Complete Illustrated Guide to Everything Sold in Hardware Stores and Garden Centers





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by: Steve Ettlinger, Robert Strimban

Topics include: seed starting products, tined wheels, lawn netting, fish tankage, faucet seat reamer, drywall sander, aerator sandals, compost aerator, tined tiller, groove pliers, cutter mattock, sod lifter, wheel cultivator, pole pruning, grass shears, lawn sweeper, hand trimmer, asparagus knife, flat metal blade, acidity equivalent, plant waterer, bypass shears, soil acidifier, screw starter, flowable liquid

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From Publishers Weekly Seeking to "echo the friendly advice a good clerk would give you as you leave a store," the authors explain the basic hardware a homeowner or apartment dweller will require to make home repairs, its name and how to recognize itfrom sledgehammers to toggle bolts, hinges to thinnersin 77 chapters and an appendix. Their directory, which includes numerous line drawings, is organized, accessible and cheerfully reassuring, though not without flaws: the writing is occasionally less than clear; you may have to guess the size of some gadgets; and, perhaps inevitably, a few of the hardware store's dusty corners are left uncharted. Still, most of what you'll need to beg, borrow or buy for do-it-yourself home projects is forthrightly unveiled. Especially handy are the use and buying tips given for all equipment, advising whether to spring for a top-of-the-line item or one straight off the rollor out of the barrel. Philbin ( The Encyclopedia of Hardware ) is the author of many previous "how-to" titles; this is Ettlinger's first book. Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal If you've ever pondered over whether to buy a cat's paw or a pry bar, wonder no more. Philbin has compiled more than 2000 items found in a hardware store and sorted them into 11 chapters. Chapters include those on general materials, paints, wood, plumbing, and safety equipment. The chapter dealing with common hand tools has sections on hammers, pliers, wrenches, and the like. The tools are described, and hints for using and buying them are given. Variations of a tool, such as center, drift, and pin punches, are defined. The table of contents and index make this book, filled with clear line drawings, an easy reference. A boon to do-it-yourselfers. Should be in demand. - Patty Miller, New Hampshire Vocational-Technical Coll. Lib., Laconia Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Book Description How many types of screwdrivers are there? What's the most useful pair of pliers to own? Here's a comprehensive, portable reference containing virtually every tool and product sold in hardware and garden supply stores (except plants!). It's an essential manual and guidebook for any aspiring do-it-yourselfer undertaking a home repair or garden project. The straightforward design makes it easy to find information quickly. Detailed line drawings and diagrams help identify the tool or material, and show how it's used. Includes practical tips on usage, cost, and other considerations. An incomparable resource for the homeowner!

Reviews:

