Introduction

This book is intended for everyone who is interested in saving either time or money, or both. The hundreds of time-saving short cuts and money-saving tips included in these pages will prove of value to the homeowner and the apartment dweller alike—and to the lady of the house as well as the man.

Though not primarily intended to serve as a typical "how-to" manual with detailed descriptions of all basic handyman techniques, this book does include many tips which contain important information for the beginner. However, for the most part, the pages which follow will devote themselves almost entirely to describing quicker and easier methods for performing all types of simple home repairs—the kind of repairs which everyone is faced with at one time or another.

Many of the tips tell how to "make-do" in an emergency when the proper tool is not immediately at hand, while others tell how to improvise when a temporary repair must be hurriedly made. As a glance at the table of contents will indicate, practically every part of the house and its contents have been covered. The short cuts described have all been tested over the years, and have proved workable by thousands of craftsmen, both amateur and professional. Many of the tips are of the "Why didn't I think of that before?" category. Others are actually trade secrets with which only experienced craftsmen are normally familiar.

It is for these reasons that it can be safely said that this book will prove of equal value to the experienced handyman as well as to the neophyte. To the handyman it offers a wealth of valuable suggestions on how difficult jobs can be made easier or quicker. To the beginner it can serve as a guide which describes in simple language the answer to many of his problems.

To get the most out of this book it is suggested that you first read through the whole book at least once to familiarize yourself with the contents and to give you an idea of just what each chapter contains. Then, whenever a particular repair or project is begun, take time out before you start to read through the sections which apply. Even though you may be already familiar with the basic techniques involved, you may find that there are simplified methods described here which can save work or cut down on the cost of materials needed.
As in all reference-type books, the table of contents and the index should both be consulted. The table of contents is quite general and merely sets up overall categories where related information may be found. The index, on the other hand, is far more explicit, and in this particular book it is unusually complete. Since many of the tips and short cuts listed in one section can apply equally well to other problems, most items are cross-referenced under more than one listing or category. To find the answer to a particular problem, look under the key subject word. For example: If you have a problem with a leaking faucet, look under the word Faucet. If your problem is sticking drawers, look up Drawers, sticking. If you have difficulty finding the exact listing desired, try looking under the name of the tool or the materials involved or even the name of the particular technique or operation involved.

When turning to the page referred to by the index, you will find it useful to glance through the entire page, rather than just at the individual subheadings. Since subheadings must be necessarily brief, the material contained in each paragraph may cover more than one idea, and the index may be referring you to a paragraph whose title does not completely indicate everything it contains. In addition, since related short cuts are usually grouped together, you may find other helpful hints close by which will also be of assistance.

Are You Ready To Move Onto The Next Lesson? Click Here...