Lathe Books

The "How to run a Lathe" book that is on Ebay all the time is a good place to start. Search "atlas lathe" and you'll see a number of them.

Here is a very good online reference that includes lathes and a lot more!:

Even though the above online reference is quite good (IMHO), I'd suggest getting a copy of the book mentioned above to keep right by the lathe.

Pete Stanaitis

-----------------------------------------------

Silvio Kapa'a wrote:

======== You are in luck.

Enco has Edwards book "Lathe Operation and Maintenance" on sale for October. Their sku NY308-0412

Enco's url is

Also see

Unka' George [George McDuffee] ============ Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains.

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), U.S. president. Letter, 17 March 1814.

You also might consider some of the instructional DVD's from littlemachineshop.com.

Chris

I think the first is too old, the latest is expensive. Thus - What is the optimum edition for a home-shop? Thnx.

On Mon, 01 Oct 2007 07:09:55 -0700, with neither quill nor qualm, brakadabras quickly quoth:

Yes.

-- Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction. - Blaise Pascal

I can thoroughly recommend "The Amateur's Lathe" by L.H.Sparey, published by Argus Books ISBN 0-85242-288-1. My copy is a paper-back and cost £7.50 in the early 90s. Another good book that covers rather more than the lathe is "The Amateur's Workshop" by Ian Bradley, published by Nexus Special Interests, ISBN 1-85486-130-1 - another paper-back.

Thanks for all the info. Silvio

Much ado about a little bit !

The oldest and the newest Machinery's Handbooks are only separated by a short span of evolutionary time in the grand scheme of metalworking. By that, I mean there is nothing "new" in any edition that would have much effect on the average home shop machinist or reader of this news group. This assertion is based on the premise that most of us lack the resources or the talent to utilize much of what is regarded as cutting edge technology.

Take a 1930' ish M. H. and read about thread cutting on a lathe, or with tap and die. You will have found a description of thread cutting to the "American" Standard and even of Sharp Vee threads, but parts made to those standards are generally interchangeable with modern ones. Read about CNC in the latest Handbook. You will find that parts made on the most up-to-date machines will be practically identical to those from the '30's. Parts can be turned out faster and more accurately with CNC but only through the marriage of electronics and metalworking. It is a part of human nature to wish to be associated with the "latest and greatest". But, in general, there is no short cut to excellence. It amuses me to read the posts where some guy, obviously with no metalworking experience, goes on about what he plans to do as soon as he gets into CNC. I can't remember ever seeing any follow-up posts from those types. Wonder why ?

Bob Swinney

Yes.

-- Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction. - Blaise Pascal