1 comments about Heating and Cooling Essentials.

1. The book is highly illustrated and benefits the refrigeration trade, a must for beginners and skilled refrigeration mechanics. It has the most recent information on refrigerants, refrigerant oils. It also describes water chillers and makes chillers easy to understand. Contends a lot of important information for my trade.

No comments about All That's Practical about Wood: Stoves, As a Fuel, Heating - Including Wood Pellet Stoves (Energy Conservation, Vol. 9) (Alternative Energy (Richie Unlimited)).

No comments about Servicing Commercial Refrigeration Systems.

No comments about ASE Test Preparation for Engine Machinists - Test M3: Assembly Specialist (Gas or Diesel) (Delmar Learning's Ase Test Prep Series).

No comments about ASE Test Preparation for Engine Machinists - Test M2: Cylinder Block Specialist (Gas or Diesel) (Delmar Learning's Ase Test Prep Series).

No comments about ASE Test Preparation for Engine Machinists - Test M1: Cylinder Head Specialist (Gas or Diesel) (Delmar Learning's Ase Test Prep Series).

No comments about Fundamentals of HVAC Building Systems Design, Vol 2.

No comments about Introduction to Electrical Mechanical Drafting with CAD.

2 comments about Guide to the E.P.A. Refrigerant Handling Certification Exam.

1. This book should have filled a very important void as the only source available which includes samples of actual questions one might find on the EPA exam. However, many, many of the answers given for the sample questions are wrong, which can only be attributed to poor proofreading and checking.

   The questions are not coupled with explanations, and many of the questions cover topics not even mentioned in the reading material. Taken together with the number of wrong answers supplied, in my opinion, it makes the book practically worthless.

   Many of the questions are misleading. If these are truly direct from the EPA, then the book could have done a great service in explaining the subtle differences in the answers and helping the student develop a rationale for addressing similar questions on the exam. Instead, the student is left to their own resources to figure out why certain answers are supposedly correct. Often, the answer cannot be obtained from the reading material contained in the book, but forces the student to go elsewhere. As noted, when the material in the book does cover the material in the question, the student often finds the author's supplied answer is wrong.

   The book is poorly organized. It follows the predicted structure of the Core, Type I, II, and III exam material, but a lot of the basic material is included in an Appendix. This is information that should be reviewed by the student before taking the practice exams, but is not even addressed until you have made it completely through the book. If you get "stumped" on an exam question, more often than not the material will not be covered in the chapter you have just reviewed, or in the prior chapter or the introduction.

   The book contains an enormous amount of "filler" which is obviously supplied just to make the book thicker. This includes information such as how to take an exam, a glossary, and copies of the Clean Air Act. It is such a naked attempt to just add pages to the book that it is insulting.

   The high price adds injury to insult. I recommend you save your money. Buy the esco institute phamphlet for a quarter of the price and, except for the sample questions, you get the same basic material.




2. The "authors" failed to include much of the information needed to answer the questions in their "pratice tests". The information they do include is poorly organized and hard to locate when checking answers. All in all this book is more of an environmental propaganda manual than a study guide for the EPA refrigerant handling exam. You would be better served studying your refrigeration books. The ONLY worthwhile information in the book is the dates of the laws and of refrigerant production/use curtailment. Is this a refrigerant handling test, or a history test?

5 comments about Welding Essentials : Questions and Answers.

1. With the purchase of a brand new Miller GMAW welding machine (wirefeed electrode), my boss entered us into the world of welding. Even though a 30 minute tutorial at the welding supplier was enough to get us started, I bought this book at a local retailer as a reference.
   
   The format is one of simple question and answer that reads easily. The content is organized logically by type of welding activity. I opened to the first chapter on oxy/acetelyne cutting and read down the list as I fired up an OA torch for the first time. I found it supremely reassuring to have such direct instruction coupled with stern warnings. Apparently if I did not know what I was doing, I could have caused a serious explosion. I found nearly everything I could ask for in this book exept for practice welding. Of course I have lots of time for that now that I did not blow myself up.
   
   Highly recommended for beginning welders or curious persons.



2. This is a very good book if you weld or just need to have info on welding
   a must have



3. A good "text book" stye publication covering a very wide range of welding and cutting methods, but not an ideal book for persons looking for an "introduction to welding" manual. I would have liked to see the author add some basic projects, leading the reader thru all the steps with some good photos of common mistakes and how to avoid them. Still a very worthwhile reference manual to have...



4. This book gives good generalized information on welding principles and practices. Also gives practical general welding repair methods. An asset to any bookcase.



5. Having 10 or so books on welding text book type and the others. Most bog you down with a lot of info that you will never need if you are an artists/hobbyist or even a certified daily working welder. And they all seem to lack the info that comes up from time to time that we all need.
   
   It is in a question and answer format that covers what is the most asked questions on safety, general welding of most types, as the contents page lists. With out all the theory and mumbo jumbo the text books put in.
   In its 500 plus pages it has a great glossary with clear to the point definitions. Good clear illustrations. And a simple to understand safety info. Some fun stuff, ok I'm an fact geek for off beat info. Like what do all those numbers mean stamped on the neck are of the tanks etc.
   
   The Second edition does have updated info. Along with a survey of other welding methods. And chapters on subjects of interest to a person doing art/hobbyist or occasional welding. But could prove useful to a daily welder as a handy reference guide.