It’s been a while since I’ve posted a free e-book for you cats to download, so it’s time to start that tradition back up again. I’ve got my greasy paws on a handful of “new” old books for you guys to dig into. Not sure about you, but I love reading through this old stuff. Not only to pick up tips and tricks from days of yore, but also to get a better understanding and sense of history into these crafts - from welding to machining to general metal work and casting - evolved through time. A great way to get the most of out these books is to print them out, then three hole punch them and put them in a 3-ring binder. Then you can carry it with ya whenever you know your going to have some down time (waiting at an airport, sitting on the can, going to the in-laws house… etc). Reading them on the computer kind of blows, to really get the most out of the books, I think printing them is the way to go.

For this installment I’ve got the Metal Turners Handy Book by P.N. Hasluck. This one is all about different types of lathes, the accompanying tooling, uses, etc. Tons of pics and stacks of info and generally an easy read.

To download the PDF file, click the following link: The Metal Turner’s Handybook

To learn more about our free ebook series, go here
And to see other free eBooks that have been posted, go here

This latest free ebook - The American Machinist Handbook & Dictionary - is so dense with info, I had to break it into 3 files. This is the 3rd and last installment, the other installments can be found here

Click the link to download: American Machinist Handbook & Dictionary

To learn more about our free ebook series, go here

This latest free ebook - The American Machinist Handbook & Dictionary - is so dense with info, I had to break it into 3 files. This is the second installment, the other installments can be found here

Click the link to download: American Machinist Handbook & Dictionary

To learn more about our free ebook series, go here

This latest free ebook - The American Machinist Handbook & Dictionary - is so dense with info, I had to break it into 3 files. The whole book is over 600 pages, so you’re getting the first 225 this time around. The remaining segments will be posted soon.

Click the link to download: American Machinist Handbook & Dictionary

To learn more about our free ebook series, go here
And to see other free eBooks that have been posted, go here

Ok chumly, we’ve got another free e-book for gearheads coming your way. It’s dubbed “Modern Toolmaking Methods” and that would be “modern” for 1915. Lots of really cool knowledge being dropped in this one… it’s one of my favorites so far. Dig in and get schooled

Click the link to download: Modern Toolmaking Methods

Here’s another free eBook for you to download as part of our “Old books for backyard motorcycle builders” series.
I’ve posted a book about Oxy-Acetylene Welding before, but I’m a book nerd, so more is always better in that regard. Straight out of 1919 comes Lorn Campbell Jr. with his Oxy-Acetylene Welding Manual. Get schooled chappy.

Click the link to download: Oxy-Acetylene Welding Manual PDF

Here’s another free e-book for you to download as part of our “Old books for backyard motorcycle builders” series.
From the year 1909 is this little ditty called Foundry Practices and it’s all about metal casting and molding.

Click the link to download: Metal Casting e-Book

To learn more about our free ebook series, go here
And to see other free eBooks that have been posted, go here

Here’s another free eBook for you to download as part of our “Old books for backyard motorcycle builders” series.
Checking in from the year 1914 is 222 pages of Welding enlightenment. The quality is dodgy in a few places, but still a lot of great info to soak up, and hey it’s free, so you’ve got nothing to lose.

Click the link to download: Welding e-Book

Here’s another tasty old book for you to download. Chiming in from from the year 1874 is “The Amateur Mechanic’s Workshop”, which is dubbed “A treatise containing plain and concise directions for the manipulation of wood and metals, including casting, forging, brazing, soldering and carpentry”. Well alright cat, get your learn on.
Click to download: The Amateur Mechanic’s Workshop
(Photo: Anthony Hopkins as Burt Monroe, the quintessential “amateur” mechanic)