Family Handyman

They show you EVERYDAY PROBLEMS that can be fixed by yourself cheaply

I have subscribed to This Old House, Wood, Popular Woodworking, Popular Mechanics, and Fine Woodworking. If I picked one magazine, it would be The Family Handyman. The magazine is perfectly titled--targeted at family DIYers--and it constantly delivers content that I am looking for and need. TFH identifies problems the family patriarch needs to solve and then provides a solution: too much clutter in the garage entry way = step by step on how to build a storage system for your garage. Lawn looks like exploded hay bales = five ways to repair and maintain your turf. This could be perception, but I feel like the other magazines miss the topics I desire, or they have a different target: create an ornate 17th century inlaid desk! or look at these fifteen fabulous pictures of other peoples' kitchens! The Family Handyman often has several articles that interest me, and I find myself setting it aside because I am going to use particular articles as a reference for actual projects. Even when I search for DIY help online, I often turn to TFH. One of my favorite features is the inclusion of an automotive article in each issue, which emphasizes the rounded handyman role played by so many men and women.The handyman solutions are, as noted, not pretentious and not really aimed at the gifted furniture maker. I gasped when I first read that I should build a box by butt joining plywood and fastening it with screws. What? No dadoes? No through tenons? The magazine matches my skill level, and the crafty guy or gal can always embellish a straight-forward project. The key to making these projects so doable and attractive is the respect for the amount of time the family handyman has.The content is the most important aspect of the magazine to me, but I find it helpful that the layout is easy to use, and yes, it is eye-catching. Few things irritate me more than not being able to find articles buried in a table of contents. This one is easy to read. So far, the articles have been easy to discern from the ads, not that I mind ads, I just do not want to hunt for bits of articles hidden in guerrilla advertising. The plentiful pictures are generally helpful and captioned.This is my favorite magazine right now; hence the five stars.

I am a homeowner with a wife and three small kids. I may be the target audience for "The Family Handyman" magazine. I'm not a die-hard DIYer, but I'm eager to learn if I have the time, the job doesn't require specialized training or certification, and the cost savings is there. I absolutely love this magazine and read it cover to cover. The information contained within is worthy of placing the back-issues onto my ever-shrinking book shelf. I've ditched many of my other how-to books. Most of the time I just search the Internet for the knowledge I need, but sometimes I don't even know what I don't know (if you know what I mean). "The Family Handyman" discusses things like preventative maintenance on your home, how to select quality materials for your project, and how to make your DIY project a little cleaner and safer. They also describe the function of tools and explain the use of materials. The diversity of the articles means that I find something in every issue. For example, I'm able to build a wall and install a sink but I'm not as informed about concrete or roofing. This magazine is wonderfully informative, with well written and illustrated articles. I highly recommend for anyone with aspirations of being the family handyman (or handywoman).

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.