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Machine Shop Essentials fit the bill very well. I was looking for a book that would reintroduce me to the machines and skills involed with setting up a hobby machine shop. When I am looking to take on a new hobby, I will usually pick out 5 or 6 (or 10 or 15) books on a subject, usually I'll get one or two decent ones, and several not so good. I can pick it up and crack the book to any page and get totally caught up in drill bits, metalurgy, mill cutters, feed speeds, etc. I haven't been in a machine shop since 9th grade, over thirty years ago. It is basic enough for the beginner, but by no means does it limited itself to or even target the beginning user. Sometimes I get lucky and get a book like this one, perfect fit. The book is loaded with usefull information for a machinist at almost any level.
It is very obvious Frank Marlow PE has spent a lifetime around machine tools. There is to much to absorb, and so much fascinating, that its impossible to read it like a novel. If you ever cut metal you should own this book.There is just tons of information here, neatly laid out and very accessible. But every time I pick it up I learn more. But it does lay a solid groundwork on metalworking machines and their practical use. If you have ever squinted at the photographs in a typical aftermarket shop manual, you will appreciate the clarity of these drawings.I can't say I've read this book cover-to-cover. Everything is illustrated in remarkably clear line drawings.
It is not the be-all and end-all of metal-working practice, I'm sure. He has an unusual talent for reducing all that experience to its essentials, and communicating them in a very clear fashion.There are no photographs in this book. Well worth the money. The drawings in themselves are worth the price of the book.
If you have a question, you can go to the book and find the answer quickly as the illustrations really help you locate the information you need just by browsing. I just bought a mini-mill for my workshop and this book provided the background and details that I needed to be productive right away. This very useful book was put to immediate use. It helped me pick the right support tools and fixtures that I would need. Thank you Frank. My accuracy went up after the first look at the book.
It is precisely what the title says: all of the essential information you need to know to get started. This is far and away the best book of its kind for people like me, who are new to the subject. I completely agree with what several others have already said. I've searched high and low for a good introductory overview that provides a solid foundation in the basics, and in the last few months I've purchased a number of books trying to find something suitable. Highest recommendation. While several of these have been very good, for my money, Machine Shop Essentials easily beats all the rest in terms of style, format, completeness, and organization of the information.
This book has literally everything I need on working a lathe. I am seriously considering returning all my other books on the topic. Even the harder questions like cutting curves without a CNC machine are covered. And as a bonus it covers everything else that a home machinist would want to know about mills, grinding, polishing, threads, metallurgy, etc.
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