Engineers Black Book

[Me.Participant @me1]

Where in the UK can I get a copy of the Engineers Black Book, or is there a Uk equivalent quick reference guide?

Thanks

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

The nearest equivalent is perhaps “The Model Engineers Handbook” by Tubal Cain aka Tom Walshaw.

[peak4Participant @peak4]

MSC, but they don’t come cheap.
https://www.mscdirect.co.uk/select-engineers-black-book-3rd-edition-bok-00022m

I tend to use Zeus, the Swiss+Tech Engineers Reference Handbook, or their Engineers Reference Pocket Guide.
I added them to an order to take me into the Free postage pricing; not sure if they cover all your requirements though.

https://www.zoro.co.uk/shop/tools-and-machining/reference-and-data-books/the-ref-engineers-handbook-v3/p/ZT2440518S

https://www.zoro.co.uk/shop/tools-and-machining/reference-and-data-books/the-ref-engineers-pocket-book-v6wiro/p/ZT2424751S

Bill

 

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

According to Google RD Barratt, Raptor Supplies, Amazon and MSC sell it.

Around £35 for the normal size one and £50 for the large print so not cheap. If you aren’t sure about whether the data inside will be worth it the second edition (imperial) is on Scribd so you can take a good look at the contents. Theoretically downloadable if you want to violate copyright but frankly totally unusable without vast effort of cutting and binding.

When I wanted to modernise my compact size data book selection a couple of years back I bought the Swiss Tech books Engineers Reference Handbook V3, Fasteners Reference and Pocket Reference. About £20 for the three.

Better value for the information I needed to supplement what i already have. But I already have two issues of the Zeus book and a few other small references.

Repeated information is annoying but no book has everything.

Sometimes I think it would be helpful to pull my collection together and do a comparative contents list with sample pages so folk could select the best combination for their needs. Toss up between Zeus and the Swiss Tech Pocket Ref for sure.

Clive

Bill is quicker on the keyboard. Again!

[Me.Participant @me1]

Many thanks for all the prompt replies – I have several reference books already including The engineers handbookm several versions the Zeus book, a very old Dormer Drill book which i’ve never seen another copy of, which is much like the Zeus book and the Tubal Cain series.

 

Just fancied a copy of the black book – seems every Youtube clip I watch they always reference the black book – I just like the layout and the info within.

 

I’m very impressed with Zoro – never been on that site before – seems I have another tool supplier to add to my list.

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

I’ve got stacks of ref books.

All have their merits.

Engineers Ref has odd mistakes….

Black Book is my go to book.

Zeus is a waste of time for me, just not enough information.

 

Just my opinion

Jimb

[Me.]

On Me. Said:

Many thanks for all the prompt replies – I have several reference books already including The engineers handbook several versions the Zeus book, a very old Dormer Drill book which I’ve never seen another copy of, which is much like the Zeus book and the Tubal Cain series.

 

In the halcyon days gone by, many of the UK tooling manufacturers and suppliers had such publications available (presumably for advertising, because they were free).  I have some from James Neill, Dormer, Presto and several others.  Most of which I acquired as an apprentice.  Unfortunately, because of their relatively small size and somewhat flimsy construction, I doubt many still exist in a useable condition, unless well cared for.

 

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

Dormer Handbook is very useful and it is a free download.      dormer.uk@dormertools.com

David

 

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

FWIW

Still using the Zeus charts, bought as an Apprentice, in 1958.  But now dirty and dog eared, but usable.

I occasionally refer to Machinery’s Handbook, 1982, but more frequently to Tubal Cain’s “Model Engineer’s Handbook”, and to some of the Workshop Practice Series.

Howard

[alan ord 2Participant @alanord2]

Big shout out to Bill (peak 4) for the info on the Zoro engineers ref books. I have just bought the pocket book and the handbook. I have two Zeus booklets. The first I bought when I started my toolmaking apprenticeship back in 1969 and still have it in pretty good nick. I bought an updated metric version last year. I have to say that the Zoro pocket book is much better and if I remember correctly it was around the same price. The Zoro pocket book is slightly longer than the Zeus by about 1/2″ but the same width and as well as all of the Zeus data (excluding logs and anti logs which are still in the updated metric Zeus version, but who uses them these days) it includes  a lot more data.

Alan.

[Author]

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