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22 Articles

70 YEARS OF ADVICE AND INSPIRATION

In preparation for this anniversary issue, I did two things: First, I bought a pipe to honor and imitate our first editor. (It makes me look distinguished even if I don’t smoke it, right?) Second, I dusted off the very first editor’s letter, published in Winter 1951. Reading it, I was stunned by how little has changed since then. While our reach has grown beyond the wildest dreams of our founders, the core mission—to provide DIY inspiration and information—hasn’t changed a bit. Another constant is our hands-on expertise. Like our first editor, the current editors at Family Handyman bring years of real-world building experience. I began my own building career in high school, starting with the job title of Assistant Flunky, sweeping up sawdust and schlepping 2x4s. Eventually, I became a…

70 YEARS OF ADVICE AND INSPIRATION

HOMEOWNERSHIP IS THE SAME, BUT DIFFERENT

BIGGER BUILDS The average home built in the early 1950s was about 950 sq. ft. By 2017, the average new-home size had almost tripled to 2,700 sq. ft. In recent years, square footage has fallen slightly. SINGLE HOMEOWNERS In the 1950s, the vast majority of homes were owned by married couples. Today, almost 40% of homeowners are single. SINGLE WOMEN BUY HOMES Single buyers made up a tiny fraction of home purchasers in the ‘50s, and most of those were men. Today, a single woman is about twice as likely to buy a home as a single man. PIPES WEREN’T JUST FOR PLUMBING Judging from our old photos, smoking a pipe was an essential part of DIY in the ‘50s, at least for men. DRESSED UP FOR DIY In our 1950s photos, DIYers were a bit overdressed for the…

HOMEOWNERSHIP IS THE SAME, BUT DIFFERENT

MEET TODAY’S CREW:

BRAD HOLDEN After getting a C- in 8th-grade wood shop, Brad dedicated 30 years of his life to woodworking, trying to make up for it. MIKE BERNER Mike gave up his job as a shop teacher to come to FH. His favorite part about that? “Wood doesn’t give you attitude.” JAY CORK Jay is a highly skilled woodworker and craftsman. And for the record, he’s way taller than the rest of these clowns. BILL BERGMANN “Bungalow Bill” has worked on many old homes with big problems, so he’s thrilled to be moving into a newer house. JOSH RISBERG Don’t argue with Josh—you won’t win. You’ll only waste your time; he’s just gonna build it his way anyway.…

MEET TODAY’S CREW:

70 YEARS OF DIY KNOW-HOW

Seventy years is a long time to collect anything—we have archives bursting with top-notch home improvement advice. In celebration of our anniversary, we’re sharing some of our most helpful and innovative DIY tips, projects and Handy Hints from over the years with you, our beloved readers. To get more of our vintage content, simply hover your camera here. VINTAGE ADS Check out our amazing collection of vintage ads from long-standing advertising partners here: familyhandyman.com/article/70th-anniversary/ PROJECT PLANS Thinking of putting together a vintage project for your family this holiday season? How about a gift to yourself? Get old-school project plans as well as building tips and advice here: familyhandyman.com/article/70th-anniversary/ BRAND NEW BOOK! Claim your FREE preview now at familyhandyman.com/FAMILY20. Inside, you’ll find tons of brilliant tips that save time, trouble and money, plus complete, detailed plans and…

70 YEARS OF DIY KNOW-HOW

Toolbox Boom Box This AEPJS1 Jobsite Speaker by Klein Tools has been my constant companion on the job and in the shop. Its magnetic back lets you stick it on any metal surface—I’ve even attached it to the vent hood in my kitchen. This little 4-in. box truly rocks, and the Bluetooth range is better than I expected. As a bonus, I can even take a phone call on it. This speaker is as tough as any of my favorite tools. I’ve dropped it countless times, lost it in piles of demo debris, and had it outside in rain and mud; it just keeps working and sounds great! At $40, this Blue - tooth box is a great bargain. BILL BERGMANN ASSOCIATE EDITOR WRENCH EXTENDER The Tite-Reach wrench is the perfect fix for tight spaces…

