Reading…

[Steven Miles 1Participant @stevenmiles1]

Hi All,

Could someone suggest a book that will give me the basic understanding of lathes, operation, terminology etc?

I'm looking at entering the world of a hobby lathe in the garage door motorcycle work, fixing and improving stuff around the home… I'm sure it's a slippery slope 🤷🏻‍♂️

Cheers

[Steven Miles 1Participant @stevenmiles1]

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

L H Sparey's The Amateur Lathe is a very good starting point. There are also a number of books in the Workshop Practice Series that are useful.

Youtube is another good source of general learning.

regards

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

Boxford did one called "Know Your Lathe – a screwcutting lathe manual"

Martin C

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Posted by Oldiron on 05/06/2020 22:49:31:

L H Sparey's The Amateur Lathe is a very good starting point. There are also a number of books in the Workshop Practice Series that are useful.

Youtube is another good source of general learning.

regards

Spareys book is the one IMO

Only a few bucks too

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Look on TEE Publishing's web-site – they also advertise in ME but of course can only list a few books there.

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

South Bend Corp's "How to run a lathe" book has been printed and reprinted many times starting I think in the 1930's but has a huge amount of useful info for anyone learning the metal lathe. +1 on the Sparey book being great also.

[Gary WoodingParticipant @garywooding25363]

+1 for Sparey's book.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

£1 for 3 month digital subscription to MEW will get you access to MEW back issues with Editor Neil's "lathework for Beginners"

Edited By JasonB on 06/06/2020 07:13:51

[Nick Clarke 3Participant @nickclarke3]

I have a lot of time for Sparey – in fact I have both of his books on the desk in front of me but as a first introduction they are a little bit dated in places, and do not mention modern features such as speed control, digital read outs and indexable carbide tools, so I think Jason's suggestion may be more appropriate as a first start, then add Sparey as an additional resource later.

If you should end up with a mini lathe then Neil Wyatt's 'The Mini Lathe' is good for that class of machine.

[Steven Miles 1Participant @stevenmiles1]

Sparey's book ordered and I'll take up the subscription.

Thanks for the advice. 👍🏻

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

I liked Chapman's 'Workshop Technology'. It's 3 volumes, but everything's there, it's readable, and you'll keep coming back to it for years (actually decades in my case).

[Mark Gould 1Participant @markgould1]

I learned a lot by watching youtube video’s. There are several excellent “creators” who have made videos on lathe basics. Easier to digest than text from a book but that might be my inherent laziness shining through

Mark

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