Machinery Handbook question

[Shortbed350]

So I was downtown today at some antique stores and I came across an 11th edition machinery handbook in good shape and I'm starting to get into machining so I figured I'd buy it until... I ask the man working at the shop how much and he says $120

Is that a reasonable price?

 

[A_Pmech]

Way too much!

You can buy a current edition for $80

 

[Packard V8]

If you watch eBay and practicalmachinist.com, you can buy whichever edition you want for cheap.

jack vines

 

[Provincial]

I found one from about 1950 at a garage sale for $4.00 and gave it to a friend that is learning to use his 8" import lathe. They show up pretty regularly.

 

[WWIIjeep]

11th Edition is from 1941, so it's a little rare, but $120 is $90 to $110 too much. I've seen similarly-old editions at estate sales and auctions fairly frequently for $10 to $15 in average condition and a bit more for fine or near-fine condition.

 

[Adam.C]

Get the recent large print addition. If you don't need it now, you will soon. The CD is also nice to have. Allows you to search stuff easily.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I think we have the PDF of version 29 on the network here

 

[littlekillertoad]

I've got a really old copy at home - I'll take some pics tonight. I'm pretty sure I got my copy for $10.

 

[lametec]

#26 is online here: http://www.brightonk12.com/webpages/mjourden/general.cfm?subpage=1305723

I'm sure #29 can be found online as well with some searching.

 

[Cryptic1911]

#26 is online here: http://www.brightonk12.com/webpages/mjourden/general.cfm?subpage=1305723

I'm sure #29 can be found online as well with some searching.

I was just going to post that link.. I found it a while back on google right after we got our milling machine

 

[ZRX61]

I have several, including 10th & 11th versions. I'm pretty sure I paid $2.00 for the 11th at an estate sale....

The 10th was signed & dated by the original owner:*11-26-40 J.F. Schwimmer. LA.*
It also has a cartoon cut from a newspaper dated '45 taped inside the cover. I also picked up the guys 4th edition of Marks Mech Eng Handbook signed/dated 5-2-42.

11th edition has *V.E. Denny* on the inside of the cover.

 

[X1 Mike]

I was given a 10th edition which was from the late 30's if I recall correctly when I started in the trade in 1985. For all intents and purposes it is pretty much useless with today’s modern metal removal techniques. It is good for an educational tool to learn the past but there are a lot of things that could slow down a new machinists development. The book will have speeds and feeds that today is pretty much laughable. I think I got into the trade at just the right time because when I started we were still two years from getting our first CNC machine. I learned good fundamental machining practices then slowly worked into advanced high speed machining.

 

[ZRX61]

Some of my collection:

 

[an0nymous]

That is an impressive bookshelf, ZRX61.

 

[Outlawmws]

ZRX, that almost looks like you took pics of my collection!

I have 5 copies plus one dupe I gave to my (Non Machinist) son (who still uses it on occasion) I think my oldest is a 14th. other that the one I bought new in college, I don't think I paid more than $5 for any of them...

 

[RCStocker]

I find them all the time for $5 each. I think the one I used back in the 60's was the
11th. $120 is insane. No matter what it is you will always see people ask more for something than it is worth. One on line tool store is selling the Proto 15" adjustable wrench for $128.99 and that is more than MFG list price. I wrote them a nice e asking why so high a price. They said they had a contract and could not sell for less. List prices are never the same. You can buy the wrench for $55 all day long. Why bother having a web site if you are going to ask that much. I see it in the thrift stores. They keep jacking the prices up to an insane level for pure junk. I guess there are suckers out there but I sure have never found any and I would not have the gonads to ask such prices. Go on E bay and get one for $10 shipped

 

[nine4gmc]

I have "The Oxy-Acetylene Welders Handbook" that I bought from ebay, if it was one of you guys, thanks.

This one is for sale locally on CL for $20. It's been on there for months now.