No-Mess Charcoal Bags Bags of charcoal are large, cumbersome and messy. Get around that by storing charcoal in small bags with about 15 to 20 briquettes per bag, perfect for one grilling session. KAREN MERKEL Hoe-ly Mixer From the Editor: Back in 1953, Victor Lamoy sent us a hint about cutting holes in a garden hoe to make it a better tool for mixing concrete. It was such a good idea that it became a standard tool manufactured just for this purpose! TRAVEL-SIZE ICE MELT For small areas, don’t lug around a big bag or bucket of deicer. Instead, save a Parmesan cheese canister and fill it with deicer. With its large holes for shaking out product, it makes a perfect dispenser. NATE BIESKACHEK How Deep to Go Improvise a depth gauge for measuring blind holes by turning two…

SCUFF-RESISTANT PAINTS

Painters and designers agree that flat, matte and eggshell are the best paint sheens for walls. They hide surface imperfections and reflect light evenly. But unlike glossier finishes, they’re notorious for showing scuffs and not standing up well to washing. Newer formulations are changing that. The latest generation of scuff-resistant paints have both the low sheen you want on a wall and the scuff resistance and washability of higher-gloss paint. Behr Ultra Scuff Defense ($33 per gallon) and Sherwin-Williams’ Duration ($70) also have a stain-blocking component, anti microbial mildew resistance, and are a paint and primer in one. As for washability, Sherwin-Williams offers a guarantee of no color rub-off from washing with mild soap and water. Minimizing repainting, touch-ups and cleaning is big for pros and home - owners alike. So, if…

SCUFF-RESISTANT PAINTS

26 THINGS THAT CHANGED DIY FOREVER

New products are constantly making DIY projects faster, easier and cheaper. Introducing these products is and always has been part of our mission. In fact, many of the most important advances were first publicized in Family Handyman. Here are a few of our favorite DIY breakthroughs. 1 THE TAPE MEASURE The basic idea goes back centuries, and by the mid-1800s, there were tape measures much like the ones we use today. But early tapes were finicky and super expensive (about $300 in today’s dollars). So most DIYers and pros stuck with the old “folding rule.” Finally, as manufacturing became better and cheaper in the 1950s, everyone, including Family Handyman, made the switch to tapes. 2 FAMILY HANDYMAN MAGAZINE In 1951, a publishing brand devoted to DIY was a radical idea. Today, that idea—and the…

26 THINGS THAT CHANGED DIY FOREVER

FIREPLACE FACE-LIFT

A fireplace is THE focal point of the room it’s in. The typical update is to paint it, and though that’s an easy improvement, I wanted something bolder and more modern, something that would transform the look and feel of the room. I decided to cover the old brick with oversize tiles. I also removed the hearth for a more streamlined look. I’d never done a project quite like this, but it all came together without major snags. And the results are even better than I’d imagined. WHAT IT TAKES TIME A few days COST $600–$1,200 SKILL LEVEL Intermediate TOOLS Brick set chisel, 3-lb. maul, 5-gallon buckets, chalk line, drill, 3/4-in. round-notch trowel, margin trowel, rail tile saw (rental), angle grinder, oscillating multitool MEET THE BUILDER Mike Berner, an associate editor, is an accomplished woodworker, carpenter and teacher. family handyman flashback 1951 70 YEARS…

FIREPLACE FACE-LIFT

A few things I learned

LARGE TILE CARRIES AN EXTRA COST I chose Sofia Charcoal porcelain tile for its texture and consistent color, which made the seams almost disappear. I needed to cover about 60 sq. ft., but with large tile there’s a lot of waste. I had to buy 90 sq. ft. at $9.20 per sq. ft., or just over $60 a tile. TILE COSTS VARY A LOT The total materials bill for my project was about $1,200. Tile was by far the biggest cost ($900), but you can find good-looking tile for less than half that price. RENT A TILE SAW For the 31-in. x 31-in. tiles I chose, I had to rent a large-capacity saw ($75 per day). DIVE INTO SOMETHING NEW In removing the hearth, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was getting into. I’m…

UNDER-STAIR PULLOUTS

Need extra storage space? You might already have it right under your feet! Builders rarely utilize the space under a staircase; it’s much easier to just wall it in than to make custom pullouts. But you can reclaim that wasted space in a couple weekends. I built three pullouts to store everything from shoes to coats and backpacks. You can customize this design to get just the type of storage space you need. WHAT IT TAKES TIME 4 days COST $800 SKILL LEVEL Intermediate TOOLS Table saw, miter saw, 18-gauge finish nailer, drill driver, circular saw, random orbit sander, framing square, combination square, caulk gun, 2-ft. level, putty knife MEET THE BUILDER Bill Bergmann is an associate editor at Family Handyman. family handyman flashback 1955 A GREAT IDEA MADE BETTER My design is very similar to one we featured 65 years ago. The building process was…

