Thread: Machinists' Bedside Reader

Originally Posted by Master Splinter

Making them unavailable as a copy protection mechanism does not work.

lautard.JPG

Methinks you miss the point - refusing to publish *TMBR Vol 4* as a copy protection method is 100% effective.

Also pointless IMO because 50% of possible sales and 50% piracy still gives 50% of the income as opposed to 100% of nothing. But it's his choice and I don't care either way. I'd buy Vol 4 if it came out, he's been given suggestions as to how to do it electronically with watermarks in the PDF etc etc. This is flogging a dead horse.

PDW

Originally Posted by neksmerj

BobL

You mentioned in one of the books, that there was some info on metal bluing, any chance you could precis any of the article, or can a copy of the relevant pages be found anywhere?

Ken

Ken - if you are interested in Blueing and Browing then you might want ot get a copy of this book (if you haven't already seen it)

https://books.google.com.au/books/ab...&safe=on&hl=en

regards
bollie7

I have all three books and not overly impressed with the content. Frankly not worth $100 or more each. Fifteen years ago they sold for $70AUD new, too much then. Fancy paying that for references to Model Engineer Magazine and other articles which I discovered are in the MBR series. Nothing entirely wrong with that but when used as a sales pitch or main content, not in an appendix forget it. The ME index is free online go look there.

I got the feeling when reading these books that Mr Lautard has compiled this information from other sources some of it second and third hand. So when you look through the contents and find something of interest and flick to the page you find reference to another book or magazine and then the expletives start to fly.

The books are entertaining but do not compare well against works by Stan Bray, George Thomas and Tom Walshaw. Even the workshop practice series WPS books are better value. As a collector of books on Metalwork related subjects I bought the MBR series out of interest.

Here's another piece of spendomania. Check the price of the fifth one down. Customs Duty will apply.

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Sear...elmers+engines

It gets me wondering what the editors of the current hobby magazines have on their minds. Readership appears to be flagging but then prices of related out of print works are soaring. Just my observation, I recently did not renew my sub to AME because I think the content is poor quality and uninteresting (Hey the photography is great!) and too club centric. Also ME magazine, I go to the newsagent and thumb through it which is all I would do if I'd actually bought it. The back issues of yesteryear are fantastic though.

Since the advent of one of the greatest progressive inventions since the printing press, that being the internet and so many people willing to offer so much information on how to do stuff for free, books are becoming less and less valuable..

Since the advent of one of the greatest progressive inventions since the printing press, that being the internet and so many people willing to offer so much information on how to do stuff for free, books are becoming less and less valuable..

Originally Posted by Swarfmaker1

I have all three books and not overly impressed with the content. Frankly not worth $100 or more each. Fifteen years ago they sold for $70AUD new, too much then. Fancy paying that for references to Model Engineer Magazine and other articles which I discovered are in the MBR series. Nothing entirely wrong with that but when used as a sales pitch or main content, not in an appendix forget it. The ME index is free online go look there.

I got the feeling when reading these books that Mr Lautard has compiled this information from other sources some of it second and third hand. So when you look through the contents and find something of interest and flick to the page you find reference to another book or magazine and then the expletives start to fly.

The books are entertaining but do not compare well against works by Stan Bray, George Thomas and Tom Walshaw. Even the workshop practice series WPS books are better value. As a collector of books on Metalwork related subjects I bought the MBR series out of interest.

Here's another piece of spendomania. Check the price of the fifth one down. Customs Duty will apply.

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Sear...elmers+engines

It gets me wondering what the editors of the current hobby magazines have on their minds. Readership appears to be flagging but then prices of related out of print works are soaring. Just my observation, I recently did not renew my sub to AME because I think the content is poor quality and uninteresting (Hey the photography is great!) and too club centric. Also ME magazine, I go to the newsagent and thumb through it which is all I would do if I'd actually bought it. The back issues of yesteryear are fantastic though.

I certainly would not pay anything like the current going rate for the MBR series, however I have read some of MBR3 online and have found it a good read and pretty interesting. I also did not renew my sub to MEW, largely because I felt the quality of content had dropped from the time when Harold Hall wrote for them, and the previous editor was disappointing I felt as well. My sub ran out as Neil Wyatt took over, and although I have the impression that he is doing a better job than his predecessor, other issues such as the changes they made to those given access to their archive, and the fact that the inducements given to their local readers to subscribe, but not given to their overseas readership cheesed me off sufficiently to bail out for a while. I may go for an electronic sub at some stage if the quality has improved a bit from earlier versions of the service.
As .RC has said (twice) there is plenty of youtube content free, so publishers need to work hard to maintain their readership.
Speaking of youtube content, most would be familiar with Mr.Pete222, Keith Fenner, Keith Rucker, DoubleBoost and many others, but a new channel I have discovered recently is that of a young German bloke, Stefan Gotteswinter. He is outstanding in my opinion, and well worth subscribing to. He does lots of interesting stuff, seems very knowledgable and is most pleasant in his demeanour.
Rob

Originally Posted by Ropetangler

As .RC has said (twice) there is plenty of youtube content free, so publishers need to work hard to maintain their readership.

