Books
The First Book You Should Buy:
Most would probably agree that one of the first books you should buy is the Machinery’s Handbook. It’s considered a Reference Bible of sorts and contains over a thousand pages of useful information. You’ll be surprised at how often you’ll reach for this book, even if you’re only a hobby machinist.
At the time of this post the Machinery’s Handbook is in its 28th edition, but you don’t need to own the most current edition, especially if you’re just starting out. Find a good used copy for your toolbox, and don’t pay too much for it. I found my 17th edition on eBay for $8 (including shipping!) and it has everything I need. Anything from the 14th edition forward should be as up-to-date as you need. Here are a few copies on eBay right now:
[nms: machinery handbook]
The Gingery Series:
David Gingery wrote (among others) an amazing series of 7 books that detail the process of building your own metalworking shop from scratch (and from scrap materials). I’m not motivated enough to build my own lathe (or mill, or shaper for that matter) but I still thoroughly enjoyed the entire series and I learned a lot of useful tips and tricks along the way. Highly Recommended!
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The Workshop Practice Series:
Most of the books in this series are related to metalworking, and all of them that I’ve read (I own 16 of the titles) are great. When I first discovered this series I had a lot of trouble tracking down a complete list of titles so I’ve included them all here for your convenience.
If you’re looking for a place to start, the Milling (#35) and Lathework (#34) books by Harold Hall are highly recommended.
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