Reference books

Could I have some advice on engineering reference books that preferable have imperial and metric measurements as at the moment I use the web for my charts and info and I'm going to drop my phone one of these days with the oil over it!

Most people have a Zeus book in their toolbox and they have wipe clean pages, a copy of Machinery’s handbook is very useful but a paper copy would not like oily fingers, electronic copies are available.

Mike

The Zeus data tables are useful (and greaseproof) from Amazon for £5.40 or there is the Metalworkers Data Book by Harold Hall, one of the Workshop Practice Series, also from Amazon.

The Engineers Black Book is quite useful if you can find one at a sensible price some one on Amazon selling a used copy for £70 !

John

Edited By Journeyman on 09/06/2019 09:14:43

Machinery's Handbook is probably the most complete, about £70 new but widely available second hand. Mine is the 22nd Edition, Metric & Imperial, about £10 from Abe Books I think. For use in a clean environment - not an oily workshop.

Dave

Engineers black book is definitely the best pocket reference you will find, mine was 20 quid from msc a few years ago. Contains so much information it's very useful for many jobs.

I did find a metric imperial conversion chart on line, blew it up to A3 size and laminated three copies for putting near to my mills and lathes. I can check sizes instantly in large print so no fumbling for books or charts. I also did a tapping chart using excel to show all my favoured tapping sizes.

Mick

Model Engineers Handbook by Tubal Cain (Tom Walshaw)

Just seen 3rd edition at 25 quid on sutton tools website. Grab one immediately!

Newnes Mechanical Engineers pocket book, ISBN - 0-434-91988-8; mine is the 1st 1990 edition full of info that you will ever need for every day use, not oil proof but excellent ref book. My instant grab book is the Zeus ref pocket book metric revision 95, oil / water proof- Buck & Hickman, around £6, available from B & H or Amazon. I have also downloaded ref /conversion charts from 't'internet & laminated them for garage/man cave use, stuck on cabinets with magnets, usual disclaimer applies.

George.

p.s. I also have the 'Model Engineers Handbook' by Tubal Cain.

Edited By mechman48 on 09/06/2019 11:02:05

I wouldn't manage without one of these.

Me too! Ordered one yesterday!

Had the 2nd ed for a couple of years, new ed has more pages too!

Jim

Thank you people this is helpful, was looking at the zeus book but wasn't sure how complete it is but I'm going to have a look at these other suggestions. The disc thing is an interesting idea.

Spotted a Shetack disc on e bay Sat. promptly ordered it... £8 :61p inc. postage, waiting for it to pop through letter box in the next day or two.

George.

Just got my black book through the post, it's an improvement on the second edition and contains so much data.

Also mine has a hologram in the back cover you can quote when leaving a review to claim a free large size wall chart of decimal equivalents. Bonus feature.

Regards Mick

Tracy Tools make a poster-size chart for hanging on the wall - dimension conversions one side, thread tables the other.

I suspended mine from an ordinary hook, via an old twin-clip, straight arm clothes hanger; so quick to turn round to view the other side; and these are the two data sets you are likely to use more often than the rest put together.

Monument tools still list the small shetack tapping chart Shetack A pity the shipping is more than the tool

Mike

Edited By Mike Poole on 12/06/2019 17:12:13

My new Black Book came today!

Jim

Could I ask how recently you have verified that statement? I have the same chart and want to buy another one but cannot find it on their site. Thanks for any light you can shed on this.

I have a centre fold chart in the workshop, can't remember if it came from Model Engineer, or Model Engineer's Workshop.

Ian S C

There are 2 sizes of the Shetack , 105mm and 144mm.

Mike