Basic lathing book??

ermel

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Anyone out there have or recommend a basic book on operating min-lathes?
Specifically, I am interested in threading the ends of small steel rods about 2 to 4 mm thick.
Thanks for any help!
 
It's not a book but I think that Jose Rodriguez's video on the mini-lathe is pretty good stuff for a start and covers a lot of topics. LMS carries them.

For small stuff like that, there is a lot to be said for just using a die. A tailstock die holder is pretty slick. There are plans around to make but at $30 and not messing with turning the taper, it is a bargain. I use mine a lot more than I do single point threading. I rarely have to mess with changing gears.

480.2314.jpg
http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=2314&category=1

I also recommend buying or building a crank handle for the spindle. It is a bit slower but without as much risk as threading under power. You have time to think about what is going on without worrying about crashing. I just bought mine rather than making. (also at LMS)

480.2314.jpg
 
Welcome to the world of the mini!

Workshop Practice Series (WPS) #43 The Mini-Lathe and #48 Mini-LatheTools & Projects, by David Fenner. Have a look at the full range of WPS books.

The Amateur’s Lathe, LH Sparey (not mini-lathe specific)
The Compact Lathe, Steve Bray (ditto)

Basic Lathework for Home Machinists by Stan Bray (may be the same content as the Bray title above)

Metal turning on the Lathe by David A. Clark (he is the editor of Model Engineers' Workshop)
This is due 1 May but there is - I think - a Kindle version for download. I expect that it is not mini-lathe specific.

While not books these websites rate a look:
http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/projects.aspx
www.mini-lathe.com
 
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Welcome to the world of the mini!

Workshop Practice Series (WPS) #43 The Mini-Lathe and #48 Mini-LatheTools & Projects, by David Fenner. Have a look at the full range of WPS books.

The Amateur’s Lathe, LH Sparey (not mini-lathe specific)
The Compact Lathe, Steve Bray (ditto)

Basic Lathework for Home Machinists by Stan Bray (may be the same content as the Bray title above)

Metal turning on the Lathe by David A. Clark (he is the editor of Model Engineers' Workshop)
This is due 1 May but there is - I think - a Kindle version for download. I expect that it is not mini-lathe specific.

While not books these websites rate a look:
http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/projects.aspx
www.mini-lathe.com
 
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This is a pretty standard book, How to Run a Lathe by Southbend.
http://books.google.com/books?id=sA...6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=how to run a lathe&f=false

You can download a program that will copy that link to a pdf. Just search for "Google books download tool" should bring you up one. They have many books scanned in free to read.

That book is also very inexpensive if you order it from Amazon too. I have a copy of it that I do refer to quite frequently just to make sure I am doing some things that I do not do often correctly. Matter of fact the book by Jose is great as is the entire workshop practice series. The nice thing about the WPS books is you can buy each one separately so as you add equipment you can add texts to support it and get you started. Eventually I will have them all, but I just get them one at a time now for the time being... Hope that helps get you started.

Don't be afraid to ask here either, there is no such thing as a dumb question, only the one that was not asked.

Bob
 
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