Machinery Handbook

Great thing about physical handbooks, whatever the size, is that you get to know where the stuff you need to look up or always forget is.

Internet tends to be more variable. Sometimes favourite "go to" sites change or even disappear. RoyMech(?) was great.

I have 3 hard copies of Machinery's. All got second hand to be affordable. Last one is the large desktop version. Not a lot of use but when I need them I need them. Same with Caxtons, Newness, Kempes et all. All have something the others don't.

Older ones are more important to me than most as I see a lot of old stuff that needs fixing.

That said Zeus books are the ones I use most. 3 in the workshop and one in the house for instant information.

I have several other compact sources too.

I wonder if a comparison article covering the modern, smaller, references would be useful to MEW readers showing what you have in which one. Agree that Zeus is probably the one to get first as its small inexpensive and contains much of the need it in your pocket data.

But which to get next could be a puzzle.

I think I've picked up the lot but I'm an info junkie and there are significant differences making the best one dependant on what you do. Even Zeus editions vary.

Clive

I have hardback 13th edition and PDF 30th edition and the one great advantage of the PDF edition is that it's searchable.

I keep meaning to buy a copy of "Engineer's black book" but they do two versions - inch and metric, and I don't know what the differences are so can't figure which to choose.

I find the PDF copy of the "Machinery's handbook" the best handbook I have because it is easy to find relevant stuff and it has a lot of information.

My German handbook "Tabellen Buch Metall" lists almost only metric stuff. Until now, it has never come with an answer and it is really difficult to find any information.

It seems that information differs, depending on the handbook I use. Also Internet information is not always consistent. So I check several sources to be sure.

Machinery’s 30th edition seems to have escaped on to the internet and is downloadable from many sources, I rather get the feeling that it was not intended as a free gift to the world but an unfortunate venture into the digital format that was not secured properly.

Mike

I have not looked at mine for 20 or more years but think it is a very early edition of around 1912/1913. A more useful book for me is "Fowlers" engineers book, my edition is from 1933, with the internet I would not consider buying any more paper books now I am in my twilight years.

I have I think the 23rd edition, which I haven't used apart from a causal flick though, my go to for most of the information I need is the Zeus book or for more involved things (rare for me). The Engineers edge web site: Engineers Edge - Engineering Reference Data and Tools

What about the engineers black book ? Seems well presented with only the relevant info (a bit like tubal cains handbook)

problem is what's relevant to one may not be to the other!

fair point !

In 1982 I bought a copy of Machinery's Handbook, and from to time still refer to it.

like Tubal cain's "Model Enginere's Handbook" a very useful reference.

Howard

I do think a good handbook should be more than just a simple reference book. Everything in the book should be presented in a good readable manner so that non-relevant parts can be a good distraction on a cold, wet, miserable day, like today, in the workshop.

Now to read chapter 11 (Piston & Gland Seals) of Tubal Cain's handbook!

JA

Edited By JA on 31/08/2023 12:01:56