Homeowners Do-It Yourself Answer Book

Homeowners Do-It Yourself Answer Book FARM HOME Miscellaneous 6-3-26 Do-it-yourself tips on everything from building your own house to fixing wet basements are covered in the new "Answer Book No. 1", compiled by the editors of Family Handyman magazine. The "how to" book has been a long time in the making. It's a compilation of 1,148 most-asked reader questions which, over the past 30 years, have been answered by the magazine's editors. Family Handyman, with more than 1 million readers, is published by the Webb Co., St. Paul, Minn., which also publishes The Farmer magazine, Beef, National Hog Farmer, Farm Industry News, and Irrigation Age. Suppose, for example, you're thinking about building a house and want to buy the best "how to" book available to serve as a guide. Says the "Answer Book": "Two books which treat the subject in detail are: "De Cristoforo's House-building Illustrated" (Popular Science/Harper and Row), and "Carpentry and Building Construction" by John Feirer and Gilbert Hutchings (Scribners). The latter is truly encyclopedic in its treatment of the subject, with over 2,000 excellent diagrams and illustrations. Check bookstores and libraries for these." If you're interested in building a log house, the "Answer Book" suggests several do-it-yourself books on the subject, and also lists about two dozen manufacturers of log home kits. Here's a sampling of other questions answered in the "Answer Book": Question: I'm planning to put in a concrete driveway and have been thinking of imbedding heating cables in it to melt ice and snow. Where can I get the cable? Answer: Write to Wiegand Div. of Emerson Electric Co., 7598 Thomas Blvd., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15208. Question: Is there any type of solution on the market to wash aluminum siding that's gotten dingy, or can it be painted over? Answer: Washing down the siding with Tackle and coating it with Guard may be your solution. Both are products of Aminco Industries, Dept. FS, 7533 Washington Ave. So., Minneapolis, Minn. 55435. If you want to try it first, they'll send you full instructions and samples of both products for $2. Question: Is it possible to bleach rust out of concrete without harming the smooth finish on the concrete? Answer: While muriatic acid will bleach out rust stains, it will also etch the smooth surface. You might try this household remedy: Make a fairly thin paste of lemon juice and salt. Spread over the rust stain carefully and not too thickly. Allow to remain about 5 minutes, scrub with a brush and rinse off with a lot of water. The 240 page Answer Book sells for $12.95, plus $1.50 for postage and handling. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, The Family Handyman Library, Dept. FS, Box C753, Pratt Station, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11205.

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.