Tabletop Machining

Rating:
Summary: It's unique!
Review: I love this book... it reads easily and perhaps is close to an instruction manual for the sherline machines. An EXCELLENT WORK... the topic sentence could easily read - "Fuel for inventive minds" How to make make critical parts and prototypes yourself". - Kindest regards, Tom Brinkman

Rating:
Summary: If you own a Sherline, get this book.
Review: Joe Martin is a tremendous source of inspirational words about being a good machinist. The examples in this book will make you drool with anticipation to go out and "cut metal." However, there are no patterns, no step by step guides, just good examples that demonstrate good shop practice, and good machinist habits.

Roughly 25% of the book talks about how Sherline was started and how Joe took it over after the Austrailian company couldn't meet the requirements any more. So if you didn't also get the book "Tabletop Machining" go back and get that book now.

If you don't own a Sherline miniature machine tool this book will probably only rate 3 or maybe 4 stars with you.

Rating:
Summary: Great color photos, practical advice, well written
Review: This book should be purchased by anyone doing small scale modeling or machining. It focuses on the differences between "big scale" and "small scale."

The author gives freely of his advice. This is not a specific how to each step of any machining operation, but an overall how to. You get lots of advice. And, the book is stunning in its photos.

The author gives you recommendations on which tools and accessories to buy, and which vendors he buys from. An example could be the advice he gives on finishing off your part once it's machined. He advises the use of small polishing stones after the piece has been deburred. You'll see pictures of the stones he uses. "I have found a 1/4" square shape the most useful. The end can be shaped on a bench grinder to get into tight spaces. The stone is dipped into kerosene frequently to keep the surface being cut awash with fluid..." This goes on for about 4 large paragraphs.

Then he tells you about finishing off with sandpapers. "I have gotten excellent results with 320A wet and dry sandpaper glued to small sticks. I buy these wooden sticks at hobby shops and prefer spruce. I glue the sticks to the paper with instant "super glue" and make up a batch of them at one time..." He goes on for several more paragraphs on sandpapers. They he talks about powdered and liquefied abrasive polishes, then tumbled finishes. Well, you get the idea.

The last chapter of the book describes how the author started his business and relays all the important lessons that he learned. This chapter alone is worth the price of the book. In fact, you should read what he says about the great value of their internet site.

Again, this book is geared to the smaller scale of desktop machining... not using the big iron. He notes the differences. His comments on CNC, and on craftsmanship, CAD and engineering are also very interesting. Although all the examples in the book used the company's Sherline lathes, mills and accessories, it was not blatant, nor came across as self-serving.

It's a big format book, paper back, with glossy paper with full color photos on just about every page. I highly recommend this book. My hat's off to the author for doing such a remarkable and detailed job.

Rating:
Summary: Great color photos, practical advice, well written
Review: This book should be purchased by anyone doing small scale modeling or machining. It focuses on the differences between "big scale" and "small scale."

The author gives freely of his advice. This is not a specific how to each step of any machining operation, but an overall how to. You get lots of advice. And, the book is stunning in its photos.

The author gives you recommendations on which tools and accessories to buy, and which vendors he buys from. An example could be the advice he gives on finishing off your part once it's machined. He advises the use of small polishing stones after the piece has been deburred. You'll see pictures of the stones he uses. "I have found a 1/4" square shape the most useful. The end can be shaped on a bench grinder to get into tight spaces. The stone is dipped into kerosene frequently to keep the surface being cut awash with fluid..." This goes on for about 4 large paragraphs.

Then he tells you about finishing off with sandpapers. "I have gotten excellent results with 320A wet and dry sandpaper glued to small sticks. I buy these wooden sticks at hobby shops and prefer spruce. I glue the sticks to the paper with instant "super glue" and make up a batch of them at one time..." He goes on for several more paragraphs on sandpapers. They he talks about powdered and liquefied abrasive polishes, then tumbled finishes. Well, you get the idea.

The last chapter of the book describes how the author started his business and relays all the important lessons that he learned. This chapter alone is worth the price of the book. In fact, you should read what he says about the great value of their internet site.

Again, this book is geared to the smaller scale of desktop machining... not using the big iron. He notes the differences. His comments on CNC, and on craftsmanship, CAD and engineering are also very interesting. Although all the examples in the book used the company's Sherline lathes, mills and accessories, it was not blatant, nor came across as self-serving.

It's a big format book, paper back, with glossy paper with full color photos on just about every page. I highly recommend this book. My hat's off to the author for doing such a remarkable and detailed job.

Rating:
Summary: Indespensible Guide for Sherline Owners
Review: This is a book with a fair amount of useful material for the beginning home machinist. It could have been even better had it been more general in approach though, the author (who is the president of Sherline, a maker of small machine tools)devotes a great deal of print space to specific tools and accessories from his company's line, as well as the history of Sherline, etc. For users of other brand tools (such as myself) much of this is simply not very useful. If you own or plan on buying Sherline equipment, I'd give this 5 stars, if not, I feel 3 stars is about right.

Rating:
Summary: It's unique!
Review: This is an engaging and informative book with a few strange characteristics. The subject is not so much tabletop machining as it is Joe Martin, the author: his life, his buddies, his philosophy, his company, his advice for living, his products, and yes, his miniature machining tips. I think many people will find this an interesting mix, but I found it distracting. About half the material in the book seemed tangential to the subject of machining.

Second, the book is very Sherline-specific. I'm sure that most of the information applies to other systems, but if so, it's entirely by chance. The details of the construction and operation of Sherline machine tools are intimately woven throughout the text. Many of the Sherline accessories (which are also discussed in detail) are unique to the Sherline system and don't have analogues ouside that product line. Like one of the other reviewers here, I would call this book an extended Sherline manual.

I found the pervasive spelling errors somewhat annoying.

On the other hand, I found the book's focus (introductory machining for the layman or hobbyist) to be right on target. It contains a wealth of practical information. The photographs are beautifully executed and printed.

If I could add something to this book, it would be information about the process of machining a complex part. The book covers basic operations well, but other than a few small projects in the back, it never says much about how to add up the individual operations.

This book is also interesting for the glimpse it gives of the hobbyist community. It appears to consist entirely of white, male retirees who are obsessed with steam engines and models of boats and cars. Where are the robotics experimenters? Where are the sculptors?

Rating:
Summary: Very Good Introduction to Home Milling & Lathe Work
Review: Yes, it's rather Sherline oriented and Joe Martin oriented. But it is a very good introduction for the person who plans to get a small milling machine.

Check your local library. The price is steep, and you may not feel you need to keep the book once you've read it.