A true ‘beginners’ lathework book?

[choochoo_balooParticipant @choochoo_baloo]

I seek recommendations for a thorough, truely beginner friendly book on general lathe work; for those of use who have no formal engineering training/apprenticeship, and whose careers are not in mechanical engineering.

I have had "Lathework: a complete course" by Harold Hall for a while, but agree with a significant number of amazon reviews that criticise his often muddled prose, poor images, poor image referencing etc. Basically not that helpful for a true beginner.

Therefore to avoid (hopefully) similar disappointment with another supposedly beginner lathework book, I thought it sensible to seek recommendations form the wise hobbyists on this forum this time round

To get the ball rolling: LH Sparey's book seems better reviewed than Hall's. Though apparently it dives in with assumed terminology?

[choochoo_balooParticipant @choochoo_baloo]

[LambtonParticipant @lambton]

By far the best book for a beginner to turning is Using the Small Lathe by L.C.Mason.

Eric

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

L C Sparey "The Amateur's Lathe"

[Gary WoodingParticipant @garywooding25363]

The book that I can thoroughly recommend is the one that got me started – The Amateur's Lathe by L.H.Sparey. ISBN 0-85242-288-1

[Bob StevensonParticipant @bobstevenson13909]

Another vote for 'The Amateurs Lathe' by LH Sparey……..

It's an old book now but in continuous reprint for 70 years for the very good reason that it is pretty much the best lathe use manual (although I agree 'Small Lathe' by Mason is another good classic)

Unfortunately, 'The Amateurs Lathe' is let down now by the ancient B/W illustrations which Mr Sparey shot himself circa 1947…….However it's now a cheap book, my latest copy was only £2.80 brand new edition about two months back from an internet book trade source. Everything the new lathe user wants to know and much more beside is in the book and the writing is 'workmanlike' and sensible as one would imagine from a book that has had three publishers and near 30 reprintings.

There is some stuff in the book that modern amateurs need not read as very few will want or need to work their lathe by foot treadle, however, many golden nuggets on every page to make the amateur more skilled with each reading…thouroughly recomended as they say in book reviews!

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

+1 for the mason and sparey books !

Another reasonable offering is how to run a lathe by southbend.

I don't know about Harolds prose being muddled or of any issues with his photography the book seems fine to me .

I think the book was more angled at some one with some basic experience on a lathe not the total newcomer .

Even if you had read every book ever written on lathe work it won't make you a good machinists it can only point you in the right direction – practise makes perfect .

Be cautious of any speeds and feeds in some lathe operation books as many of those are for industrial machines and not for the home shop machines as they are much lighter in construction .

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

I don't think there is a single book that meets choo-choo's specification. The excellent Sparey is probably the closest but it's rather dated (no indexable tools etc.) There are some decent Mini-lathe centric books about (including one by Neil Wyatt, which will obviously be brilliant ). I like Machine Essentials, which covers more than lathes. The Southbend Manual has many fans too.

I'd suggest reading a selection; technical books often complement each other and the answer sometimes emerges after reading two or more. Camden Books have a long list of workshop titles.

Dave

[Iain DownsParticipant @iaindowns78295]

I'd like to be awkward and suggest an adventure in technology!

Seriously, you can learn as much and more from you tube as from books. Don't get me wrong, the books are helpful and I have the Hall, the Sparey and the Wyatt.

However, a lot of the things I've learned have been by looking at things on you tube. The benefit of the video approach is that you can see the dynamics of what's going on. There are downsides; the operators are usually running better than hobby equipment; they tend to be proper experts who will do things which are hard without realising it (or explaining in detail); it can take a long time to watch the video over a few minutes to read the page; there's a LOT of dross out there.

But it's worth looking into. Just as an example, I've just done a search on parting off – something most of us find a challenge – and got hundreds of hits. I might look at some now in fact.

(link if the above does not come through is **LINK**)

Iain

[Iain DownsParticipant @iaindowns78295]

**LINK**

Was interesting and a LOT of fun.

Iain

[Bob StevensonParticipant @bobstevenson13909]

………Did'nt Stan Bray do a nice beginners lathe book?……..or is my memory 'at it again'..?

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Posted by Bob Stevenson on 10/07/2017 21:47:51:

………Did'nt Stan Bray do a nice beginners lathe book?……..or is my memory 'at it again'..?

Basic Lathework, no 45 in the Workshop Practice series?

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

And Stan Bray also did 'Introducing the lathe', published by PSL.

