The versatile and inexpensive mini-lathe has become the best-selling item of machinery in the hobby engineering market, and is often purchased as a first step by beginners. These miniature versions of industrial metalworking lathes are a good choice for model engineers or anyone else who is interested in metalworking and has a need to fabricate small precision parts.
Mini-Lathe for Home Machinists presents a complete course on using and improving the new generation of budget lathes. It's a perfect choice for beginners as well as for those who are experienced with the lathe, but have never tried the mini-lathe. The skills and information that the reader will pick up from this book can be applied again and again to future projects on the machine.
Based on the author's experience using a mini-lathe in his own workshop, this book covers all of the basics, from safety and materials to setting up and tuning the machine for best performance. It includes detailed instructions for making useful components like shafts, bushings, spindles, part-off tools, DRO handwheels and a radius turning attachment. Readers will learn how to use accessories and perform a full range of essential tasks, as well as how to adjust the mini-lathe for use as a milling machine.
The book provides an in-depth explanation of the different parts of the mini-lathe, and addresses how they can be used to complete different projects. Chapters are broken down into easy-to-understand sections, and include hundreds of clear illustrations that will help guide readers as they set up a machine and start to use it.

Joining metals is a fundamental process used in all aspects of modern life. It is vital wherever metals are used, which is just about everywhere. Small or large, simple or complex - no mode of transport or method of construction would be possible without the sound understanding of its theory and practice. Written for the home metalworker or model engineer, this book discusses the various methods of joining metals, including strength, testing and applications, and includes useful lessons from historical failures including the sinking of the Titanic, the Flixborough explosion, the capsize of the Alexander L. Keilland offshore platform, the Hyatt Hotel elevated walkway collapse and the Markham Colliery lift bolt failure. With over 100 diagrams and over 200 photographs, this book examines: Mechanical joining: bolting, riveting, clamping - Metallurgical joining: welding, brazing, soldering - Chemical joining: bonding difficult metals - Strength of joints: choice and analysis - Failure of metals and joints: stress, fatigue, corrosion - Design: use of theory and codes to avoid failure, and finally - Testing of metals and joints: destructive and non-destructive (NDT).