The Machinist's Bedside Reader

by Guy Lautard

The 3 books in The Machinist's Bedside Reader series are among the most popular books ever written for machinists! Written in a relaxed style, you'll actually enjoy reading technical information. The subtitle of the first book says it Projects, hints, tips and anecdotes of the trade. These books include detailed instructions and fully dimensioned working drawings for numerous tools and accessories you will want to make for use in your shop. (Even if you're a novice, you'll find the instructions easy to follow and very detailed.) They also contain much useful and timesaving shop know-how, some of which is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to find elsewhere. The information in these books has been gleaned from many and varied sources, including experienced machinists (and home shop guys) who are willing to share what they know. This first book includes fully dimensioned, working drawings and detailed instructions for several interesting projects including 15 practical machinists tools and lathe accessories such a finger plate (flat vise), a caliper-type knurling tool, a jig for sharpening small drills (1/8" to #60), 3 accessory lathe faceplates .... a handsome box latch that will mystify your friends a shop-made sling swivel base PLUS you'll learn much useful shop know-how to help you get things done faster and easier in your shop. how to sharpen a center punch - properly. what lube to use for tapping and machining copper how to design and fit split cotters. how to hold thin work in the lathe chuck. You'll also enjoy the several machine shop anecdotes, and the fascinating account of a little lathe made "from nothing" in a Japanese POW camp. And you'll learn "The Secret of the Old Master," in a heartwarming story by Lucian Cary. One machinist reported that he got a pay raise as a direct result of using a tip from these books because he had enabled his employer to do a job for a profit instead of a loss!

Paperback

First published June 1, 1986

Reviews

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author of a fair number of fun machinist articles, I've read two of the Machinist Bedside Readers and enjoyed them. Lots of interesting reading, kind of like listening to 'war' stories from old machinists. Slightly less useful as a reference but a few of the gunsmithing tips are quite good and probably pay many times over for #1 if you clean a lot of guns. Its possible that story about gunsmiths have no commercial value but I enjoyed the extracts in #1, it would be nice if some major publisher picked them up, but then I like Stephen Meader and Nevil Shute which are hopelessly not with it as far as the mainstream is concerned.
In addition to his own books, he carries a select few other books on his web site, I know at least a couple of them are great so I suspect the others are great as well, I'm very tempted by the clock books he carries, though lately model railroading has been sucking most of my building time!

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-crafted and easy reading for someone like me with 3% of very little machinist knowledge!
Highly recommend to complete novices and master craftsmen.
I would buy all three volumes but my disability pension is a limitation. If anyone is relinquishing their copies, would you please contact me?
Thank you. Jenni.