Do It Yourself

Farris, author of numerous home improvement and décor books, presents room projects that will add value to any home. Home gym, theater, cigar lounge, library, and spa are covered, each with an accompanying gallery of inspirational examples. However, the projects that follow are not always pictured and sometimes fall short of the promised luxury. The theater section has nice design and layout considerations, but the AV equipment is dated, with no discussion of high definition. Instructions are cursory, and some of the finished projects look a bit sloppy. Ultimately, the book fails to completely deliver. A marginal purchase.

The band saw is a straightforward power tool and a valuable addition to any workshop. First-time author Graves begins with an introduction to the history of the band saw. A big plus is the depth of coverage, as Graves starts with a very detailed examination of the tool itself and a comparison of different types of band saws with pros and cons of each. Criteria for selecting a band saw are discussed based on the user's need and skill level; setup and maintenance are covered with equal detail. This book really stands out for its scope and authority; a fantastic primer. Highly recommended for all woodworking collections.

When you tell the kids to go outside and play, are you met with groans? Make your backyard child-friendly and fun with inspiration from this book. Kashef (Like a Natural Woman: The Black Woman's Guide to Alternative Healing) presents a gallery of backyard designs and projects specifically geared for children's play. The real strength of this book is the developmental guidelines and safety considerations for children. Also nice is the overview of sports activities and their importance for growing children. The projects, from sandboxes to sports courts, are simple but not unique; overall, coverage is quite good. This book updates Sunset's previous Kids' Places To Play by Jeanne Huber. Recommended for all public libraries.

Kaye, host of DIY Network's Fresh Coat, presents different makeovers for bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and work- or playrooms. Some singularly nice projects populate this book—painting faux tiles on kitchen and bathroom walls, stenciling designs on table tops, bright paint for furniture, and good color combinations. However, the DIY series has been badly translated into book format: stills from the show are blurry and badly lit, angles are all wrong, and some projects lack photos altogether—a major mistake. Despite the creativity desperately trying to peek through, the book is doomed. Not recommended.

Update your home with new windows and doors and save energy, too. Marshall, carpenter and author, addresses the importance of lighting, ventilation, and security for the home. A gallery of inspirational photos is followed by a discussion of materials—styles and selection of windows or doors and related hardware. Included is consideration for use by those with limited mobility or strength. Planning, layout, and installation are covered next. Good, logical, step-by-step instructions walk the reader through simple to more complex projects, but basic techniques are tucked in the back appendix. Excellent coverage of the topic. Recommended.

Is your antique furniture beat-up and deteriorating? Professional restorers and instructors, the Marxes here compile their considerable expertise. Pulling from their own stock of photos, they cover a wide range of restoring problems and solutions. The instructions are detailed, with some terminology left undefined, and knowledge of basic techniques is assumed. While the text does have good organization and step-by-step instructions, there is no handholding and limited illustrations. An experienced furniture maker may not have problems with these projects, but they are not for the beginner. This impressive book is suitable for larger collections or where the topic is in demand.

Can't duct tape fix everything? Petersen, author of home improvement and organization books, presents a collection of fix-it tips in this compact volume. With tongue-in-cheek humor and scant illustrations, the text is clear and concise, and experts are cited frequently. Featuring a quick intro to tools, the book covers home maintenance, small repairs, structural problems, and appliance repairs. An emergency preparedness kit is also included. The comprehensive index makes up for the loose organization of topics. This easy-to-follow book certainly doesn't replace large homeowner manuals, but it contains unique tips and information. Recommended for most collections, if not for your home library.

Woodworkers are always on the lookout for more project books. The 28 little projects here are simple and good for beginners. Most of these are pine or plywood construction and include children's furniture, shelves, stools, benches, and small storage projects. None of these pieces is particularly stylish; in fact, some look dated and clunky. Very few are original in any way. The instructions are straightforward, but the accompanying illustrations may be pages away, reflecting poor organization. There are lots of similar books available with more sophistication and sparkle than this one. Not recommended.

Use car wax for scratches on compact discs and ketchup to shine copper pots. This collection of tips and odd fixes is arranged alphabetically by ingredient or item. Under each topic is a list of what marvelous things you can do with that item that you would never have dreamed of. The text is chatty and informational, including boxes that give history or tips for a particular item or projects for kids and students. Some of this advice isn't new, reminiscent of Hints from Heloise. The detailed index can help you find the right solution for your problem. Fun and somewhat helpful; for larger collections.

If you need to add storage or extra space to your home with a shed or outbuilding, this book is for you. Schmidt, author of many building and woodworking books, presents plans for a dozen different structures. Layout and planning considerations are discussed, with an overview of shed components and a too-brief section on materials. A section on how to read construction plans and great pad preparation instructions are included. However, the project instructions are a bit cursory. Some of the buildings are quite attractive and unique, others rather vanilla; the clerestory studio, sunlight garden shed, and Gothic playhouse are beautiful. When it comes to construction assistance, this book falls a bit short; John D. Wagner's The Ultimate Guide to Yard and Garden Sheds has much better instruction. However, for more variety in outbuilding designs, this book makes a good addition to any DIY collection. Recommended for larger collections.

This beautiful book tries very hard to inspire your housecleaning with simple solutions and beautiful photos. First-time author Squires shares great tips for basic cleaning kits and techniques, but his book quickly falls short. There is a lot of unnecessary repetition throughout and absolutely no how-to illustrations. When compared to Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook, the shallow coverage becomes quickly apparent. For details specifically on cleaning troublesome stains, stick with Good Housekeeping Stain Rescue. A marginal purchase.

If the dishwasher is making funny noises or the air conditioner is straining, there are things you can do before calling the repairman, according to Willson (Outdoor Fix-It 101). Starting with diagrams of major home appliances and a list of basic tools, Willson covers installation of appliances first; this is followed by basic routine maintenance and some troubleshooting. For each project there is a list of needed tools and materials, a difficulty rating, and a time estimate. While not as in-depth as Eric Kleinert's Troubleshooting and Repairing Major Appliances, this book does address a lot of basic concerns and problems, and the maintenance section is spot-on. Recommended for most collections.

Jigs are woodworking accessories that help make a specialized job easy and accurate every time. For the experienced woodworker, it is a simple project to build your own jigs and fixtures. In this book, projects are broken down by type of power tool, including the router, band saw, drill press, drum and table sander, and workbench accessories. Each construction has a detailed exploded view but lacks an easy list of materials needed. The illustrations do not tie cleanly with the instructional text, and the book assumes a good familiarity with tools and techniques—most of these projects are not at beginner level. Even with such technical instructions, this book will appeal to most savvy woodworkers.

Turn your jumbled workshop and woodworking area into the picture of efficiency with this book. Basic considerations are covered first, such as wiring, work flow, and climate control. Some sample layouts cover a traditional garage setup to more dedicated spaces. Dust collection and ventilation, heating, safety, and security are all addressed, with projects for each. Illustrating photos do not always have close proximity to the text, a layout flaw. Storage and cabinetry projects are clever and inventive; tips and checklists round out the book. Overall, a very nice book with great projects to accessorize and organize your workshop beautifully. Strongly recommended for most woodworking collections.