Family Handyman Winter 2021

In preparation for this anniversary issue, I did two things: First, I bought a pipe to honor and imitate our first editor. (It makes me look distinguished even if I don’t smoke it, right?) Second, I dusted off the very first editor’s letter, published in Winter 1951. Reading it, I was stunned by how little has changed since then. While our reach has grown beyond the wildest dreams of our founders, the core mission—to provide DIY inspiration and information—hasn’t changed a bit. Another constant is our hands-on expertise. Like our first editor, the current editors at Family Handyman bring years of real-world building experience. I began my own building career in high school, starting with the job title of Assistant Flunky, sweeping up sawdust and schlepping 2x4s. Eventually, I became a…

BIGGER BUILDS The average home built in the early 1950s was about 950 sq. ft. By 2017, the average new-home size had almost tripled to 2,700 sq. ft. In recent years, square footage has fallen slightly. SINGLE HOMEOWNERS In the 1950s, the vast majority of homes were owned by married couples. Today, almost 40% of homeowners are single. SINGLE WOMEN BUY HOMES Single buyers made up a tiny fraction of home purchasers in the ‘50s, and most of those were men. Today, a single woman is about twice as likely to buy a home as a single man. PIPES WEREN’T JUST FOR PLUMBING Judging from our old photos, smoking a pipe was an essential part of DIY in the ‘50s, at least for men. DRESSED UP FOR DIY In our 1950s photos, DIYers were a bit overdressed for the…

BRAD HOLDEN After getting a C- in 8th-grade wood shop, Brad dedicated 30 years of his life to woodworking, trying to make up for it. MIKE BERNER Mike gave up his job as a shop teacher to come to FH. His favorite part about that? “Wood doesn’t give you attitude.” JAY CORK Jay is a highly skilled woodworker and craftsman. And for the record, he’s way taller than the rest of these clowns. BILL BERGMANN “Bungalow Bill” has worked on many old homes with big problems, so he’s thrilled to be moving into a newer house. JOSH RISBERG Don’t argue with Josh—you won’t win. You’ll only waste your time; he’s just gonna build it his way anyway.…

Seventy years is a long time to collect anything—we have archives bursting with top-notch home improvement advice. In celebration of our anniversary, we’re sharing some of our most helpful and innovative DIY tips, projects and Handy Hints from over the years with you, our beloved readers. To get more of our vintage content, simply hover your camera here. VINTAGE ADS Check out our amazing collection of vintage ads from long-standing advertising partners here: familyhandyman.com/article/70th-anniversary/ PROJECT PLANS Thinking of putting together a vintage project for your family this holiday season? How about a gift to yourself? Get old-school project plans as well as building tips and advice here: familyhandyman.com/article/70th-anniversary/ BRAND NEW BOOK! Claim your FREE preview now at familyhandyman.com/FAMILY20. Inside, you’ll find tons of brilliant tips that save time, trouble and money, plus complete, detailed plans and…

Toolbox Boom Box This AEPJS1 Jobsite Speaker by Klein Tools has been my constant companion on the job and in the shop. Its magnetic back lets you stick it on any metal surface—I’ve even attached it to the vent hood in my kitchen. This little 4-in. box truly rocks, and the Bluetooth range is better than I expected. As a bonus, I can even take a phone call on it. This speaker is as tough as any of my favorite tools. I’ve dropped it countless times, lost it in piles of demo debris, and had it outside in rain and mud; it just keeps working and sounds great! At $40, this Blue - tooth box is a great bargain. BILL BERGMANN ASSOCIATE EDITOR WRENCH EXTENDER The Tite-Reach wrench is the perfect fix for tight spaces…

No-Mess Charcoal Bags Bags of charcoal are large, cumbersome and messy. Get around that by storing charcoal in small bags with about 15 to 20 briquettes per bag, perfect for one grilling session. KAREN MERKEL Hoe-ly Mixer From the Editor: Back in 1953, Victor Lamoy sent us a hint about cutting holes in a garden hoe to make it a better tool for mixing concrete. It was such a good idea that it became a standard tool manufactured just for this purpose! TRAVEL-SIZE ICE MELT For small areas, don’t lug around a big bag or bucket of deicer. Instead, save a Parmesan cheese canister and fill it with deicer. With its large holes for shaking out product, it makes a perfect dispenser. NATE BIESKACHEK How Deep to Go Improvise a depth gauge for measuring blind holes by turning two…