For Dummies? Machinist

[Drywolf]

Hello All,
I am very interested in gaining entry level machinist's knowledge. I bought three books and would like to know if there are others that you would recommended.

These are the three I have on order:
1. Machinery Repairman NAVEDTRA 12204-A
2. Lathe Operations Army correspondence
3. Milling Machine Operations Army correspondence

I have read a ton of posts in this forum and half the time I don't have a clue what is being discussed. I just know that I'm really interested in making stuff and doing it safely.

Another book of interest would cover basic electrician's knowledge.

Thanks in advance for your attention,
Frank

 

[deebee]

Drywolf, may I 'piggyback' on this request?

I too am just getting involved in machining and am wondering what to do to learn the skills required. The first thing I did was look on the 'net and found that there are dvd courses available. One is "Learnin' machining". this is a set of 5 dvds and costs about $120. Another is "The American Gunsmithing Institute" course on machining. This is available on video cassettes or dvds but costs about $1000 for the full set! Both courses can be found for free on the 'net if you look hard enough.
My question is: Does anybody on this forum have experience of either of these courses and would they like to share their thoughts?

Drywolf, I will delete this post if you request it.

 

[Mick]

I think most will agree, Machinery's Handbook is a must have. I have the twentieth edition which gives away my age. LOL

 

[precisionworks]

Machinery's Handbook is a must have

+1

If you try to read & study a chapter a week, you'll know more than most professors:thumbsup:

The classic How To Run a Lathe by South Bend lathe works covers most of the basics. Published first in 1920, still widely read today (my copy is grease stained).

Metals Handbook Desk Edition is essential if you work with a number of different metals, or if you simply want to know extraordinary detail about a certain metal. Pricey new, but Abebooks or Alibris always have a copy, and a few show up on eBay.

 

[Anglepoise]

There are some excellent books published in England by the
"Workshop Practice Series". I have most of them and would highly recommend checking them out.

They are available in the USA from Amazon and http://www.blueridgeshoponline.com/category.sc?categoryId=3

Book #5 is really interesting as it fully explains the many ways that milling can be done successfully on a lathe.

 

[deebee]

Wa98281
Your in Point Roberts?
I'm in Tsawwassen

 

[gadget_lover]

+ 1 on machinery's handbook. You may want to skim it first, then go back and actually read it. There is a LOT of info in there.

I greatly enjoyed the Army tutorials. You can see a copy at http://www.metalworking.com/tutorials/ARMY-TC-9-524/9-524-index.html

After buying a small enchtop lathe and reading through the lathe tutorial I was able to use the lathe. After that I read most of the machinery's handbook.

Now I'm practicing.


Daniel

 

[AuroraAlpha]

I have to add another vote to Machinery's Handbook. It can be very hard to live without after you get used to it. If you can, buy one of the larger print sizes as it makes it much easier to read and handle. Also, since this book runs $80-90, consiter getting it from your liberary for a few weeks and see if you like it. Some people read straight through it and love it, some find the extremely dry nature of a reference book to be unreadable. The charts and spec sections will save you many times.

The southbend book is often recomened, but I havn't seen it. You might also want to consiter videos, they can be hard to get a hold of, but they can present information a bit differently and give you some subtle technique help. Also, just find an easy project and do it as best you can, trying to make something with tight tolorances, with threads, and other features is hard, and it will take some time to get right no matter how many books you read. You cannot beat knowing how your machine feels.

 

[will]

I learned machine operation in a small shop where I worked. I can't comment on learning by books or DVDs. My opinion, somewhere in the learning process, you should be guided by a person.

Always remember, these are powerful machines, always be safe.

 

[Drywolf]

This information is great!
Thanks everyone,
Frank

 

[precisionworks]

Rudy Kouhoupt videos are $61.95 each to purchase, or you can rent them for $9.95:

http://smartflix.com/store/video/7/Advanced-Aspects-of-Machine-Lathe-Operation

http://smartflix.com/store/video/52/Fundamentals-of-Machine-Lathe-Operation

You may not recognize his name, but he was a prolific writer on model steam engines, writing for Home Shop Machinist & Live Steam.

http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/Kouhoupt.htm