Resources:

• PHOAKS (People Helping One Another Know Stuff)
  One of many web resources devoted to metalworking, this sites serves as a good starting point for those interested in learning more about the craft.
• Metal Web News
  A virtual newsletter for the online metal enthusiast. Contains many interseting and informative FAQs regarding all aspects of metal working.
• Machine Tool Practices, Richard R. Kibbe (editor)
  A highly illustrated text for students training to become computer numerical control and conventional machine operators, general machinists, or tool and die makers. Deals with topics usually presented in a course combining lectures and laboratory work in apprenticeship training, community college, or vocational programs, but could also be used for self-paced instruction. A student workbook are also available.
• Machinery's Handbook, Erik Oberg
  After more than 85 years of continuous publication, Machinery's Handbook remains unchallenged as "The Bible" in its field. An extraordinarily comprehensive yet practical and easy-to-use reference. Contains useful, practical, and hard-to-find information on many manufacturing processes, plus a wealth of information on basic math, mechanics, materials, tooling, threads, engineering and shop standards, and more. Includes hundreds of readable tables, graphs, formulas, and illustrations.

Specialized Tools:

• Lathe
  
• Mill
  
• Precision Measuring Instruments
  Calipers, micrometers and dial indicators are the three most basic types of precision measuring instruments used. Price goes up quickly with quality and like most machining accessories is not cheap. Metal working is the most expensive of the techniques mentioned here.

Nothing looks quite the same as solid metal. No aluminum powder dusted into a rubber mold or chrome paint sprayed on a resin casting gives quite the same effect. For that you have to use the real thing, and the way to shape it is with a lathe or a mill. The colonial marine grenades you see here were lathed from 6061-T6 aluminum shaft. The ones on the right are finished pieces, while the one on the left is still attached to the stock rod.