini machines may be all you need.

I believe these mini machines have a place in the gunsmith shop as we are often working on small gun parts, not crank shafts. They take up little room to work on and can do much of the same work as a big lathe or mill. For anew gunsmith, especially one just graduating from a gunsmith school, these might be an ideal way to start. A full-size machine is a substantial investment and will take along time to get your money back. I know how that goes!

Even with access to larger machines, I still find that I use my mini machines more often. If you’re not operating a machine shop, small and less expensive machines may fit your needs perfectly. AG American Gunsmith Reader Services 1.