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Favorite DIY books/magazines

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stioc

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May 2, 2005
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Since the tools section is where all the DIYers hang out let's see what you guys read.

Long ago I used to read Reader's Digest, I also had a subscription to The Family Handyman. As for books I have a ton of car books but not much else. Lately I'm wanting to work on more than just cars. I do other stuff around the house anyway but mostly small fixes etc.
 
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383astro

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Dec 1, 2008
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about 25 different car mags and professional tools and equipment. I wish I knew of more tool mags or metal fab mags to get ahold of.
 
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dede2897234

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Northern, Ohio
I have a current subscription to both "The Family Handyman" and "Popular Mechanics". "The Family Handyman" is the better of the two in terms of DIY articles for the home. However, Popular Mechanics has great DIY articles and tips on how to perform more involved automotive maintenance such as replacing ball joints.
 
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speed bump

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May 28, 2008
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Butte Montana
I read ASHRAE and ASME books/magazines as they become available to me. I also like the Lincoln institutes books on welding and need to get a complete set one day (its seems like its $25 for 2 or 3 books and they are written in clear English so almost anyone can understand the theory behind welding procedures). Theres also the Cat performance handbook for when DIY projects get out of hand (you might be a redneck family if you, your sister and your father all own and know to use this book).
 
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Tarheelgarage

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Dec 14, 2008
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NC
Not really diy mags, but since I'm wrenching again, I have been getting these mags for the last 15 years or so..

Gears
Motor
Motor Age
Transmission digest
Underhood service
Import Car
Mobile AC society magazine
 
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stioc

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I'm at a point where I can do just about anything car related that popular mechanics (or any general magazine) could teach me. I'm more interested in other little stuff, I'm exploring the tools world beyond automotive. I saw on FH how to build a table-saw table out of two saw horses and then how to use it. They also showcased how to use pocket-screws which I didn't even know it was. They featured how to sharpen the blades, I could've used this the other day when my wife comes over to me holding her pruning shears so I can sharpen them for her. I took them apart and introduced them to my bench grinder. They became sharp but the lost metal made a paper thin void which made them work worse then before. Turns out you're supposed to a file for normal sharpening the grinders will take metal off too fast...duh!

I hear Workbench magazine's good too, any opinions on that?
 
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Fedwrench

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Aside from automotive trade magazines, I like a magazine called Skinned Knuckles that's about old car restoration. I also like the Hemmings publications and Classic Auto Restorer Magazine. For general stuff you can't beat Popular Mechanics.:thumbup:
 
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lbgradwell

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Mar 21, 2007
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Oakville, ON
For household repairs/renos/maintenance (Plumbing, Wiring. Tiling, Decks...), I find Home Depot's 1-2-3 series clear and easy-to-understand.

And as mentioned above, The Taunton Press is excellent.
 
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Art From De Leon

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Feb 28, 2009
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De Leon, Texas
As has been mentioned, the OLD Popular Mechanics, Popular Science, and Mechanix Illustrated are light years better than what Popular Mechanics and Popular Science try to pass off today.
The old magazines did NOT insult your intelligence, and actually assumed you had some working knowlege to attempt the work ideas presented in their articles, and the advertising wasn't aimed at some girly-boy DIYer, that needs a 10 page article to tell him how to drive a nail, or put air in his tire.
But, given the fact that Popular Mechanics is owned and edited by the same company that owns Good Housekeeping, maybe this explains the tampon ads in Popular Mechanics 'monthly'.

What fascinates me, is that ALL the companies advertising in these magazines from the 40's and 50's and 60's are ALL American (with their Canadian marketers addresses included), and that virtually NONE of them are around today. The names may be, but the quality of their product is not the same.
 
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