Tabletop Machining (Paperback)

by Joe Martin (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
When someone with Joe Martin's experience in the machine shop begins to draw upon his past and put it into print, one bit of wisdom tumbles out right on the heels of another. The book grew in just that way. What started out to be a substantial book became a monumental one, and it's clearly not limited in its scope to people who own and operate the tabletop-type machine tools such as the Sherline equipment. Machining is machining, and size is for the most part immaterial.

This book is richly illustrated with drawings, diagrams and full color photography. Craig Libuse is responsible for that aspect of the book, and it has added immensely to its usefulness. While the book focuses mostly upon the Sherline lathe and mill in both drawings and photos, the setups and processes it illustrates are important and useful for any machinist with any equipment. I encourage everyone to have Tabletop Machining by Joe Martin in their shop library -- The Home Shop Machinist Magazine, January 1999

Product Description
Tabletop Machining gives the reader not just the "hows" but also the "whys" of machining practices using the lathe and milling machine for metalworking. Included are down-to-earth descriptions as well as detailed photos and drawings. In addition, a large selection of project photos illustrates the amazing work that has been produced by craftsmen using small but capable miniature machine tools. Though the tools used in the examples highlight the small end of the size scale in machining, the theories and practices can be applied to metal working on machines of any size.

Whether you're a newly graduated engineer or a beginning machinist, this book will help you gather some real, practical knowledge of how machines and machinists actually go about working with metal. This isn't theory, but rather it details "real world" practices and gives a good insight into the challenges faced by machinists. Too often, good craftsmen are stopped from venturing forth because the only information available shows just the technically perfect way to do things rather than the simple, practical methods everyone really uses. For those wishing to design and build their first metal parts, it is a perfect starting point, as it highlights the fun that comes from making small projects of precision and beauty.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: Sherline Products Inc (September 21, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966543300
• ISBN-13: 978-0966543308
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #68,440 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great color photos, great practical advice, well written, June 14, 1999

By A Customer

This book should be purchased by anyone doing small scale modelling 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 it's photo's.

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 ot small sticks. I buy these woooden 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 liquified 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 blatent, 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. And, my hats off to the author for doing such a remarkable and detailed job.

John Dunbar

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A useful book, but parts are very manufacturer specific, August 7, 2000

By	Paul M Kiley (Newton, MA USA) - See all my reviews

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.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's unique!, July 23, 2000

By A Customer

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?