-
Welcome back Guest! Did you know you can mentor other members here at H-M? If not, please check out our Relaunch of Hobby Machinist Mentoring Program!
Has anyone read "The machinist bedside reader"
- Thread starter solo
- Start date
I'd still consider $45 a decent price. Last time I recommended them to a friend he came back showing me ads for $150+... Given what I've spent on books that I've enjoyed less, that still might be worth it, but it's a bitter pill to swallow.
@Eddyde I don't think these are 'hyped'. If you're looking for lots of technical knowledge your money is probably better spent on the Geo Thomas books, but for 'easy reading' (Bedside reading, as it were) with some good tips, some project ideas, stories, etc, I think they're a gem.
If GL came out with TMBR #4 today, I'd gladly part with $45 for it.
GsT
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2014
- Messages
- 10,555
Fair enough, and I agree there is a lot of useful info in the books. I suppose my feeling is based on that I had heard about the books for years. In my mind they were built up with a certain mystique, the scarcity and difficulty of obtaining them, even the name itself evoking allure. Once I got my copies, they revealed to be somewhat less than I had imagined, there was no epiphany.
I understand. Perhaps they *are* "hyped", and I just didn't see it, at least in this time of scarcity. They're good, but not gold. I've certainly suffered disappointment after getting a book or watching a movie that was thoroughly over recommended. You finish, and you're like "did I miss something?". Probably unfair to both the purchaser and the author.
I still think they're "great" books - but only as entertainment, casual reading, a source for ideas and techniques. If you expect the end-all, be-all, you will be sorely disappointed. Of course that holds true for most books, except perhaps Sparey's Amateur Lathe (which I think I read about in the Machinist's Bedside Reader...) which is an absolute @$#%ing masterpiece. Those are few and far between.
Cheers!
GsT
I still think they're "great" books - but only as entertainment, casual reading, a source for ideas and techniques. If you expect the end-all, be-all, you will be sorely disappointed. Of course that holds true for most books, except perhaps Sparey's Amateur Lathe (which I think I read about in the Machinist's Bedside Reader...) which is an absolute @$#%ing masterpiece. Those are few and far between.
Cheers!
GsT
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2016
- Messages
- 394
You have to remember that when Guy wrote the Bedside readers there wasn't any internet as we now today. I remember getting the first one and loving it and his style of writing and telling stories. This started my love for machining. What I learned the most was there is more than one way to do a job with limited tools and machines in the home shop. I got the opportunity to spend an a lunch with Guy at gun engraving show way back when, made my day.
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2015
- Messages
- 153
These were some the first machining books I purchased in the 90's.
His site is still active: http://www.lautard.com/
Looks like the first book is back in print as of 01/03/2023. I guess if there is enough interest, they'll publish the other two.
Here is an Amazon link:
His site is still active: http://www.lautard.com/
Looks like the first book is back in print as of 01/03/2023. I guess if there is enough interest, they'll publish the other two.
Here is an Amazon link:
The Machinist's Bedside Reader: Projects, hints, tips and anecdotes of the trade (The Machinist's Bedside Readers): Lautard, Guy: 9781953439062: Amazon.com: Books
The Machinist's Bedside Reader: Projects, hints, tips and anecdotes of the trade (The Machinist's Bedside Readers) [Lautard, Guy] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Machinist's Bedside Reader: Projects, hints, tips and anecdotes of the trade (The Machinist's Bedside Readers)
www.amazon.com
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2019
- Messages
- 7,018
Wow, I did well when I sold mine set for $200!
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2015
- Messages
- 10,032
I read #2... I would say it's not very informative.. maybe #1 is, but it's mostly just him and his father in law and their relationship.
I was disappointed. Thought I would learn something.
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2019
- Messages
- 7,018
That's why I sold my set. I read them all and after the first one they just felt like a diary which to me, wasn't worth the price of them.
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2015
- Messages
- 153
I agree if you're a seasoned machinist. For me starting the hobby with little experience in the mid 90's, I found all three to be very informative. Lots of project ideas along with machining and measurement information. I got a kick out of the How to impress your mother in law rotary table page. The Japanese POW camp lathe from scrap story was an enjoyable read. I thought about selling my copies and my pristine, kept in a sealed plastic bag copy of Machine Tool Reconditioning by Connelly (only complaint is Connelly's the over use of vis and the almost $100 cost). But selling brings back memories of being a starving college student in the early 80's, selling my textbooks for food money. So, if I ever get food insecure, I'll have something to sell. But for now, I'll keep my books. I still regret selling my Halliday and Resnick Physics book. But, we have the internet with seemingly unlimited information available at our fingertips. I don't know, I guess I'm falling into the "old set and in their ways" category because I still like books. There is something about having my own collection of books I can occasionally use for reference. Maybe it's just nostalgia. I really should get rid of the 2007 SolidWorks and AutoCAD books, the 2003 Access and Excel books... But you never know when that Windows 98 series of books might come in handy
Yeah, I could definitely clear out a good eight feet of shelf space. I believe I need to do something about this book retention disease. So, selling what I can and recycling the rest might be the thing to do. Just think of how many new books I can buy with the proceeds! Wait, that shelf space could be used for more tools. Hmm, what to do.
Similar threads