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

Posted by John Haine on 10/07/2017 17:46:50:

L C Sparey "The Amateur's Lathe"

+1 Ohh yess.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Posted by Michael-w on 10/07/2017 22:17:59:

Posted by John Haine on 10/07/2017 17:46:50:

L C Sparey "The Amateur's Lathe"

+1 Ohh yess.

+2

Nothing else comes close IMO

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

+1 also on The Amateur's Lathe by LH Sparey.

And also for How to Run a Lathe by the South Bend company. This was the standard textbook when I was an apprentice, aimed at the total beginner.

Both are small books and cheap to buy but invaluable.

[larry PhelanParticipant @larryphelan54019]

L H Sparey,s book is never too far away in my workshop ! OK, it might be dated,but then,so am I. It might deal mostly with BSW and BSF threads,Metric was not around too much in those days,not where I worked anyway.

If you can get through his book,you will have a very good grounding in lathework. I refer to it all the time,again and again,always learn something new from it. The other book by L C Mason is also very good,I have read it several times and intend to get a copy of it one day.It is full of little gems.

U Tube is also good but since the sound on my laptop is not great,I cannot follow much of it. Any idea,s on how to turn up the sound. Just asking!

[Andy CarruthersParticipant @andycarruthers33275]

Posted by larry Phelan on 11/07/2017 10:46:28:

U Tube is also good but since the sound on my laptop is not great,I cannot follow much of it. Any idea,s on how to turn up the sound. Just asking!

Headphones?

[john fletcher 1Participant @johnfletcher1]

The Engineering training board (EITB) brought out a series of excellent booklet which were issue to apprentices on lathe work, milling, grinding etc. Very good pictures and explanations, they might be available via ebay.. John

[colin hawesParticipant @colinhawes85982]

L.H.Sparey's "The amateur's lathe" got me started and hooked 60 years ago and I still think it is excellent. Colin

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Yet another vote for L H Sparey.

"The Amateur's Workshop" by Ian Bradley could well be useful book as well.

Stan Bray was the founding Editor of M E W, and knowing his handiwork, (but not having read his book), I am sure that it will contain a LOT of useful advice and info.

A very good reference book to add to the Library is the Model Engineer's Handbook, by "Tubal Cain"

Howard

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Out of curiosity, I have just been prompted by the above to count up all the engineering books on my bookshelves.

Including all of those mentioned above………..97.

I think I am a bit of an engineering book magpie .

[John McNamaraParticipant @johnmcnamara74883]

Hi Choo Choo Baloo

An interesting question

All the books above in this post are good, they will get you over the basics, However at the risk of generating a chorus of consternation You Tube has to be one of the best sources for solid machining know how. You have to form your own judgement, some are not that good but many are.

Being able to look over their shoulder and watch tells you many things you wont see in a book.

I would start with Keith Fenner. He does mostly repair work machining and welding, he does it very well.
On the bottom right of his main page you will see a heading "the tube shop community", look towards the bottom of that list and click "see all"…. there you will find links to many machinists from countries around the world.

a few of my favorites are (in no particular order) there are many more

Keith Fenner
**LINK**

Tom Lipton He works for a US University at Berkley. He did a tour of Caltech around the research machine shops.
**LINK**
His page
**LINK**

Adam Booth. He works in a hydraulic cylinder repair shop.
**LINK**

Stefhan Gotteswinter From Germany he is very precise..
**LINK**

Mr Pete222 Good for beginners, he used to teach machining.
**LINK**

NYCNC if you like CNC and fusion 360 CAD, Apple pie and boundless enthusiasm.
**LINK**

Clickspring .Clock making, making small tools, done with very basic machinery, and a lot of skill.
**LINK**

Regards
John

Edited By John McNamara on 11/07/2017 16:23:50

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I'm not sure if I am allowed to say this, but there's a Crowood book on Mini Lathes that's a broad introduction to lathework that's applicable to most small lathes and takes a more modern perspective (e.g. covering tipped tools.

Neil

(No I don't get any commission, just kudos!)

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 11/07/2017 16:52:55:

I'm not sure if I am allowed to say this, but there's a Crowood book on Mini Lathes that's a broad introduction to lathework that's applicable to most small lathes and takes a more modern perspective (e.g. covering tipped tools.

Neil

(No I don't get any commission, just kudos!)

And its in colour !

A couple of more youtube channels to check out :

Thatlazymachinist – Marc is a retired tool and instrument maker turned teacher , he has a comprehensive playlist of metalworking videos that i believe are among the best made .

Mrcrispin , not purely an educational channel but the work he is doing on his loco is worth a look .

Ian.

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