UNDER-STAIR PULLOUTS

I’ve got a large family, and when we all gather, it’s become tradition to haul a card table up from the basement and evict the coffee table to make more space for dining. Our next big get-together will be different; instead of shifting furniture around, I’ll just flip up the coffee table legs and round up the kids! WHAT IT TAKES TIME A few days COST $200–$400 SKILL LEVEL Intermediate TOOLS Miter saw, table saw, drill, tape measure, random orbital sander, flush-cut saw, jigsaw, 23-gauge pin nailer family handyman flashback 1956 A VINTAGE PROJECT THAT STILL HAS LEGS TODAY The inspiration for this project came from an article Family Handyman published way back in 1956. I thought the idea of a 2-in-1 table was brilliant, even for today. I used the same hinged-leg concept but updated a few key things: The original article…

DYNAMIC ACCENT WALL

This might be the easiest way to totally transform the look of a room. Once you’ve created your design, using this simple glue-and-stick application, you can finish it up in a weekend. WHAT IT TAKES TIME 2 days COST $100 SKILL LEVEL Beginner TOOLS Table saw, miter box or miter saw, finish nailer, putty knife, laser level, Speed square family handyman flashback 1960 THREE DIMENSIONS ON A WALL In June 1960, we applied a three-dimensional design to a wall by cutting and painting Styrofoam. Inexpensive and easy to work with, it was a good choice then. But now we have medium-density fiberboard (MDF). It’s inexpensive, easy to work with, takes paint well and is much more durable than Styrofoam. 1 SKETCH OUT YOUR DESIGN Make a scale drawing of your wall and draw different designs until you’re satisfied. The internet is a good source of…

DYNAMIC ACCENT WALL

INSTALL A SMART SWITCH

Installing a smart light switch is as simple as installing a regular switch, aside from connecting your light switch to your Wi-Fi. Smart light switches are considerably more expensive than standard switches ($40 vs. $3 at home centers), but they can do much more too. In this article, we’re replacing existing standard switches with Leviton Decora Smart switches, but the tips apply to any brand. WHAT CAN A SMART SWITCH DO FOR YOU? With a smart switch, you can program lights to turn on and off to suit your schedule. You can also operate your lights via voice command through a home assistant or by using an app on your phone. And yes, you can also operate them manually. ADD A NEUTRAL Unlike with a standard switch, you’ll need to splice the neutral wires…

INSTALL A SMART SWITCH

Tips for Three-Way Smart Switches

THREE-WAY: IDENTIFY THE LINE AND THE LOAD The procedure is the same as it is for a single-pole switch, except only one of the two boxes contains the line. With the power off, disconnect all the wires and twist a wire nut on each individual wire. Turn the breaker back on and test the taped (common) wires in each box using a noncontact voltage detector. The one that still has power is your line feed. The taped wire that doesn’t have power (in the other box) is the load connection, which goes to the light fixture. Once the line is located, turn off the power again. FLAG THE COMMON WIRE Leaving the wires attached, pull both switches out of their boxes. Locate the black terminal (marked “common”) on both switches. Use electrical…

Tips for Three-Way Smart Switches

If your grill cooks as shabby as it looks, a new model is probably on your wish list. But before you start shopping, consider this: There’s a solution for almost any grill problem, and the fixes are easy. Winter is the perfect time to recondition a grill. I know—I tackled two of mine as the snow flew, and the next spring, they were set to go. All it took was a little elbow grease and DIY ingenuity. Now, these grills will be cooking for many seasons to come. MEET THE EXPERT Jay Cork is an associate editor at Family Handyman. Over the past decade, he’s rescued many grills from the scrap pile. Grilling since 1951 The grill that did the most to popularize backyard grilling was born the same year as this magazine. In fact,…