Well I am glad someone reads my posts...

Speaking of youtube content, most would be familiar with Mr.Pete222, Keith Fenner, Keith Rucker, DoubleBoost and many others, but a new channel I have discovered recently is that of a young German bloke, Stefan Gotteswinter. He is outstanding in my opinion, and well worth subscribing to. He does lots of interesting stuff, seems very knowledgable and is most pleasant in his demeanour.
Rob

There is also that lathefan person, probably not very educational, but he/she has interesting videos...

Originally Posted by Ropetangler

I certainly would not pay anything like the current going rate for the MBR series, however I have read some of MBR3 online and have found it a good read and pretty interesting. I also did not renew my sub to MEW, largely because I felt the quality of content had dropped from the time when Harold Hall wrote for them, and the previous editor was disappointing I felt as well. My sub ran out as Neil Wyatt took over, and although I have the impression that he is doing a better job than his predecessor, other issues such as the changes they made to those given access to their archive, and the fact that the inducements given to their local readers to subscribe, but not given to their overseas readership cheesed me off sufficiently to bail out for a while. I may go for an electronic sub at some stage if the quality has improved a bit from earlier versions of the service.
As .RC has said (twice) there is plenty of youtube content free, so publishers need to work hard to maintain their readership.
Speaking of youtube content, most would be familiar with Mr.Pete222, Keith Fenner, Keith Rucker, DoubleBoost and many others, but a new channel I have discovered recently is that of a young German bloke, Stefan Gotteswinter. He is outstanding in my opinion, and well worth subscribing to. He does lots of interesting stuff, seems very knowledgable and is most pleasant in his demeanour.
Rob

A few years ago when I first started out in the metalworking caper, I was so hungry for info that I couldn't wait for the next issue of MEW to come out. These days, with the content of this forum and what I have since learnt, the magazine does less and less for me. I haven't bought a copy for about 2 years.

I stumbled across Stefan when I was searching for tool post grinders. He has a series of videos detailing his grinder built. He comes across as being very articulate and quite intelligent. His accent is a joy to listen to as well.

Simon

I have all 3 editions of TMBR. Yes they were expensive. I found mine at Plough books. I guess that particular style of writing that Guy uses comes from a different era and either attracts or puts people off, perhaps dependent on their age group.

The old chap would have to be a fair age by now as the books would be 20 or thirty years old so if we were ever lucky enough to see No 4 it would be the last in the series.

As a shooter there are bits and pieces I like about the book and the old timey stories.

I like to read TMBR for the combination of reading pleasure and the understanding of the how to nature of the bits and ideas about performing various aspects of machining attracts me.

Its a bit sad there will not be a no 4 TMBR, but that life, I suppose.

Grahame

Bollie7

Thanks for the link to the above book.

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to be available.

Ken

Originally Posted by neksmerj

Bollie7

Thanks for the link to the above book.

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to be available.

Ken

http://www.amazon.com/Firearm-Bluein.../dp/0811706109

http://www.amazon.com/Firearm-Bluein.../dp/0811703266

also read the reviews at amazon...seems that the book is considered outdated fro a variety of reasons..the main one being the ability of procuring the chemicals


http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/4009...pid=107&chn=ps

Originally Posted by eskimo

also read the reviews at amazon...seems that the book is considered outdated fro a variety of reasons..the main one being the ability of procuring the chemicals

That doesn't surprise me. It was first published in 1936. I've never used any of the recipes in the book. The bloke who I got the book from about 30 years ago also gave me a good recipe which does a great job. But I haven't done any blueing for at least 16 years now. The last time I did it, it was easy to buy ammonium nitrate but since the Trade Towers thats a bit harder for the average Joe Bloggs to get.
It uses a 50% solution of Caustic Soda and ammonium nitrate (can't think of the ratio off the top of my head though). You get that boiling and suspend your parts in the boiling solution for a while. Leave them long enough and you get a blue that deep that is almost black. You have to thoroughly wash the parts off and oil them afterwards. Lets off a lot of ammonia fumes when you are first boiling it up though. The last time I did it it was at work. We were blueing parts for some teaching aid we had made. We got the brew going about 7.00 am in the car park before any of the office wallers arrived to spoilt the party. . Dont think we would get away with it now.

The book is an interesting read though, if you ever come across a cheap copy.
regards
bollie7