Tubal CainSoldering and Brazing: 9 (Workshop Practice Series)

General reading

It's amazing to me having left school in 1971 just how much of the knowledge in this book I had learned in Metalwork but forgotten or even worse, mis-remembered. I want to get back into Silver soldering and Brazing, but was so confused by my memories that I had not done anything about it until I found this book. A well written book for absolute beginners, and returnees with an aging memory!

Very good - but dated.In many respects I didn't need to buy this book. As a marine engineer (Chief Engineer) and having worked building and modifying ships and offshore construction vessels I have a pretty good idea of how to join metal together in various ways.But, I'm inveterately curious and also I've been a sporadic model maker in any subject or style that piques my interest when time and commitments allow. And of course one has to always be honest with oneself and admit that there is always more to learn no matter how small and when I'm away overseas working I like to read up on this sort of subject.Tubal Cain - the the pseudonym for Tom Walshaw a well know model engineer (and professional) born in 1912, died 1998 - and his writing style and information reflects his age at time of writing. It's quite heavyweight and information dense which I find I rather like but then I like books written in the early part of the 1900's. I think this book was written in 1985 and it shows. The style is earlier which is fine but the information falls between the cracks in the decades. Prior to the 1980's one would get most of the hardware and chemicals from small, knowledgeable and convenient family hardware stores. Mr. Walshaw bemoans the loss of these shops and the range of items they stock because by the mid 80's large DIY stores had taken over with the more mass market targeted supplies. And to modern eyes this is rather quaint given the age we live in now when just a few short years after this book was written the world wide web appeared and opened up the model engineer to simply everything at modest price.So where the chapters focus on subjects such as making fluxes are well covered they are also mostly irrelevant because today you can simply go online and find any exotic solder or flux combination and have it delivered to your door cheaper than 'Tubal Cain,' could have got by driving down to his local hardware store and making it.Where Mr. Walshaw is excellent is his description of the chemistry of soldering and brazing which is of course still relevant today. His techniques are well covered and should give anyone from a novice to an expert good information that they can use on their projects.In many ways I enjoyed this book as a trip down memory lane as it was written in 1985 when I was an engineering cadet and very much reminds me of the books we used.

Perfect, its brand new. Arrived very quickly. A good book in great depth on the subject, a bit of a dry read but a must have if you wish to carry out quality soldering and brazing.

all ok

A really useful book for both the amateur and more experienced " joiner" of metals. Brazing should be strait forward but life does not always work out as expected or hoped. This tutorial is a great reminder of a systematic approach to enable success to be the norm. There are none so cleaver that they can learn no more!Well done.

This book has answered many unanswered I have come across in my lengthy career of mucking about in sheds, with motorcycle. Excellent!.

I bought this book, as I was getting interesting in hobby Brazing and Hard Soldering after experimenting with some minor repairs on a number of metal objects. This series of books seem to get good reviews, so I bought this specific one.The first thing I should mention, is the first publication date of this book i.e. 1984. That is some time ago and although the general techniques are similar, some of the burner and torch technology has advanced somewhat. A lot of the burners referred to, seem to be museum pieces which are difficult to find even on eBay.However, as previously stated, the general techniques and methods described are indeed still valid - even if the tools you may now purchase and use have changed somewhat (including some more advanced joining materials). Perhaps the series could do with a minor update revision, so I drop a star, but this book is still worth having.

Great book. I am building my own metal shop. Very helpful.

Decent book on basics

My husband wanted the information that this book provided.

Für das Weich- und Hartlöten ist das Buch eine gute Hilfe. Wer des Englischen mächtig ist und/oder sich von Fachbegriffen nicht abschrecken läßt, für den ist das Buch eine echte Bereicherung. Leider sind viele Produkte die Tubal Cain vorschlägt, nur im US/GB Raum erhältlich, man muss schon ein wenig stöbern um die entsprechenden Sachen hier zu finden.

Always great reading. I'm slowly getting all of the Workshop Practice series of books for my library. Outstanding value. Must have if you have a decent home shop.