Two books in 1 cover: The _"Complete Illustrated Guide to Everything Sold in Hardware Stores and Garden Centers"_ (published by Running Press/Courage Books imprint, 2002) has two parts: 1: "Complete Guide to Everything Sold in Hardware Stores" (729 pages, originally published by Macmillan in 1998) and 2: "Complete Guide to Everything Sold in Garden Centers" (368 pages, originally published by Macmillan in 1990). Because they were originally published as separate books, the two sections of this book each have their own introductions, tables-of-contents, indexes, and pagination. If you see this 2002 title/edition listed as only 368 pages, do not despair - it actually has 1,097 pages. So far, all the reviews I've seen have only reviewed the _Hardware Stores_ section. 1: I would like to add a couple of comments to colobbfan's May 22, 2003, nice review of that section. In the introduction, the author specifies that this buying guide is meant to assist your average/traditional do-it-yourself, renovation or restoration projects. He states that in this book "[y]ou will not find heavy construction materials, or professional tools, or esoteric cabinetmaking tools, or hobby materials." He also says he purposely did not include automotive, boating, electronics, home security or house-wares even though those items may appear in some hardware stores. Appendix A, "Metals and Finishes", is a glossary of 20 terms related to describing metals from "blued" to "zinc-plated". Appendix B, "Basic Tools and Materials Every Homeowner Should Have", is divided into three parts: Hand Tools, Power Tools, and Materials. Stars (*) next to some items on the list denote absolute basics one should have. The starred items would make an excellent gift to college students moving to their first apartment or home. (Don't forget that us ladies need to be self-sufficient, also! Often then index (or lack thereof) makes or breaks a reference book. This one has an excellent, easy-to-read, well-organized index with numerous cross-references. Part of the _Hardware_ section's 37-page index is included in Amazon's "Browse Sample Pages" area, so go take a look at it. The typeface of the hardware section is easy to read and the format is suitable for quick browsing. 2: I venture to say that despite the difference in page length, the _Garden Center_ section has just as much information as the _Hardware_ section - the difference lies in smaller type with less space between lines, and fewer illustrations (they aren't needed when you are talking about different types of fertilizers, pesticides, and mulches). The Table-of-Contents is separated into three areas (Supplies; Tools Equipment & Accessories; Appendixes) with detailed headings, subheadings, and sub-subheadings (see Amazon's sample pages - since that is available I won't talk much about the different types of garden center items included). The introduction of the _Garden Center_ section states you will not find "pet supplies or farming equipment or landscaping materials [in this section]... Regular home gardening, with a slight nod to decoration is the limit." While the title states that plants are not included in this guide, Appendix A is a 7-page "General Buying Guide for Bulbs, Seeds, Plants, Shrubs and Trees." The main area of the book is chock-full of general buying tips in broad categories as well as for specific products, use tips, and descriptions of specific products. Sometimes popular brand names are listed (not as endorsement but as an aid) and where applicable other terms that may be used to describe a specific item are included. The _Garden Center_ index has much smaller type than the Hardware Store index, so you may want a magnifying glass for it. Overall, I would say that that the format of the _Garden Center_ section is less suited to browsing and more suitable for reading full sections because it includes more discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of particular products. The arrangement of both the _Hardware Stores_ section and the _Garden Centers_ section is to group the contents as they are usually grouped in those respective stores, which makes the guide very user-friendly. My one complaint is that thumb-tabs or coloration on the page edges would have been useful to distinguish the two indexes from the rest of the book (especially since the index to the _Hardware_ section is in the middle of the book). This book is one of the best gifts I have ever received, though I wish I had discovered it 10 years ago when I first moved out on my own. I expect it to be useful in all my new home repair and gardening projects and it has already earned a prime spot on my closest bookshelf.

Nothing is COMPLETE: Steve Ettlinger writes books that are basic lists of explanations on various subjects. Such as: *Beer For DummiesŪ *The Hardware Cyclopedia (not published yet) *The Kitchenware Book *The Restaurant Lover's Companion: *A Handbook for Deciphering the Mysteries of Ethnic Menus *The Complete Illustrated Guide to Everything Sold in Marine Supply Stores Like his previous books, there is just enough detail of all the gadgets, tools, and other "stuff" that you find in (duh) Hardware and Garden Centers. He doesn't spend pages on a particular item, just a simple explanation and description of it's use. Like walking through a large home center's departments, the book is broken down into ELEVEN Parts: Part I: Common Hand Tools Part II: Power Tools Part III: General Hardware Part IV: General Materials Part V: Paints, Stains, Finishes, Wall Coverings, and Related Products and Tools Part VI: Wood and Wood Products Part VII: Wall, Floor, and Ceiling Materials and Tools; Doors Part VIII: Plumbing Hardware, Materials and Tools Part IX: Electrical Products and Tools Part X: Masonry Materials, Products and tools Part XI: Safety Equipment This format with the line drawings of the items remind me of the home medical books all American homes had during the 1950's & 1960's. This is a fun book to peruse through when you can't get to your home center and I can't compare it to any other book out to inform you on tools. It isn't COMPLETE though (and never could be with as quickly as items appear in home remodeling, etc.) ...Overall a fun purchase with lots of information in a familiar format.

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