71 out of 71 people found this review helpful.
Family Handyman Magazine, Always Good For Ideas and Direction
Date of Review: Jul 11, 2006
The Bottom Line: This happens to be an easy read magazine for ideas but can also give very specific plans for projects that any "Handyman" should be able to complete to satisfaction.
What I like about Family Handyman Magazine is the fact that it is always opening my eyes to new ideas and the latest in methods and tools. (many by reading adds) It also offers very specific needs lists for some projects.
A Few Different Directions
Handy man has many departments that can be helpful. The Home Care and repair that is featured in the Summer July/August issue uses photos and some text to give the home handyman/person simple hints on how to do small repairs. The latest issue specifically talks about using solvents to take out stains. What I like is the step by step process the writers take a reader through giving solid advice and warnings. The home and repairs takes one through the process of cutting energy bills by stopping drafts in windows and doors, not by the usual caulking that does need to be done but by also pulling out old insulation and pumping in foam sealant. Again they are careful to give warnings to those who may never have used a product like foam sealer before. They warn how it expands and what and how to deal with that. Family Handyman also gives brand names of products they used for particular jobs, though they may not be easily obtainable in your local area. The magazine is chock full of ideas and helpful hints like these every month.
Workshop Tips
Other features in the magazine are for those who do have a workshop. Workshop Tips but also extend to other uses of basic tools. These are tips that are helpful to non-workshop owners too. A simple suggestion of drilling "sawdust clearance holes" into the cutout section of what will be a hole cut by a holesaw leads to almost dustless cutting and very little bonding of the blade to the wood or dulling due to the chips and dust working it's way into the blade cutting areas. Now the sawdust simply escapes through the pre-drilled holes. It's little tips like that that can make a job so much easier and also make one feel much more like a pro. Hey, isn't that the feeling all weekend warriors want? This magazine gives this egoboost every month. I don't know how many times I have said to myself, "Why didn't I think of that?"
Ask TFH
The monthly Ask TFH feature answers questions that may have been on your mind and never expressed. I should mention that the magazine has 10 issues per year at $20 so it isn't every month, but it does seem like it. This latest month, being The Money Issue asked how much should be spent on remodeling a kitchen and not losing money in the process. Another question was in reference to someone owning an old home and the floor joists were sagging. What should they do? A simple explanation with pictures and supplies needed is given in a simple and easy way to understand. That's what I like about the magazine. It's not written above the knowledge ability of the "average Joe and Josephine". It's simple person to person instruction without getting too technical.
Other brief How To projects answered questions in reference to carpeting below grade and another explaining how to get bubbles out of fixed wall paper.
Great Goofs
Another of the usual "monthly features is Great Goofs I usually get a good laugh here at someone else's expense. I also learn something too. An example in the July issue is a fellow who decided to finish a paint job under the lights at night. He later found hundreds of insects stuck to the paint. They were attracted by the outdoor lights. If you have ever had similar "goofs" you can make yourself a hundred bucks by sending the info to the magazine. If they use it, you get the last laugh.
Some Additional Featured Text
At times it seems that the magazine has different departments but they cover the same all encompassing problems a home owner would have or come into at some point in the history of a home. A section Remodel Right gives short ideas and descriptions on matters like doing some parts of a project that a contractor is doing yourself, saving money for projects in the future, hiring an architect "for at least an initial sketch", avoid overdo windows and skylights, and many more thoughts to ponder.
BIG PROJECTS and small
I like the way the magazine presents projects. Years back we extended our home. I originally poured the foundation and put up the first story on my own with the help of my kids. My wife and I then decided we wanted a new master bedroom above that first room I started. It was going through this magazine where we picked up many ideas. I saw a staircase with a landing and switchback. It was perfect for the second stairway I wanted to put up in my home to the new upper rooms. I even built the closet space under the stairs as pictured in the magazine. Another article talked about cantilevering and due to zoning restrictions I could only go to a particular width for the downstairs room but the zoning allowed me to go out an additional two feet upstairs. That made it so I could design two closets for my wife and me with much more space. Another two feet going the length of a twenty foot room was good to have.
Another project I did a few years ago was to build a pergola in my backyard. Though I didn't use plans from this magazine, I customed it to the particular space, I did check out the plans of building a pergola in a 2002.
Having experienced building one on my own I could appreciate the ease with which the magazine set up the project. It gave a lumber list and then a cutting list. It was all set. The article gave helpful hints on where to build one, post locations and information on pouring concrete footings. It's amazing how a beautiful looking project can be so simple to build. It really is set up for a handyman. You don't have to be a pro to do these projects.
Last Thoughts
The magazine is a great place to learn how to do protect and maintain tools. Helpful hints are in just about every edition. I find that I have learned much just by thumbing through the magazine. It's the combination of concise and informative text along with defining photographs that help the reader understand the steps of a project. The magazine is full of ideas too. The truth is I don't like my wife to see these issues because that will mean more work for me. I'm at a point in my life where I want to see my work age gracefully.
There are many times that electrical and plumbing ideas come up in the magazine. I should say just about every month. I do have to warn and I don't believe they warn enough about the dangers of a non-handyman working with power. This last month featured GFI installation in garages. It's dangerous to all, especially those who gain easy confidence from the magazine and really don't know what they are getting in to. There are also codes that must be met. The magazine mentions National codes but you should check your local codes too.
Mistakes can happen to everyone. The magazine has an area where it does correct any errors that may have been in print in previous issues.
I happen to love the ads in this magazine. It's there that I learn about, ha, and envy some of the new tools that are around. Fortunately I am not stung by the need to possess them all, but they sure look good. The magazines helpful hints include some kind of care for tools every month. The summer issue shows exactly how to sharpen lawn mower blades and explains why the process is helpful to the lawn. Each season the magazine hones in are particular type tools. I have cracked a smile or two in seeing the Levitra ads in the magazine. I suppose they want to keep all "tools" in good working order.
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