Reviewed by Dale Annis

Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate
Type: Skill-Oriented with some projects
Projects: 10 (lathe)
Units: (in.)
Pages: 224

If I were an editor tasked with proof-reading the book entitled The Amateur’s Lathe, by Lawrence H. Sparey, I would consider requesting that he change the title of his book to “Small Lathe Work 101” as it would serve as a text for such a class.  Sparey takes a skill based approach in discussing the vast capabilities of a small lathe by encouraging the practice of the techniques he explains with numerous plans and drawings of potential projects which are apparently chosen to expand the owners lathe’s capability as well as his own.  Some of the projects, in my opinion, appear a little advanced in set up.  Most notable in this are the Dividing Head and Tailstock Turret Tool-Holder.  I would like to point out that while there are numerous illustrations and photos in the book which an enterprising person could easily convert to a working plan, not all of them contain actual dimensions.  Therefore I have chosen to call any graphic drawing with dimensions a project for the purposes of this review.  (Please note that the drawings for the Dividing Head are incomplete, lacking a parts list and the dimensions are difficult to read due to size.)

PROJECTS:

1. Collet Set and Adapter (Chapter 4)
2. Tail-Stock Die Holder (Chapter 4)
3. Four-Way Tool Post (Chapter 4)
4. Tailstock Turret Tool-Holder (Chapter 4)
5. Running (Live) Center (Chapter 4)
6. Dividing Head (Chapter 13)
7. Overhead Driven Tool Post Grinding Attachment (Chapter 13)
8. Lapping Head for 5cc Engine (Chapter 14)
9. Lathe Carriage Stop (Chapter 16)
10. Back Tool Post (Chapter 16)

Sparey also describes several processes which, while not lathe work in nature, are needed to effectively use one; topics such as marking out of material, use of measuring equipment, and sharpening lathe bits are included.  Sparey also discusses many tools and devices which are easily made and help make work easier.

The book is written using inch measurement however the topics on thread cutting reference British threads which are a different angle than American.  Likewise, I have not verified that there are no discrepancies between the tables located in the back of the book and American sizes of letter and number drills.  Other than this small consideration it appears that the dimensions should be an easy match for us “Yanks”.  The original printing of the book was 1948 and as such there are some dated references to materials which are no longer used such as whale oil.  There is also a slight disparity with regard to nomenclature of a few of the lathe components and various tools in general.  In spite of this “cultural” difference in British spoken English and our own, the book is a joy to read.

Chapter titles of the book are as follows:

1. The Lathe (a brief history and overview of types)
2. Choosing a Lathe (Sparey isn’t brand specific but leans to Myford)
3. Installing the Lathe (tips on building a bench included)
4. Lathe Accessories (many plans for tooling)
5. Measuring Equipment (use of Micrometer and Calipers etc)
6. Lathe Tools (Sparey is a big advocate of the knife tool)
7. Drills and Reamers (includes a good section on drilling holes accurately)
8. Holding Work in the Lathe (a good source of ideas for unique problems)
9. Marking Out (ideas abound in here for potential home made equipment)
10. Plain Turning and Boring (includes many small tips and tricks)
11. Taper Turning, Crankshaft Turning, Disc and Ball Turning (a brief overview of the ways of accomplishing these)
12. Screwcutting (watch those angles)
13. Milling, Shaping, and Grinding (mostly Milling, the other topics are very brief, there are some plans in this chapter though)
14. Lapping (includes some ideas for lapping tools)
15. Metal Spinning, Spring Winding, Turning Rubber, ETC. (some unique ideas for lathe usage)
16. Production Methods in Small Lathes (couple of more project ideas here)
17. Care of the Lathe and It’s Accessories (a lot of good practical knowledge here)
    Appendix: Handy Tables for Home Mechanics
    Index

I would never advocate owning only one book as a reference for a topic as vast as lathe-work, however if I could choose only one book, this one would definitely be on the short-list.  I would go so far as to say it should be one of the first books purchased on the topic by new lathe owners and those considering the purchase of one.  It is one of the best on the topic in its modest $10.00 to $15.00 price range.  If you have any questions or if you own this book, please feel free to post a comment.

About the author

Units: (mm)

“If fear of the unknown is all that is preventing you from embarking on the satisfying hobby of model engineering, then this is the book that will banish your concerns. Author Harold Hall has established his reputation as a mentor to model engineers through the pages of Model Engineers’ Workshop, of which he was the editor for a number of years.

This book assumes no previous experience and using the medium of twelve lathe turning projects will lead prospective model engineers through all of the basic techniques needed to tackle ambitious projects. All of the projects are extensively illustrated and full working drawings accompany the text. Once followed through, the reader will have amassed a wealth of practical skills and a range of useful workshop tools and equipment.” – Excerpt from the back cover of the book.

Skill Level: Beginner
Type: Project-Oriented
Projects: 12 (lathe)
Measurements: Metric
Pages: 165

This book is a great place to start if you prefer a project-oriented approach to learning a new hobby (versus a book that digs deep into theory, but lacks educational projects for you to build).

Chapter 1 is a short “Getting Started” chapter that covers lathe basics and accessories (different lathe chucks and their strengths/limitations, the steady rest, cutting tools, types of metals and materials, etc.). This first chapter is very short (7 pages) and covers a bit of theory that really helps orient the beginner to the lathe.

Chapters 2-13 are all project-oriented and cover 12 projects ranging from simple to more complex. Here’s a complete list of the 12 projects, with a few links to images:

1. Mini Surface Gage (Chapter 2)
2. Precision Square (Chapter 3)
3. A between-centers test bar (Chapter 4)
4. Hole Gages (Chapter 5)
5. Distance Gages (Chapter 6)
6. Tailstock Die Holders (Chapter 7)
7. Precision Tapers (Chapter 8 )
8. Screw Jack (Chapter 9)
9. Jack Continued – Screw Cutting (Chapter 10)
10. Getting To Grips with the Face-Plate: Making a Two Wheel Knurling Tool (Chapter 11)
11. Mill Drill Spindle (Chapter 12)
12. A Milling Cutter Chuck (Chapter 13)

Overall, I think this book is a nice place for a beginner to start, especially if you’re looking for some useful projects to turn. You’ll even learn how to turn cast iron when you create the Screw Jack (if you decide to purchase the casting that was used in the project). The project drawings are complete and easy to follow, and the projects follow a logical progression (except for the Mini Surface Gage in chapter 2, which is a bit more complex than the projects in chapter 3-4).

However, I should point out a few things:

1. I wouldn’t say that this book is a complete course in lathework. But then again, I don’t know of any book that covers all of the nuances of lathework. Perhaps a more accurate title would have been “Getting Started with the Lathe”.
2. The picture on the cover isn’t a picture of any of the projects in the book, so don’t buy the book expecting to learn how to make what’s pictured on the cover.
3. Also, the measurements are in mm, not inches – but don’t let that prevent you from purchasing the book. If all your tools measure in inches the projects in this book might prove to be a little more difficult. Just keep in mind that it would be better to purchase used metric measuring equipment (micrometer, caliper, etc. – try ebay) than to convert all the measurements to inches. But even if you never complete a single project from the book, it’s still full of great information for the beginner.

If you have any questions or if you own this book, please feel free to post a comment.

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