Metalworking Sink or Swim: Tips and Tricks for Machinists, Welders and Fabricators

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.

I acquired this book by Tom Lipton after subscribing and watching Tom's YouTube channel (oxtoolco). Tom has a very down-to-earth and easy way of describing many of the tricks that the majority of people never get to know because they aren't machinists, welders, or fabricators by trade. Tom put the effort into starting from the beginning, introducing himself and his experience, followed by "Brain Food", a discussion about written, visual, and oral communications and their importance in the shop. This is followed by an introduction to some simple mathematical tricks that are use frequently and are easy for the average person to grasp. From there he rolls in to the shop tour and progresses through the major areas of metalwork, providing a laundry list of tips for each area. He embodies the idea, "work smarter, not harder." I have already put some of his tricks into practice and have boosted my own efficiency, even if it is for a hobby. Besides providing a wealth of useful tips and information, Tom also interweaves personal stories, most of them humorous, at the appropriate junctures. I found myself laughing on more than one occasion as I read through the chapters. To sweeten the deal even more, the author put quite a bit of effort into taking and collecting pictures of the things he's describing throughout the book. It leaves little left to question for both the professional tradesman and the novice or hobbyist alike. After eight years as a truck mechanic and fabricator, six years working in Army Aviation, and as many years as a serious hobby machinist and metalworker, I can say without question that this book should be required reading for every student of the metalworking trades. It will not bore you to death with dry, often useless information. I noticed that some people were inclined to make the claim that the stories told in the text were pointless and had nothing to do with the subject matter. Keep in mind that, as with any trade, metalworking is a culture all its own and I believe the author was doing his best to impart some of that culture to those aren't familiar with it. Part of the purpose of this book is to pass the trade on to the next generation; to keep it alive. Take it in stride, it gives the reader a break from technical matter. If you are so disciplined in your studies that you feel a few good-natured stories will detract from it, ignore everything else and read the Machinery's Handbook page for page...and call me when you wake up. Finally, if you take the time to view Tom's YouTube videos and if you pay attention, he covers much of the material included in his book in real time. I highly suggest that anyone with an interest in the metalworking trades add this volume to their technical library, you won't be disappointed.

I am not a machinist or metalworker by trade, nor have I ever received any formal education or training on the subjects. I'm just a guy who was immediately fascinated by metalworking in high school shop class, has dabbled in it occasionally throughout the years as it relates to my automotive career and hobbies, and just recently started to devote more of my free time to the art after a several-year hiatus. Before purchasing this book, I picked up a couple of similar titles by other authors and was not impressed. Either the subject matter was over my head, or the lack of organization and insight left me wanting much more. Once I discovered Sink or Swim and began reading it, I knew I had located the resource I was looking for all along. And now that I've finished reading the book cover-to-cover, I have no doubt this will be one of my most valued reference materials on any subject... as verified by the countless post-it note bookmarks I've attached throughout the book. In addition to the descriptive and well illustrated technical content, the stories that the author shared from years of experience working in machine shops were priceless. Thank you Tom Lipton for creating this excellent book, and I hope it will inspire you to share more of your metalworking experiences and anecdotes in print. Tony Curless | AFTERMARKETING, LLC Marketing and Advertising Services for the Automotive Aftermarket

I agree with another post that stated that Tom is obviously highly skilled to say the least, but that the writing is not always clear. This book is not meant to educate a person in the machining or welding field in a systematic logical way. It is meant to entertain and to give knowledge to folks who already have experience in metalworking. If you are looking for a ground up systematic education, you will not get that here. You will get great advice and knowledge in small sudden doses while smiling at the humorous stories which I liked a lot. Excellent material on drawing, sketching, communicating, shop characteristics. Needs some basic lathe and mill discussion along with all of the other advice on those machines. I hope Mr Lipton writes a textbook on metalworking soon, meant for beginners to intermediate levels.

How often do you find a book like this about metalworking? If your looking for information on woodworking, you will be overwhelmed w/ the quantity of books on different woodworking subjects. But if you are looking for information on metal fabricating, welding, and machining you are going to find mostly technical literature that tends to be specialized, theory based, and dry. There seems to be a strong relationship between the popularity of the hobby aspect of a trade and the abundance of literature about the trade. Try finding some books on working with marble or granite (good luck). This is a great book because it it covers a diverse field of information pertaining to multiple aspects of metal fabrication. I would say it is written for the tradesman, but the metalworking hobbyist will definitely find a wealth of information here. The author spends some time relating his philosophies on learning, mentoring, and the relationship between the designer/engineer and the shop. I found this all to be spot on and I think that many people in the industry would benefit from the read. Lots of good info, very readable, and a whole chapter on flame straightening. Thank you Mr. Lipton.

Very good book

This book is not for the beginner as some assumed knowledge is expected and it is a bit pricey. That being said I am absolutely positive I will make up the cost of the book in time and frustration savings from the information that I have gleaned from it. Most shop books I have encountered either spend way too much time covering the basics and are very dull. I literally did not put this book down until I was finished as I was continuously finding new and interesting hints and tricks that I will put to use. That and I thought the stories were very entertaining. The hammer and the finger in the circle had me laughing out loud and whenever I go to weld I think of the poor hapless soul trying to stick weld with a tig setup. Definitely five solid stars. And yes, I use electrical tape on my fingers all the time for cuts.

I am a welder/fabricator that's just starting out. Picked up this book for some tips and tricks and what not to help me become a better fabricator. Theres a lot of good information in this book but I cant help but flip through page after page trying to find information that matters to me. The long winded stories in this book are an absolute bore and offer nothing more than a mere chuckle here and there. The pictures are also just too small for my liking. Personally, I feel this book has too much subject matter geared for machinists. I wanted the material on tacking, squaring, clamping, measuring to be longer in depth. I cant seem to find a book that isn't either 100 pages of learning how to weld, fabricating sheet metal, or machining. What if you already know how to weld, aren't a machinist( baby steps), and just starting off as a fabricator? I don't know, it just didn't do it for me. Long story short, its an interesting book to have in the arsenal, but if your a new welder/fabricator like me, looking for extensive information on metal fabrication solely for the welder in the shop (bending, squaring, tacking) you might be disappointed.

Great book full of useful tips.

Tom creates some great information packed books and this is no exception. He has many hints an tips; quite a few are new to me, and almost any of which would save you enough time and money to pay for what you had to part with for, this book of wisdom.

Excellent book, very well written, as must for home shops. One of the best books I have bought. I will buy the second edition.

Highly recommended for anyone looking to learn the tips and tricks of metalworking - learn from someone with years of experience rather than making the same mistakes

A good mix of machining tips and folksy anecdotes. Hard to put down.