Family Handyman Print Magazine

I've been a subscriber for many years but the recent changes have bothered me enough that I finally cancelled. Only 8 issues per year. Went from a magazine format to now it's just printed paper stapled and folded over. No longer a magazine spine.

My family loves this magazine for ideS, product reviews and plans. Info for all diy levels. Delivered about every other month.

After reading the reviews and the inexpensive $8.95 price tag, I thought this magazine would make a great gift for my handy husband. He wasn't impressed with the first two issues and complained of advertisements crowding the magazine. He was excited to read a good article on beginning welding in his 3rd issue. I took some time to leaf through the magazine before writing this review. The advertisements are exhausting. For example, in the first 10 pages of one issue, I counted 3 full page advertisements and 3 half page advertisements. It's like that throughout the remainder of the magazine as well. This is really unfortunate as it takes away from the readability of the magazine. There is some useful information presented such as "stuff we love" which outlines favorite DIY tools, material, and gear. There are Pro tips (example: installing an irrigation system), reader DIY tips, and a handful of projects with decent instructions. Unfortunately, most of the projects haven't interested my husband. We won't be renewing this again.I haven't had any problems with unwanted auto-renewal of my magazines on Amazon as long as I follow these steps to turn it off:1) Go to your account and look under Membership and Subscriptions.2) Find "Print Magazines."3) Once selected, you will see all of your current magazine subscriptions and when they will be renewed at the lowest Amazon price.4) Simply turn off the "auto-renewal" setting by selecting auto-renewal settings and "turn off."I've been subscribed to all of my magazines from Amazon for over 2 years now and have never had a payment request from the magazine company or a continuation of magazines arriving when I said I didn't want them to. It's easy and worry free.

Waste of money

I have always bought this magazine as it has some good ideas and information on how to do it. Have noticed that it is getting a little thin in articles. Will still buy as I like too see it in print for reference instead of phone.

Finally got 2nd issue which means at renewal time!Won't have full year! Next time I get a magazine! I Will Go Though Magazine Subscription Service!

Having designed and built our own home with our own hands (layman, with strong skills in this area), this magazine will not furnish you with big ideas and "how to" to perform such endeavors. None surprising, given the title of the magazine.Never-the-less, I find it a fun rag to peruse and usually get right down to it, when it lands in my hands.I enjoy the ideas presented in this magazines; which are simple to create, with the how-to given within the pages. Ideas and instructions that an average person, with basic understanding of shop tools & materials can follow and complete in a relatively short time.The curious and casual homeowning DIY'er, I think, would appreciate this magazine the most. Though, do not expect to be "blown away."To give you an idea of what is included in this issue (03/10), my latest copy contains:Under Features:* Carved stone fountain (Build it in a weekend: no stone cutting experience required!)* Recipe for a lush lawn (Let Mr. Lawn show you how to wipe out weeds, water smart and fertilize right.)* Easy cabinet repairs (Simple fixes for everything from stubborn drawers to dull finishes.)* Tips for a low-maintenance pond (A little extra care and effort now will mean alot less work later.)Under Departments:* Home care & repair (Fix for crumbling brick mortar.)* Do's & Don'ts (Craft beautiful painted trim from MDF instead of wood.)* Instant Project (Wren houses made from vinyl fence posts and caps? Brilliant!)* New Tools & Gear (A big-heat soldering torch and a propane powered leaf blower.)* Question & Comment (Do-it-yourself rain barrels, extension cord repairs.)* Reader Projects (From trash to treasure.)* Car & Garage (Six easy, money saving fixes for ATV's and motorcycles.)* Dollar Savvy Homeowner (Choosing the right concrete landscaping block.)* Handy Hints (Stay put sofa shoes, no mess paint touch-up and more.)* Shop Rat (A mega table for portable table saws and a cool little bench.)* Wordless Workshop (Fast, easy workbench drawers.)* Great Goofs (A sledge, a fencepost and a water line. Need we say more?)You can visit the website: [...] to get an idea of the magazine, as well given extra ideas/tips that will not be shown in the magazine.I would like to see this magazine include, perhaps at least quarterly, a more complex project. I certainly do not think it would upset it's subscribers.When my subscription nears expiration, I plan to re-subscribe. Thus far, it's been a fun magazine to peruse and have found some useful ideas within. Here's hoping that they will see a benefit to it's readership and to their magazine, to occasionally place bigger ideas and how-to within their magazine periodically.