Customer Reviews

Desk Ref (2nd Edition; Shirt Pocket Reference Series)

5 star:		(4)
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DeskRef by Thomas Glover is an amazing compliation of information. My initial reaction was "Oh gee... That's kind of interesting, but I'm not sure when I'd use the information." BOY WAS I WRONG! The first time I need a formula, I turned to the DeskRef and there it was. I began to pay closer attention to the infomation contained in the book and now I don't know how I survived without it.

It contains useful formulas and well as material specifications. The collecting of the information in one volume is extremely helpful. I no longer have to search for data from multiple books.

I strongly recommend this book to engineers, designers, and specifiers. It is a concise and valuable resource.

Desk Ref is one sweet book. It is part encyclopedia, part trivia tome, part entertainment and part dispute-solver. Buried in the various tables and charts are tons of data and facts to aid the rider, roadside mechanic or budding MacGyver.

Let's say you are riding in Colorado, and want to know how much to re-jet. You simply go to the chapter on air & gases (p. 13) and learn that air pressure @ 10,000 ft is approx. 70% of mean standard air pressure.

Lose your owner's manual? In Chapter 2 (p. 25) you can find a torque level to safely reinstall 12mm spark plugs in an aluminum head (18-22 ft-lbs.) Settle that tavern bet over the codes on your tire sidewalls (p. 31)

Wondering how thick the wire should be to run your new electric vest? Look in Chapter 6.

What do you suppose the weather is like in Maine in September? Will you need warm weather gear? (p. 162)

This book has everything. Wind Chill tables, Heat Index data, an entire chapter that cross-references SAE, Metric and even Whitworth hardware. Listings of those formulas you've forgotten from High School.

Several Chapters apply to the off-season mechanic or machinist. Drill sizing; counter-sinking; metal properties & hardness; welding data and taps and dies. Granted there are more complete machining books, but if you are at the store and are blanking on a spec, the Pocket Ref may save you a return trip.

Oh sure, you can get most of this information off of the internet. But out in Hooterville at O-dark-thirty, you may be able to find your answer before your alpha-geek friend has even accessed the 'net.

Author Thomas Glover has compiled tons of data onto 544 pages into this little, 5 1/4" X 3 1/4" book. Tankbag?!? Hell - this thing fits into your jacket! Available from better hardware stores, booksellers or the publisher.

Verdict:
Casual Reader--You could live without this, but why would you want to?

Gear Head--Serious "geek-credit" earned when you deploy this little gem.

Serious Ride--Has scores of uses directly applicable to motorcycling. A no-brainer.

BIG DAN's OVERALL RATING: 9.2/10

Someone told me about it, and I purchased the Pocket Ref, after spending a couple days with it, I showed it to the building super, his eyes lit up, and he said he had one for years but didn't know what happened to it, so I gave him the Pocket version and ordered the larger Desk Ref, which sits on my desk about 15 inchs from my keyboard. It is a great gift for any tradesman, it has something for everyone, sort of the that could save a costly mistake or your life,(no kidding), one of the best purchases of the year.

This book truly has it all for the person that does a lot of his own stuff around the house. I do pretty much anything and everything around my house and this book is my perfect reference.