Can anyone recommend any good DIY books. I've never done any DIY so I need something really basic.
James
- posted
11 years ago
Good DIY Books
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- posted
11 years ago
something really basic.
Since you've come to uk.d-i-y, why not start with our Wiki
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It's free!
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- posted
11 years ago
The large publishers each have a DIY 'bible'.
My first one was the Reader's Digest one [1]. Fantastic. Kept me busy for years. I've peeked in the current edition and they've changed the layout of the text which makes it harder to read, but all the information is still in there.
The next one I got was the Collins one [2], which I got because it covered some topics not in the RD. Also very good and I suspect if I'd had it first I'd be just as happy as with the RD.
Recently I picked up the Dorling Kindersley one [3] at a charity shop. I've not looked at it much but not impressed so far. Some of the stuff on wiring is pretty bizarre.
[1]
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[2]
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[3]
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- posted
11 years ago
something really basic.
I've not been that impressed by the quality of diy books generally. I can recommend checking out the wiki, and this newsgroup, for a wide ranging intro to whatever areas are of interest.
NT
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- posted
11 years ago
something really basic.
The B&Q one isn't bad, apart from the "use a B&Q hammer to knock a B&Q nail into a piece of B&Q timber".
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- posted
11 years ago
Agreed, you wouldn't want to use a piece of B&Q timber. But what's wrong with their hammers?
Owain
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- posted
11 years ago
d something really basic.
If you have an older house, one contemporaneous with the house. It will tell you how to rehang the sash windows and where the gas pipes for the lights might run.
Owain
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- posted
11 years ago
eed something really basic.
Yes, they can be a lot more down to earth and address what you need to know . But also can be out of date to the point of wrong and in some cases dange rous.
NT
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- posted
11 years ago
ow. But also can be out of date to the point of wrong and in some cases dan gerous.
And it can be difficult getting all the nasty chemicals they suggest you may wish to adorn your house, wife and children with.
Owain
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- posted
11 years ago
They sell one for £3:48.
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11 years ago
Is that too much? Too little? The wrong colour?
Owain
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11 years ago
I should imagine its bloody dangerous at such a low price.
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11 years ago
None of the reviews mention any eyes or limbs lost as a result of its use.
I'm sure it's up to putting in a few picture hooks in a soft plaster wall.
Owain
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- posted
11 years ago
If its the same one I have its perfectly OK. Its a knock off of the old stanley steel shafted hammer.
The head isn't over hardened and it will pull big nails with the claw. What else does a chippies hammer need to do?
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- posted
11 years ago
But also can be out of date to the point of wrong and in some cases dangerous.
I read a 1950s gardening book that recommended putting mercury compounds into each little trench before putting the veg seed in. Some peoples gardens are probably quite toxic.
NT
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- posted
10 years ago
something really basic.
recommend checking out the wiki, and this newsgroup, for a wide ranging intro to whatever areas are of interest.
If you have a good public library (if they haven't all been closed) you may be able to browse through a selection of DIY books to see which is most helpful/up-to-date/contains information on older stuff.