Build Your Own Metalworking Shop From Scratch: Book Review

 

Book Review: Build Your Own Metalworking Shop from Scrap: Series Set
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Mr. Gingery is a legend. He made a living solving $500 problems with $50 solutions. You can only do that with skill and thought.

He created this set of books that allow someone to build your own metalworking shop using only hand tools. Each book covers a specific machine tool – it has detailed construction diagrams, and step by step instructions.

Each tool is used to create the next tool in line. First you build a small aluminum foundry and learn to cast metal, you use that to build a metal lathe. Which metal castings and a lathe, you can build a metal shaper that allow you to build a milling machine….

The education is priceless, the equipment is functional. The books are cheap. if you are a prepper, and worried about when SHTF, then you owe it to yourself to throw this set on your shelf – with this set and some gumption you can recreate the industrial revolution.
Buy it.

I have only finished the first book, but my foundry was very easy to build following David Gingery’s simple instructions.  I am very excited about following his other books – especially the lathe building book.

Following the Build Your Own Metalworking Shop from Scrap series is my plan for retirement, I want to do every project and build my own shop

To Ride Shoot Straight And Speak The Truth

Book Review: To Ride Shoot Straight And Speak The Truth
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To Ride Shoot Straight And Speak The Truth was one of the first gun books I put into my library. Jeff Cooper is a gun cultural icon. This book shows why. It is full of Cooper’s wisdom and gun knowledge.

His ideas on tactical residential architecture are priceless, and I have incorporated many of his concepts into my running mental plan for my dream home (scheduled to be built as soon as I can get out from under my underwater current mortgage).

This is a small book, but it has had a large impact on how I think about conflict. It is also on of those books I keep to share with my son as soon as he starts walking around and “making sounds like a man”. If you have never read this book, I highly recommend it.

Cooper’s writings (and the time I spent thinking about what I read) has been the biggest contribution to my beliefs in the area of personal protection, and to a lesser extent personal responsibility.

To Ride Shoot Straight And Speak The Truth is a book you really need to read.

Watch the video below to hear more about Jeff  Cooper’s To Ride Shoot Straight And Speak The Truth

Total Resistance

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Buy at Amazon

No matter is you are a history buff, a prepper, or a patriot, this is a book worth having in your library. Total Resistance is very interesting, as well as unique book.

It is a government document designed to be given out to the general populace and it describes in detail the best way to conduct guerrilla warfare.

Their is a reason the Swiss have never been invaded, and its not because they are neutral – if I was a bully, and wanted a kids lunch money, just because he said he did not care I stole from the other kids would not stop me from stealing from him also… However, if the neutral kid was packing a .45 acp in his lunch box, I may decide to leave him alone.

The Swiss have decided that in the event of an invasion, the best way to survive is to fight, and this book tells how. While some of this is outdated – I mean, how many ways does a modern man need to know to successfully attack a passenger train station? but it is all adaptable, and the mindset ideas are priceless.

This is a small book, simply written, but it holds some very well thought out ideas. It is worth a look.

Techniques Of Medieval Armor Reproduction

Book Review: Techniques Of Medieval Armor Reproduction
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I play around with hot metal, I am just piddling, and while workable, none of my creations would past the inspection of a real blacksmith. However, I do enjoy it, and would like have enough time to practice more.

When I saw Techniques Of Medieval Armor Reproduction on Paladin Press’s scruffy list, I figured that at 50% off I could afford to take a chance on it. When I got this book, I was impressed at how much information was backed into this book.

While this book is geared toward established blacksmiths that want to recreate authentic pieces for SCA and other reenactors and other recreational sword bashers, it has a little for everyone.

It has a section of shop setup and tools, as well as showing specific techniques.

If you are interested in metal working, or medieval life in general, then this is a book worth reading. Now that I have it in my library, I believe it is worth buying at full price…

Techniques Of Medieval Armor Reproduction is one of the favorite books in my library.  I don’t have the skill to do anything in the book yet, but I am wanting to try my hand at chainmail at some point.

Stressfire, Volume 1

Book Review: Stressfire, Volume 1
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Lets face it, practicing basic fundamentals is not sexy, it is necessary, but not every shooter will spend money on a school that teaches repetition of basic shooting skills.

Because of this, many firearm instructors will create new techniques so they can fill up classes. In my other site I have repeatedly said that I don’t believe in adding things to your gun without being able to articulate a need.

I feel the same way about training. Progress for the sake of progress complicates the situation, gives you too much to master without enough benefit.

Stressfire is not one of those books. Ayoob tells you the problems his techniques are designed to solve, and step by step explains how they do so. Synthesizing solutions to problems, based upon the entire body of knowledge of a field is the mark of an expert. Ayoob is such an expert. While I have not incorporated every aspect of stressfire into my normal shooting skill-set, I do think each technique has it’s place in the tool box.

By reading this book, you will gain a deeper understanding of your shooting technique by comparing yours to the skills Ayoob describes.

I have a great respect for Ayoob’s work, and along with reviewing many of his books, I also have links to several of his YouTube videos as well.