ESSENTIAL HAND TOOLS

In this age of power tools, it’s easy to ignore old-fashioned hand tools. But you shouldn’t. Even if your shop is full of high-end power tools, sometimes a hand tool will get the job done faster, better and neater. One of our favorite woodworkers, Ralph Truesdell, owns nearly every hand tool there is, and he agreed to tell us about some of his favorites. MEET THE EXPERT Ralph Truesdell is the resident hand tool expert at his local Woodcraft store, where he teaches woodworking classes. He’s also a 7th degree Tae Kwon Do master, one of only a handful of people in the world to ever accomplish this. Ralph’s tool chest After years of accumulating hand tools, Ralph has quite a collection. Here are some of his favorites.…

ESSENTIAL HAND TOOLS

Ralph’s essential hand tool tips

A SCRAPER BEATS SANDPAPER To get wood smoother than sandpaper can, Ralph uses a cabinet scraper. Also known as card scrapers, these simple pieces of steel cut micro-thin shavings of wood. They’re great for repairing scratches, final shaping or prepping a surface for finishing. Scraping can be hard work, but the reward comes when you apply the finish; the grain shows much more clearly and vibrantly than it does with sanded wood. PERFECT MITERS FOR SMALL STUFF Ralph uses this small Zona miter box to repair trim details on antiques, cut bracing for acoustic guitars and even install base shoe. Making cuts like these on a powered miter saw not only can be dangerous but also risks destroying delicate, and maybe irreplaceable, pieces of trim. MARK WITH PRECISION A marking gauge, which cuts tiny lines…

Ralph’s essential hand tool tips

GET THE RIGHT BRISTLES FOR BETTER RESULTS

Soft brushes provide a smoother finish Soft brushes have “flagged ends,” which resemble the split ends of hair. This results in a smoother finish with fewer brush marks. Stiff brushes give you crisp lines Stiff brushes are more durable, which is important when you’re painting rough surfaces. The bristles are “tipped” at the ends like a sharp pencil. Pointy bristles also allow for crisp, sharp lines when you cut in around trim. MEET THE EXPERT Connie McKinney is a senior product manager with Purdy Professional Painting Tools. Replacing Single Floorboards When tongue-and-groove floorboards become irreparably damaged, it’s possible to replace a single board or two. A 1953 issue recommended that you “tackle the removal of the defectives with a hammer and sharp chisel.” While that’s still a perfectly fine solution, I’d use an oscillating multitool with a…

GET THE RIGHT BRISTLES FOR BETTER RESULTS

Fix a pillowed ceiling

If your ceiling drywall is sagging between joists, sometimes called “pillowing,” it’s probably on the top floor and probably 1/2-in. drywall instead of 5/8-in. Half-inch drywall can sag if it’s hung on framing spaced every 24 in. It isn’t strong enough to handle the span, and the weight of the attic insulation just makes the sagging worse. You have two choices: Rip out and replace the sagging ceiling, or add spacers and new drywall below it. In either case, you can use 5/8-in. drywall or lightweight, sagresistant 1/2-in. drywall. Ripping out the old stuff might seem like the right approach, but it’s a nightmare job. You have to pry out the ceiling drywall along the edges and pluck out all the old drywall screws. If you’ve ever torn out drywall, you…

Fix a pillowed ceiling

GOT A DIY QUESTION? Finding answers is easy at familyhandyman.com. Just use the search box at the top of the page to get expert step-by-step help with your projects. GOT A HANDY HINT OR TIP FOR US? To share your information with us, submit a copy of your original contribution, including photos and/or sketches, by email to: submissions@familyhandyman.com Or mail to: Family Handyman,2915 Commers Drive, Suite 700,Eagan, MN 55121 Please include your name, mailing address and email address if you have one, and indicate to which department you are submitting. We reserve the right to publish your submission in any appropriate department, or elsewhere. Contributions will not be acknowledged or returned. RIGHTS By submitting material to us, you grant Home Service Publications, Inc., its parent company subsidiaries, affiliates, partners and licensees worldwide use of the material without time…

NAILED IT! For the countertop on a remodeling job, I ordered $800 of prefinished cherry. I was pinning a 3/4-in. cherry strip to the underside of the countertop with 1-1/2-in. brad nails, angling them slightly so they wouldn’t break through the piano-grade finish—scary! In the middle of the project, one of my carpenters asked to borrow my gun for a few minutes. He returned the gun and I finished nailing on the trim. But when I tried to lift the piece up, I realized there was a definite problem—the countertop had been nailed through the drop cloth into the floor. What my knucklehead carpenter failed to tell me was that when he took my gun, he exchanged my nails for ones that were about an inch longer. I had to pay a…

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