The Cheap Handyman

Hilarious adventures in home renovations and repairs, from a real-life Red Green. Meet Brian Harris, a (mostly) retired, self-proclaimed jack of all trades with a knack for home improvements and inventive money-saving schemes. Armed with a soldering gun, his trusty 9-foot ladder, and of course the handyman’s secret weapon—duct tape—Brian’s projects start out as simple chores: trim a tree branch, stain the cedar siding on his home...but all too often they end in costly disaster. Sometimes he’s trying to do the right thing, like the time he wrecked his pool while saving some baby ducks. Often, he channels his inner MacGyver: he once taped his hockey skate back together so he could finish his rec-league game, only to get suspended for falling on the referee when it broke (again). But usually, he’s just trying to save a buck, like the time he accidentally destroyed an expensive car key fob because he wouldn’t pay the (outrageous) $10 fee to have the new battery professionally replaced. Filled with funny and entertaining true stories from the everyday life of an average guy just trying to save a few dollars, The Cheap Handyman is a tribute to anyone who has ever thought, “Sure! I can do that!”

This comprehensive guide to the tools and techniques of woodworking has been a favorite of both amateur and professional woodworkers for over a century. Readers will learn to make almost anything using only hand tools. With nearly 3,000 illustrations, this definitive guide is an invaluable resource for any do-it-yourselfer. From identifying and holding tools properly to constructing your own household furniture, The Handyman’s Book is your trusted resource for all things related to woodwork. Precise illustrations and design details provide a map for hundreds of woodworking projects, including gates, sheds, trellises, tables, yard and garden accessories, fences, porches, furniture, cabinets, and much more. If it’s wood, and there’s work to be done, don’t start without Paul N. Hasluck’s essential guide.

The story of handyman Ed Stephens and his mailman boyfriend Rick Benton continues in this follow-up to The Handyman's Dream.

First published in 1903, this book contains a classic guide to woodworking, being a handbook of related materials, tools, processes, and more. Written with the novice in mind, this profusely-illustrated volume contains step-by-step instructions and expert tips designed to walk the beginner through their first experiences in the workshop. Although old, this volume contains a wealth of timeless information and is highly recommended for students and apprentices. Paul Nooncree Hasluck (1854 – 1916) was an Australian engineer and editor. He was a master of technical writing and father of the 'do-it-yourself' book, producing many books on subjects including engineering, handicrafts, woodwork, and more. Other notable works by this author include: “Treatise on the Tools Employed in the Art of Turning” (1881), “The Wrath-Jobber's Handy Book” (1887), and “Screw-Threads and Methods of Producing Them” (1887). Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

Handyman Ed Stephens, whose romantic fantasies came true in The Handyman's Dream, and who learned about building a successful relationship in The Handyman's Reality, is back for another adventure in life and romance in The Handyman's Promise. By the autumn of 1983, Ed's life partner, Rick Benton, has been working in Indianapolis for more than a year as he pursues a new career in real estate. Ed eagerly anticipates the day Rick will return home to Porterfield full-time. Their time apart has allowed Ed to contemplate the maintenance of a long-term gay relationship, and to reevaluate his definition of a successful marriage. With the aid of both hindsight and foresight, Ed and Rick are able to move optimistically toward their mutual goals. Although their journey has its share of joyful surprises, several unfortunate events and a sudden tragedy force Ed to once again question their future in a small Indiana town amid the stark realities of gay life in the early 1980s. Once again Ed and Rick's friends and families are along for the ride to provide love, support, humor, and occasional aggravation. As always, Mrs. Hilda Penfield, Ed's bountiful mentor, is close by with words of wisdom as Ed continues to learn how to blend his dreams into day-to-day living. With yet another soundtrack of timeless pop classics, author Nick Poff extends a third invitation to enjoy the heartwarming journey of Ed Stephens and Rick Benton as they continue to explore the mysteries of love and life.

The Shakers produced many incredible furniture objects that we continue to venerate today. For the woodworker the fascination is often rooted in the essential simplicity of the work. Interest in Shaker design is as strong today as it was when the first edition of this book was published in 1977, possibly stronger. This ongoing interest is the direct result of the inherent beauty of Shaker design—beauty that stems not only from form, but from superb workmanship, a commitment to utility and a total understanding of material.