Thread: Some Useful References, especially for newbies.

Another one to add to the list. NSW Tafe Fitting and Machining Trade Books from the mid 1970's.
Stage 1 is Orange
Stage 2 is Red
Stage 3 is Green ( the one I have (1977) also had a seperate addendum on gearing)

Also "Engineers Black Book" ISBN 0-9580571-1-7 about $50 I think. Blackwoods used to keep them and I'd assume any good bookshop would be able to get them.

bollie7

I have found the Workshop Practice Series a very valuable resource

They can be purchased from this site in the UK for $10-12 including postage to Australia

Thanks for your input Bollie7 and Big Shed, much appreciated. I couldn't believe that I had left out the"Engineers Black Book" as I have a copy of it myself, and find it full of useful info, and also like the spiral binding which allows it to sit flat on a workbench and not close up unless you use one hand to hold it. The laminated grease repellant pages and the drill sharpening jig are added bonuses too. The American "Pocket Ref" by Glover seems worth a look too, as it is 768 pages with many more topics covered, and it is cheaper as well. In fact less than AU$14.00 from Big Shed's book supplier in the U.K. and that includes postage. A link to an Amazon listing of the Index follows.
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Ref-Thomas-J-Glover/dp/1885071337]Amazon.com: Pocket Ref (9781885071330): Thomas J. Glover: Books[/ame]
Your other recommendations of the series of TAFE books sound interesting, and I wonder if you know if the book that the following link leads to is the combined volumes of the ones you mentioned or is it altogether different. It certainly seems to cover most bases while not exactly cheap, it would be very comprehensive. If you are familiar with it I would value your comments.
Plough Book Sales: Fitting and Machining, published by TAFE publications by Ron Culley

Big Shed thank you for the link to The Book Depository, while I am yet to use their services , they certainly have some very sharp pricing, and they are paying the postage as well. I still will use Amazon from time to time I think, because they often have second hand copies, which can (but not always) be a big saving. The reviews can sometimes be helpful too.
Thanks gentlemen for your input, and I must say that I really appreciate your active participation on these forums, Regards,
Ropetangler.
PS. I have just checked the links and the first one to Amazon, did not go to the page I wanted, but if you use the "click to look inside" feature you can see the table of contents amongst lots more stuff. RG.

This is an excellent book and it is the current TAFE text book.

https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Fi...achining-Books

Rgds

triton2 and the "Plough Book Sales" link that Ropetangler provided are the same book - but triton2's is a bit cheaper @ AU$72.60! H&F's presence in most states also makes it pretty easy to source the book. They also have the "Engineers Black Book" that bollie7 mentions - AU$49 inc GST. I have them both and refer to them constantly.

Another source for the Tafe book is a Tafe library. Most Tafe libraries have books available for purchase and the prices are generally very competitive. I purchased the Cully Tafe book from Heidelberg Tafe for around $50 but that was about 3 years ago now so it has probably gone up a bit since then. I think you can also get the Black Book from Tafe shops as well.

Another very good book is Machine Shop Trade Secrets by James A Harvey. It is not your usual general theory type book but basically hundreds of tips, techniques and practices for the machining workshop. I found it a very interesting and informative read. It is available from http://www.proshoppublishing.com/.

I would also recommend a visit to your local Tafe library, anyone can go in and read the books in a library, you only need be a student to borrow them. Check that the campus you visit teaches metalwork or engineering subjects. Heidelberg and Holmsglen Tafe in Melbourne and Bendigo Tafe I know have fairly good engineering resource libraries.
Cheers,
Greg.