A Lathe Bible Book

As a "small lathe" beginner, I have probably read more books on lathe and milling than actually using the machines - probably my scientific background (previous work, methodology, experiment, analysis, report) - but I digress. I have finally found a book that somehow gives me the information I can appreciate and carry forward. The book is "Using the Small Lathe - by L.C. Mason" published in 1963 (2nd edition in 1969 - always a good sign - not many technical books go to 2nd editions). I got it from abebooks for £2. Its just so "hands-on" - e.g.quote "Lots of engineers reference books give tables of cutting speeds for various metals. You can turn over quickly - they don't apply to you and me. In home workshop machining you can only go by the feel, sound and appearance of the job".

The basic act of working with metal hasn't really changed for hundreds of years - so a book that is only 50 years old is still relevant. It is my Lathe Bible for the foreseeable future.

I have to smile at that - Colin I've sent you a PM so you know why!

Neil

Not exactly a lathe bible, this book has some very good machining techniques from the 40's. **LINK**

It's about gunsmithing, it's about 40Mb and it's a freebie.

* Danny M *

The best Gun smithing and metalworking book (2 vols) Is The Modern Gunsmith by James Virgil Howe

Google it here:

**LINK**.

He takes metal craft to the highest level.

Regards
John

And this book... **LINK**

.

Well done, Colin !!

... Not a lot around at that price.

MichaelG.

Colin,

Never a truer word spoken my Mason.

When I started the hobby I read just about all the books on speed and metal removal but soon gave up and used my eyes and ears.

With VFD now, I adjust speed to depth of cut until the swarf coming off looks right, and everything sounds right.

I'm not into production unlike JS, where his time is worth shekels.

It's a relaxing hobby innit?

Geoff - Well most of the time that is.

Even so Geoff I never use speed and feed tables, just wind everything up until something bends or breaks and back it off a tad.

Nearly the same I would have thought John.

Industry would want maximum metal removal just short of things going south, but conducive with acceptable tool wear, not so?

I could be spouting cobblers of course, as I've never used production methods, so no experience.

Geoff - TIG time

While there is an ideal surface speed for a given material and cutting tool, rigidity of workpiece and tool affects Maximum Material Removal Rate too. Cooling is another factor.

A deeper cut requires fewer passes to achieve size so minimises time and wear.

With amateur kit you just do the best it can. Tables are useless. Experience will get you close enough for low volume work.

To Jens Erik - just bought "The Amateurs Lathe" by Sparey from Abebooks for £4.10 - still some other copies available at that site.

'Know your lathe' is a popular one. Originally written for the Southbend and then rephotographed to fit the Boxford.

Hi Colin.  Like you I am a beginner and have a collection of books.

On your recommendation I bought Mason's book and it really is a good read. As you say nothing much has changed since it was published in 1963. It's great virtue is that he has made it quite conversational unlike some of the other books that are abrupt in style. I have learnt a lot of detail from it that didn't sink in from the others. I am waiting for someone to say 'just get on and do it' but my workshop is not ready yet and then I have to rebuild my Boxford.

My short list would include Sparey's Amateur Lathe and How To Run A Lathe which is a reprint of a 1942 South Bend manual. Similar to Boxford's Know Your Lathe but with some more detail, such as installation techniques.

Regards, Nick

Edited By Nick T on 04/05/2015 07:20:48

Edited By Nick T on 04/05/2015 07:21:43

Edited By Nick T on 04/05/2015 07:23:13

Colin, I has same book and it covers mostly a need to know and use a lathe. And there are other useful topics that you find in this link: **LINK**

I bought half a library of books before I bought my lathe:

Three little books in the "Amateur Mechanic & Work"; "Small Lathes, Making and Using" "Metal Turning Made Easy" "The simple Lathe and it's Accessories".

"The Amateurs Lathe" Sparey.

"Introducing the Lathe" Stan Bray.

Q&A "Lathe Work" J. A. Oates

"Lathe Work" E. Molloy.

"How to Run a Lathe" South Bend.

"How to cutscrew threads in the Lathe" South Bend.

"Popular Mechanics LATHE Handbook No 1"

"Workshop Technology" W. A. J. Chapman, vols one and three.

Plus a few others that were of little use.

Ian S C

Geoff

Your answer is right "ont money .Worked in production engineering , One particular job comes to mind= 500 ft 1in Dia en 8 per shift

Bodge

Colin

Seems to me your more than half way there already ! "Scientific back ground ,methodology, experiment, analysis." Cutting speeds and feeds ! "They dont apply to you and me .In the home workshop , you can only go by feel. sound , and appearance ." Thats pretty good analysis. I "speck Neil added some more books worth a read. Second hand book shops are getting to be a rare thing these day , may be worth a look if there are any near you,

Bodge

You will not be wise of you are looking for the answer that you already know from before.

Jens Eirik, not sure of you reply, but I used a similar method before I bought my wood lathe a few years before, and a stick welder a bit later, I then proceded to teach myself how to use the equipment, and 20 years plus I'm still learning. In the list above, the useful ones are numbers 1, 2, 5, 6.

Ian S C

Bodge and others interested,

I've found abebooks (www.abebooks.co.uk) which is a consortium of new and second-hand booksellers mainly from UK and USA provide a good, reliable and cheap (provided you aren't looking for a rare 1st edition) way of getting books that are out of print or difficult to find. I have had a passion for the Arctic since working there in the 1990's, and I always went to abebooks first for ancient books (right back to 1856 in my case) about the Arctic and Antarctic. While they generally can't compete with Amazon on prices of new books, anything else I find to be extremely good value - try a search for any book on their webpage.