Thread: Workshop Practice Series books

I have nearly all the wps books. Keep in mind these are compilations of material from model engineer magazine and MEW. Most are good. Some irrelevant like workshop Electrics. The volumes on electric motors are very good. Backyard foundry by B Terry Gasping is encouraging. Tubal Cains drill taps and dies is excellent along with hardenning and tempering. Screw cutting in the lathe is essential. Gears and gear cutting is also good but the involute form cutter table is wrong, there's a typo or unintentional mistake in it.the latter half dozen or so volumes are not so usefully. Books by George Thomas and tubal Cain (Tom wwalshaw) are superior. And the list goes on....

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

But if you are after an informative, superbly written and tastefully illustrated text on matters related to small scale machining, I would suggest the acquisition of the late George Thomas' Model Engineers Workshop Manual - ISBN 1857610008. Whilst Myford orientated, a number of the projects are readily adaptable to other machines.

Plough Book Sales have a copy for 60 dollars. Cheap given the content.

Plough Book Sales: Models

BT

ps. I scrounged the office camera and photographed the cover of a book I happen to have at work. The cover photograph has more than justified the 18.95 I spent on this book ten years ago. Used this setup many a time.

Hi Bob,

I can't quite make it out. Is the setup used to dial in a part with a hole in the 4 jaw using a between centres type shaft and DI?

I the pic it just looks like the TS has not taken up the piece in the hole.

Simon

I think that set up is used for irregular parts the additional center is used in combination with the clock to measure rumout the second center rests in a center punch mark on the workpiece and the chuck is set as normal until the second center is running true. I hope this makes sense.

I do have the electroplating book. Seems to be very good and helpful. I plated a few things.
Albeit, some chemicals are hard to get (here). Damned terrorists.


Nick

Originally Posted by simonl

Hi Bob,

I can't quite make it out. Is the setup used to dial in a part with a hole in the 4 jaw using a between centres type shaft and DI?

I the pic it just looks like the TS has not taken up the piece in the hole.

Simon

Hi Simon,
It does much the same as a wobbler just more accurate.

Phil
ps great barbie

Poor photographic reproduction and not much better camera. The loose centre is simply located in the punched mark on the workpiece and supported by the TS centre. Then you wrench away on the four jaw until the indicator is zeroed.

Tom Walshaw ( Tubal ) had asked Mike Crisp, the then technical editor of Model Engineer for a photo to adorn the book's cover. Tom reckons he went into shock when he saw the setup, reflecting on how much time he had wasted over the previous 60 years centring work by other methods. It works.

BT

ps. Andre nailed it with his description.

Thanks Andre, Phil and Bob. I figured it was along those lines. Yet another simply elegant setup.

For setups that only need to be reasonable accuracy, I cheat and just nudge the dead centre of the TS into the centre punched hole. I can see myself using that setup though. So much easier than docking around with a DTI on the inside of an existing hole!

Cheers,

Simon

What job is the setup for?

Jordan

Originally Posted by nadroj

What job is the setup for?

Jordan

Drilling or boring I would imagine.

If you are asking what the casting is Jordan, I've have no idea. Maybe one of the model engineering aficionardos may be able to identify it.

Bob.

Just in case not everyone has seen the full series. Lathes now up to 47.

Originally Posted by wheelinround

Just in case not everyone has seen the full series. Lathes now up to 47.

Considering the number of threads about VFD's book no 47 could be a winner if it is written well.

Well I have about 30 of the books on that page. Mostly a good read for the price, though some overlap a fair bit.
I think the best two* are milling a complete course and workholding in the lathe. Mainly as they drive home that you dont need to use a mill vice or 3 and 4 jaw chucks all the time.

Originally Posted by Ueee

Considering the number of threads about VFD's book no 47 could be a winner if it is written well.

I dont recall it having much about VSDs if thats what you mean. If you're talking about building a phase converter then thats different. I bought it for a read even though I had and still have no plans to build one. But never say never.

Stuart

*obviously if you wanted to learn something about spindles then spindles would be the best one lol

Originally Posted by wheelinround

Just in case not everyone has seen the full series. Lathes now up to 47.

Have a look at the price difference.This place is cheap and post free from UK to Aust.I have used them and cant fault them Book Depot Note they are in Aust $

Wow make sure you dont go to the US Book Depository by misstake. I always used to check there as it used to be cheaper than the UK site. No longer it seems.

Stuart