 

[2oolhound]

For practical use get something newer. There is such a depth of information there you can get lost in it for months (how long is a machinist's apprenticeship?) You may as well start with something fairly current.

 

[WNYflyer]

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?kn=industrial+11th&tn=machinery+handbook

Abebooks.com is the place I look for books first. Basically I believe it is a website that acts as a third party saleperson for used book sellers/stores.

I refuse to buy new technical books when I can get older editions cheap that have 99.9% of what I am looking for. Beware if you are into old/used books you can get lost for hours on the site.

 

[Shortbed350]

Thanks WNYflyer they have all kinds of awesome books on there

 

[littlekillertoad]

Here's some pictures of my copy of the Machinery's Handbook. It's pretty beat up but I picked it up for $4.

 

[Outlawmws]

For practical use get something newer. There is such a depth of information there you can get lost in it for months (how long is a machinist's apprenticeship?) You may as well start with something fairly current.

Unless they have added a bunch (For CNC?) there isn't a lot that changes in MHB. Anything in the last 30-40 years should be fine.

 

[justanengineer]

Like others, I dont think any of mine have cost more than $5 and for that price, I buy them and stash them as appropriate. 1 at work, 1 inside the mill, another in the garage for everyday work, two or three in the living room etc etc.

 

[sharkytm]

Mine is 15th edition, paid $6.50 on Amazon (used).

 

[zuk123]

I just looked, I've got the 15th and 17th on the shelf. The 17th I got on ebay for about $6, the other I finally found at an estate sale.

I've got a couple of other neat reference books I'll have to get posted....

zuk

 

[Outlawmws]

Some of my MHB's adn other engineering books. the 19th ed. on top is the one I bought new, there is a 20th, a 17th and 14th, and I have a 16th in the Garage.

Some of the other engineering/technical books.

 

[zuk123]

Wow, you have a Henleys. I have the pdf and it is very hard to read. Cool stuff in there. Amazing to think housewives used to use benzine as a cleaner...

zuk

edit- I guess they aren't exactly rare, there are several on ebay, but I've never seen one in the wild.

 

[Tucko]

Some of my MHB's adn other engineering books. the 19th ed. on top is the one I bought new, there is a 20th, a 17th and 14th, and I have a 16th in the Garage.

Some of the other engineering/technical books.

Have you made any of your own power tools yet? I know there's at least 40 you can make yourself.....

 

[Outlawmws]

Wow, you have a Henleys. I have the pdf and it is very hard to read. Cool stuff in there. Amazing to think housewives used to use benzine as a cleaner...

zuk

edit- I guess they aren't exactly rare, there are several on ebay, but I've never seen one in the wild.

I've seen one other in the wild but it was too much$$$...

I've had that one for probably 30 years. lots of forgotten tech in there (some BETTER forgotten... )

 

[Outlawmws]

Have you made any of your own power tools yet? I know there's at least 40 you can make yourself.....

It's been known to happen, but none from that book. It has a large base in reused model T/A parts, and plywood framing and the like. Interesting book though!

 

[vishal.dixit]

So I was downtown today at some antique stores and I came across an 11th edition machinery handbook in good shape and I'm starting to get into machining so I figured I'd buy it until... I ask the man working at the shop how much and he says $120

Is that a reasonable price?

You can find an ebook of the latest edition of Machinery's Handbook 30th Edition at https://ebooks.industrialpress.com/product/machinerys-handbook-30th-edition

Price - $105 for lifetime access.

You can download the ebook on iPhone, Android phones and iPad.

 

[gahrajmahal]

We frequent many antique stores and you would be surprised by the unreasonable pricing they come up with. $120 is why the dude still has it. I feel sad for the stuff. Some dealers have collected such beautiful crafted items but have it priced so even museums can not afford it. I wonder how they can afford the rent for the buildings when stuff never sells.

 

[HanShotFirst]

If you're just getting into machining, then most any copy of Machinery's Handbook will do you just fine. It will be a LONG time until you find yourself truly needing the latest version.