Shop top categories that ship internationally
Similar items shipping to Finland
FI
Finland
See All Buying Options
Added to

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

John Joseph O'Brien
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

How to Run a Lathe: The Care and Operation of a Screw Cutting Lathe Paperback – September 11, 2013

4.6 out of 5 stars 960 ratings
2013 Reprint of 1942 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. South Bend Lathe Works sent out this manual with every Lathe they sold. Profusely illustrated. You get everything you need to set up a lathe and get it running. This is the lathe manual that Dave Gingery raves about. You get eleven chapters: history and development of the lathe, setting up and leveling the lathe, operation of the lathe, lathe tools and their application, how to take accurate measurements, plain turning (work between centers), chuck work; taper turning and boring, drilling reaming and tapping, cutting screw threads, and special classes of work. All the basics are here form sharpening drills to producing "super-finished" turned bearings, grinding valves, and turning multiple screw threads.
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    134 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    September 11, 2013
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.34 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1614274746
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1614274742
Next slide of product details
The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now

Customers also bought or read

Page 1 of 1Start over
Previous page
Next page
Loading...

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Martino Fine Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 11, 2013
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 42nd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 134 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1614274746
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1614274742
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.34 x 9 inches
  • Best Sellers Rank: #144,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 960 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
John Joseph O'Brien

John Joseph O'Brien

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

Related books

Page 1 of 1Start Over
Sponsored
Previous page
  1. Shop the Store on Amazon ›
    Grinding, Honing, and Polishing for Home Machinists: Workshop Practice Series (Fox Chapel Publishing) Everything You Need to Know for Metalworking in Your Small Shop
    Grinding, Honing, and Polishing for Home Machinists: Workshop Practice Series (Fox Chapel Publishing) Everything You Need to Know for Metalworking in Your Small Shop
    5.05.0 out of 5 stars1
  2. Shop the Store on Amazon ›
    The Comprehensive Guide to Woodworking: Practical Plans, Step-by-Step Instructions,Techniques, Advanced Tips and Tools for Crafting Perfect Wood Projects (Woodworking Books)
    The Comprehensive Guide to Woodworking: Practical Plans, Step-by-Step Instructions,Techniques, Advanced Tips and Tools for Crafting Perfect Wood Projects (Woodworking Books)
    3.93.9 out of 5 stars39
Next page

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
960 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book provides good basic information on lathe operation, with detailed content including diagrams and conversion charts, making it particularly suitable for beginners. Moreover, the writing style is well-crafted, and customers consider it worth the price. However, opinions about the book's era are mixed, with some praising it as a great old classic while others find it very dated.

Select to learn more

Information qualityReadabilityBeginner levelValue for moneyInformation contentWriting styleReprint qualityEra
70 customers mention "Information quality"63 positive7 negative

Customers find the book provides good basic information on lathe operation and serves as a helpful reference material, with one customer noting it's a great resource to keep in the shop.

"very informative read, wanted an older version to go along with my older lathe, didnt need all the carbide mumbo jumbo, lots of diagrams" Read more

"...This is a good primer with lots of basic info. Yes, you can find the same info on the 'net, but I like having a concise book to reference...." Read more

"Some of the info is timeless and some is dated. I knew that when I bought it. Worth the price regardless...." Read more

"...Have found this book to be very helpful as well as a good reference for my shop library." Read more

51 customers mention "Readability"51 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and well-written, with one customer noting it's a must-have for anyone starting machine lathe work.

"Good book" Read more

"This man knows his stuff. Great book!!" Read more

"Good read" Read more

"good book, basic operations" Read more

27 customers mention "Beginner level"25 positive2 negative

Customers find the book great for beginners, with one mentioning it's perfect for those working with old manual machines, while another notes its plain and easy-to-understand language.

"It's been 30 years since I touched a lathe. This is a good primer with lots of basic info...." Read more

"Great book for the beginner or the novice that needs some help." Read more

"Just what I needed - a how-to book that can stay in the shop next to my lathe. The cover is rubberized and should be easy to keep smudge-free...." Read more

"...This one covers the basics with plain easy to understand language and good illustrations...." Read more

19 customers mention "Value for money"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth the price.

"great price" Read more

"Excellent price for a very well written reference book." Read more

"...I happen to own a Craftsman lathe, but I still find this book worthwhile...." Read more

"With an inexpensive reprint like this available, I see no reason to read the darned thing as a .pdf on my computer...." Read more

13 customers mention "Information content"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very detailed with lots of diagrams, and one customer mentions it contains 126 pages of charts and is a goldmine of information about lathe setup.

"...with my older lathe, didnt need all the carbide mumbo jumbo, lots of diagrams" Read more

"...This ranks up there with the best manuals I've ever read as it doesn't read like a manual :)" Read more

"This is a great primer for anyone new to engine lathes. Plenty of diagrams and pictures to quickly help one understand the basic geometry of cutting..." Read more

"Very detailed but a little dated" Read more

10 customers mention "Writing style"10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as well written, with one customer noting its clear prose and another mentioning its typical pre-war American style.

"This is a well written book with some nice projects however, it is useless to me because all of the projects require metric tools, measurements and..." Read more

"...It covers most of the ways to use a lathe with clear prose, mechanical-style line art, and black and white photos retouched to print clearly...." Read more

"...This book can change you from a hacker to a craftsman. The writing is straightforward and transparent with no jargon...." Read more

"Excellent price for a very well written reference book." Read more

9 customers mention "Reprint quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the reprint quality of the book, with one customer noting it's an excellent copy of a classic user manual from 1942.

