Metal Lathe for Home Machinists (Fox Chapel Publishing) Project-Based Course, Reference Guide, & Complete Introduction to Lathe Metalworking & Accessories, Including 12 Skill-Building Turning Projects

I am learning a lot about my little mini vertical mill from this book. Glad I got it. I find a number of things I can do with the machine that I had no idea how to do before. The most interesting project for me so far concerns how to calculate and turn tapers. I have now turned my first practice MT2 shaft, and am making the tool it shows for setting up the lathe to turn the taper. I will make a tool for MT1, 2, and 3. I have never had any success with tapers before this book.

Good and useful projects for a lathe for a beginner. In metric just so you know.

This book is great to start a journey in Machining and has a lot of small project ideas that are items that are made to be used and not just a practice piece. It would be nicer if there were a few color photo's for clarity as some of the photo's are not perfectly clear, but really a good book and well worth the price for the information it provides.

THE BOOK IS EXCELLENT, IN GREECE WILL FIND IT DIFFICULT TO FIND PERHAPS NOT SATISFIED.

The author took me through the ideas and techniques of doing precision work. Explanations are good, even though hard to read on Kindle as the illustrations are hard to reach. I guess it's less of a problem with the paper version.

Written in the Queen's English, it is giving me a wee-bit of a gripe having to read some paragraphs 2 or 3 times to get the gist of his ideas. The book is quite informative and the writer is way above my "pay-scale" in his knowledge of the lathe. But, I would grasp the information much faster, I believe, had they run it past Tubalcain for translation to "American English". Sorry to be so picky but I am the one spending my dollar for the book. I am about half way through the book and am catching on to his writing style. So, I am getting more out of each article. Thank you.

The author takes you step-by-step through projects of increasing complexity.Even better, you'll build tools you'll use in your shop, and use in the next project in the book.Very good explanations of how to use the lathe. You will start out as a novice, and end up being a really good lathe operator by the end. The last project is really complex, but you will be able to tackle it, because of all the previous learning steps, AND all the cool tools you built.Mr. Hall definitely knows what he's talking about. I hope he comes out with a Part 2 manual, just so I can makes some more cool tools.I'm using an old Atlas 6" lathe, and had no idea you can do so much with a lathe. Thank you Mr. Hall.

So far, I've only read the first 2 chapters. The book could be organized for simpler reading. For one thing, there are a lot of commas missing. I studied the "blueprint" in the first project several times trying to understand what the part labeled "collet" in the blueprint was for. I eventually found out during "assembly" that it was for helping to make washers (and other small parts). In retrospect, maybe it doesn't belong in the same diagram with the tool being made, but the author does expect you to study the diagrams. Another reviewer's mention of the flycutter are on track. If you didn't already know what a flycutter is, this book doesn't explain (but personally, it would never have occurred to me to use one in a lathe!). The author also has some sort of drilling vise attached to his compound, and writes about using it as if it is a common item--but I've never seen one before. All of the above being said, the author makes many helpful remarks for the novice (like me). An absolute beginner should probably (surely?) begin with different book on lathes.I would enjoy the book more if the font size, and photos, were larger. You can view Amazon's preview of the book. It is consistent. It looks a little small to me too. I'd estimate the book as having font size 9 or 10, while it would please my eyes much more if it were 12. There is no real need for the book to be so small and compact, except maybe to save money in printing it. And, if this is the case, the savings are not being appreciated (at least not by me). If you enjoy "careful" reading, at font size 9, then this aspect will be perfect for you. I can deal with it, but I provide this feedback with the hope that the publisher listens to it... This is the first time I've ever thought that I might prefer the e-book version (so that I could adjust the size of the type).

Great book for the beginner.

DHL Portugal couldn't be bothered to deliver this to my door and dumped it at a collection point 2km away. Not impressed. Book is good.

Good

Was a Christmas gift and the recipient was more than happy with these items.

Metal Lathe for Home Machinists is a very good book to read when you get your first lathe.