Table of Contents
Domestic Repair: Your home tool kit and how to use it 1
How to Hang a Picture 4
How to Hang a Shelf 7
How to Install a Closet Rod 9
How to Patch a Hole in Drywall 11
How to Mix Plaster 15
How to Plaster a Wall 16
How to Repair Cracked Plaster 18
How to Prepare a Surface for Painting 18
How to Paint a Room 19
How to Paint a Faux Finish 22
How to Polish Furniture 26
How to Strip Paint 28
How to Prepare a Wood Surface for Painting 29
How to Refinish Furniture 30
How to Caulk a Bathtub 32
How to Replace a Cracked Tile 34
How to Patch Linoleum 36
How to Replace a Damaged Section of Carpet 37
How to Refinish a Wood Floor 38
How to Refinish a Deck 38
How to Catch Mice 40
How to Repair or Replace a Screen 42
How to Weather-Strip Windows and Doors 44
How to Caulk a Window 48
How to Replace a Windowpane 49
How to Unblock a Gutter 51
How to Repair a Cracked Gutter 53
How to Prevent Ice Dams 54
How to Remove an Ice Dam from the Roof 55
How to Repair a Crack in a Concrete Driveway 59
How to Patch Cracked Asphalt 61
Woodworking & Metalworking: The fine art of measuring, cutting, soldering, and making with your hands 62
How to Measure Hardwood Boards 69
How to Sand Wood 70
How to Build a Birdhouse 72
How to Build a Picture Frame 75
How to Build a Doghouse 78
How to Build a Shaker Stool 82
How to Build a Chessboard 85
How to Make a Butcher Block 87
How to Stain Wood 89
How to Build a Bookcase 90
How to Build a Storage Chest 93
How to Build a Table 95
How to Make a Spoon Ring 100
How to Make Earrings 102
How to Make a Decorative Metal Plate 104
How to Make Wind Chimes 106
Plumbing: Learn To Unplug, Seal Up, and Troubleshoot To Make All Your "Pipe Dreams" Come True 109
How to Stop a Drip 112
How to Unclog a Drain 114
How to Fix a Burst Pipe 117
How to Patch a Pipe 119
How to Stop Your Pipes from Freezing 120
How to Install a Sump Pump 122
How to Fix a Leaky Washing Machine 124
How to Replace a Sink Faucet 127
How to Replace a Drain Basket 128
How to Replace a Toilet 131
How to Troubleshoot a Showerhead 136
Electrical: Untangle and Understand Those Wires, Circuits, Fixtures, and Switches 138
How to Slash Your Electricity Bill 140
How to Make a DC Circuit 143
How to Install a Dimmer 145
How to Install a Light Fixture 147
How to Rewire a Lamp 151
Mechanical: Keep Those Wheels and Gears Turning 157
How to Wash a Car 163
How to Detail the Interior of a Car 165
How to Bang Out a Dent 166
How to Fill a Ding or Scratch with Putty 168
How to Repaint Your Repair 169
How to Change a Windshield Wiper Blade 170
How to Fix a Chipped Windshield 171
How to Change a Flat Tire 172
How to Rotate Tires 175
How to Check and Top Off Fluids 176
How to Change the Oil 177
How to Locate an Oil Leak 179
How to Jump a Batten 181
How to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade 183
How to Maintain a Motorcycle 185
How to Fix a Flat Tire on a Bicycle 187
How to Adjust Bicycle Brakes 190
How to Maintain a Bicycle Chain 192
How to Tighten a Single-Speed Chain 194
How to Align Bicycle Gears 194
Index 197
Conversion Tables 203