"Good quality reprint of the 1942 edition of the classic originally published by South Bend Lathe...." Read more

"Very good reprint , good quality paperback. very old school and beginner, perfect for a beginner with an old manual machine." Read more

"It was an on book , i guess if you know absolutely nothing about lathes this book would be more helpful" Read more

"This is an old edition manual that has all the basics of proper set up of lathes. As a novice I found it very helpful and informative." Read more

15 customers mention "Era"10 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's era, with some praising it as a great old classic while others find it very dated.

"Good old time how to do it book on lathe setup and practices suitable to folks buying a well loved old lather or new import for hobby work...." Read more

"A very dated book. Not what I was looking for. These machines do not even exist today" Read more

"Oldie but Goodie...." Read more

"A great old classic and a fun read,info is still relevant and makes a good review for a experienced hand and a fine intro for the beginner." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Birck
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great basic lathe operation guide
    Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I'm coming at this facsimile book (originally published in the 1940's) from the standpoint of an "old school" machinist who learned mechanical drawing and lathe operation in the 60's, and it's a good fit. It covers most of the ways to use a lathe with clear prose, mechanical-style line art, and black and white photos retouched to print clearly. Those features alone put it a few steps above many of the other machine-shop books. It should be emphasized that the tooling shown in the photos and illustrations is pre-war, but the terminology is unchanged. So a tool post or a live center or a crossfeed may look more rounded off or more baroque than the same part on a modern mini-lathe, but they all work the same way. Mainly, the standards are unchanged. There are plenty of conversion charts (metric-decimal inch-fractional inch) and gear formulae for threading setups. And we still need them. I highly recommend the book.
    26 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good book helps you get the most out of your small lathe whether or not it's a South Bend
    Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This book has a lot of great information for small lathe owners whether or not their lathe is a South Bend. I happen to own a Craftsman lathe, but I still find this book worthwhile. I know some people will insist on having the paper version of a manual like this, but I find the Kindle edition very handy. For example, I can read a few pages on my lunch break at work.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Ralphie D
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good information!!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Was a pretty good read as I am a hobby machinist... Great for the basics.... Haven't finished reading it all but a lot of good info so far.
    Helpful
     Report
  • D. Michael McIntyre
    5.0 out of 5 stars This old book drills past all the modern complexity to focus cleanly on the core fundamentals of metal turning
    Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    As a metal lathe novice, I've read several books oriented toward the home machine shop market. These books tend to feature modern machines and tooling, yet time and time again, the bit relevant to my immediate problem turns out to be a couple of vague snippets that seem to be drawing on prior knowledge I do not possess. Whenever I learn something truly useful, it has been information I find in the old South Bend book. The bulk of this book is available online for free, but for $5 you can get a printed and bound paper book that surely looks as good as the book ever did.

    The book features old machinery and talks about solving old mechanical problems, but I have often found information from the '40s to be really useful for focusing on the core fundamentals of mechanical things. The fundamentals haven't changed, but everything is cluttered up with extra complexity now. This old book drills past all that, and has been greatly helpful to me on my journey.
    19 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • bobby
    5.0 out of 5 stars ok for price
    Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    good book
    Helpful
     Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Goldmine of Information About Lathe Setup and Operation
    Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2016
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I knew just from the cover and that it was produced by South Bend Lathe Works that this book would be filled with priceless gems of wisdom. And, it hasn't disappointed. Remember, though, that the copyright is 1942 so some material is dated. For instance, lacing the leather belts that run from the motor to the headstock or using lard oil for lubricating your cutting work. But, there is a goldmine of information that transcends time about using the lathe for cutting, shaping or making threads and more. There is information about setting up the lathe so it is level, oiling and maintaining the lathe, checking for proper alignment between headstock and tailstock, cutting speeds for various metals, cutting tool formation, the use of center and follower rests and on and on.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Lauren A Rood
    5.0 out of 5 stars A lathe owner must have.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    If you own a manual lathe, you need a copy of this manual. This is the second one i've purchased. It's a machining step back in time with tips and procedures still relevant for the operation of manual thread cutting lathes. Buy it for no other reason than a history lesson and reminder of traditional vocational practices.
    Helpful
     Report
  • RDM
    4.0 out of 5 stars Book topic is as expected ,but ....
    Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Book topic is as expected but it has some of the pages inserted with no gule and they are loose.No big thing just had to do a little scotch tape repair on two pages. Was a good read had a lot of old time info. in it.My book was a reprint in 1993 and the thing was first published by The Southbend Lathe Co. in 1914.Some very interesting things about what and how they did things back when.Going to make a great addition to the library.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Gareth Wood
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book
    Reviewed in Canada on September 6, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Lovely compact book with loads of details. Well worth having in your collection.
    Report
  • Khalifa Al Hashemi
    3.0 out of 5 stars out dated
    Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on January 31, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    out dated
    Report
  • PierreZFP
    5.0 out of 5 stars Old school text book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 14, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Brilliant information reprinted from 1942 but just as valid today especially as I have a lathe made in 1948. Lots of essential information from tool sharpening to thread cutting and lathe maintenance. Excellent diagrams and clear descriptions, can dip into this for hours.
    Report
  • Robochecker
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read before buying lathe
    Reviewed in India on November 24, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    A must read before buying lathe
    Report
  • Hilton Uchoa
    2.0 out of 5 stars O livro e obsoleto!
    Reviewed in Brazil on February 19, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Comprei sabendo do que se trata. So serve para estudiosos e colecionadores. Os tornos analisados nao sao mais fabricados mas eu tenho 4 diferentes.
    Report