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Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual    by Family Handyman Amazon.com order for
Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual
by Family Handyman
Order:  USA  Can
Readers Digest, 2014 (2014)
Hardcover, e-Book
* * *   Reviewed by Hilary Williamson

Here's a great book to start the New Year with - the newly updated Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual. Get it for yourself or as a not so subtle hint to the handyperson in your life. And in need, it makes an excellent door-stop as well.

It's well organized, beautifully illustrated (in full color), and comprehensive. Sections address: Your Home, Hand Tools, Power Tools, Fasteners & Adhesives, Plumbing, Electricity, Home Climate, Interior Repairs & Improvements, Painting & Wallpapering, Exteriors, Landscaping, Windows & Doors, Concrete, Masonry & Asphalt, Woodworking & Furniture Repairs, Metals & Plastics, Healthy Home & Emergency Repairs and Storage Projects.

My husband has built our log home pretty well from scratch over the last decade (still finishing touches to do!) So I asked his opinion. He tells me that the volume provides a good introduction to all tools, electric and otherwise. And it addresses a wide variety of household projects, documenting them thoroughly for ease of implementation. He was also impressed by the consistent availability of useful illustrations and images.

A novice myself (I generally act as gofer), I looked at a couple of sections I might need to take on - Re-covering a chair (after feline claws did damage) and Critter Control (squirrels in our roof space). For the former, the step-by-step photographs make it very clear how to proceed. The latter includes a useful tip on pairing mousetraps. And I like the look of the section on storage projects as well - always need more of those!

This Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual is a handy, dependable resource. Though a lot of information is available on the Internet these days, it tends to be quite variable in quality. This manual makes a very good, reliable place to start. I gave it to my son for Christmas to get him started!

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