Metalworking Sink or Swim: Essential Tips & Techniques for Machinists, Welders & Fabricators by Tom Lipton | Practical Guide for Workshop Projects & Industrial Applications

I am giving this book 5 stars because I believe that it has that much redeeming value. Tom Lipton is an accomplished machinist, or at least he knows how to convince us that he is. I really enjoyed reading this effort cover to cover. I finished it in two evenings, learning quite a lot about metalworking and a lot about Mr. Lipton as well. I have to say upfront though, if you are a newbie in metalworking or do not enjoy the technical aspects of the art of learning, this book is probably not for you. On the other hand, if you want to know how and why something works the way it does, Tom Lipton can probably explain it for you.I have noticed that some folks are a little critical of errors in the published manuscript. I am a fairly competent proof reader, and having written some manuscripts and educational materials I am usually aware of errors when they occur. I started reading the book with a pencil in hand, marking the obvious errors page by page. In truth, there ARE some errors throughout the text that should have been caught in the proofing process. It is also true to say that there are very few GLARING errors....ones that detract from the reading experience. The most notable errors occurred when the text referred to a photo identified by a number (ex: 3-21; or 4-200b...) and the photo depicted was not the correct one. This left me scratching my head for a moment until I found the correct image which was usually close by on the same or next page. So, after reading about halfway through the book, I put the pencil down and concentrated on learning something.This book puts a lot of effort into metalworking in general. It will not teach you how to run a basic machine, weld a proper seam, or bend and form sheetmetal. It presumes that you already know how to turn the equipment on and run it. It also presumes that you are mostly familiar with the terminology in use today. So, this is not an ideal primer for a first time user or someone wanting to learn the basics of machine technology. However, this book excels in solving problems that are just not mentioned somewhere else. If you run into a problem while working metal, there is more than an even chance that Tom Lipton has already seen it and probably formulated a solution. A lot of those solutions are in this book. In addition, there are a lot of shortcuts ("Tips and Tricks..") that make those difficult problems seem academic in nature. That is to say, that the tips and tricks are designed for the working professional and not the theoretical clinician. They give you real life methods for accomplishing the difficult tasks that can be dreamed up by engineers.Fair warning...there is quite a bit of time dedicated to CNC process. So, if you are an old-timer who has not graduated into the computerized world of machinery, these CNC chapters may not hold much interest for you. If, on the other hand, you work with CNC or want to....you will really take home a lot of valuable "stuff" from this work.Having said all of that, I really enjoyed the time spent engrossed in this book. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience contained here, and as long as you are willing to read and understand, you will come away with ideas, tips, tricks, and "head slappers.." (why didn't I think of that!!...) worth far more than the price you paid.Oh, and what about the anecdotes and "stories" sprinkled throughout the text..??? Well, you will have to judge for yourself, but I think they lend an air of readability to the text. Usually interesting and sometimes humorous, they give your mind a break from the sometimes technical stuff and allow you to briefly smile before getting back into learning mode.I will recommend this book without reservation to anyone who desires to understand a little more about the "how and why" of metalworking. As long as you are not a true beginner, you will definitely get your money's worth.