Comments on: Book Review: Lathework – A Complete Course by Harold Hall

By: loyd

loyd — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:01:43 +0000

Thanks Tyler,
i only just got back to this…. I will try for the book mentioned . I’ll let you know. I have now purchased a lathe so its getting urgent!!

Thanks again

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By: Tyler

Tyler — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:46:28 +0000

Hi Loyd,

I’m sorry to hear you were disappointed in the book. I don’t have any connection to the book or to the author, I just thought the book was a nice place for a beginner to start, especially if you prefer a project-oriented approach.

However, I can see how it may seem like some of the absolute basics (like setting up for your first cut) are left out.

There are several other books written with beginners in mind, one of which is Using The Small Lathe by L. C. Mason. However, Mason’s book is out of print and hard to find at the moment. I have a friend who is a machinist and a machine shop instructor who jokes that if he could only have 1 book on running the lathe it would be Mason’s text. If you can find a copy for a reasonable price snag it for your library.

If you have any questions or you’re having trouble getting started, send me an e-mail and I’ll try to answer any questions you might have.

By: loyd

loyd — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:53:12 +0000

Unfortunately I have to disagree. I purchased this book to try and understand the basics. It does not even mention how to do any sort of setup. To be told to take this cut or that cut is of absolutely no use to a beginner if you don’t say how. I have even written to the publisher (with no response) suggesting that this book being represented as for beginners is positively dangerous.