Gift Books and Tools

House Doctor | Gary Dymski

December 24, 1999

GIFT-GIVING IS one of the great holiday joys and also one of the great sources of anxiety. The look on Uncle Jack's face says he really doesn't need another tie. And who wants to even guess what to get the do-it-yourselfer or the handyman in the family? So with a couple of shopping days left before Santa visits, here's a suggestion. There's always space on the shelf for a well-written home improvement book, or room in the toolbox for a useful hand tool. I consider it a good book if it contains plenty of photographs or illustrations, easy-to-read steps and easy-to-find repair topics. Look for a book that deals with a wide range of general home- improvement repairs rather than specifics, such as bathroom and kitchen repairs. A useful tool is usually backed by a reputable company (Stanley, Black & Decker, Craftsman, to name a few) and in a pinch can do the work of two or three other tools.

With that in mind, here are some books and hand tools that will make perfect gifts.

First, the books. I've come across four I really like: "Ron Hazelton's House Calls" (Time-Life Trade Publishing, $ 29.95), "The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair" (Creative Publishing International, $ 34.95), "The Home Depot Home Improvement 1-2-3" (Meredith Books, $34.95) and "The Home Depot Outdoor Projects 1-2-3" (Meredith Books, $34.95).

Hazelton is the host of "The House Doctor" on HGTV, and his homey, easygoing television manner comes through in his book, which details common repairs in six categories: kitchens, bathrooms, walls, floors, ceilings and exteriors.

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Hazelton sticks to tackling some of the easier repairs and projects, so this is the perfect book for a new home owner or a novice do-it-yourselfer.

"The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair" is from the Black & Decker Home Improvement Library and is a bit more intense. It boasts 2,000 color how-to photos and has three repair categories: indoor, outdoor and system, with several subcategories within each. It includes sections on septic tanks and a home's complete electrical system, which are repairs you might want to leave to a professional. I especially like the reference material-which includes a metric conversion table, a lumber dimension guide and a drill-bit guide-inside the front and back covers.

Books in the the Home Depot series are especially good for beginners, because they include a skill scale that rates the degree of difficulty, the time a project should take and required tools. Some repair projects include a buyer's guide, which can offer advice on such things as purchasing doors and windows, or a Work Smarter tip that covers safety, preparation or cleanup.

There is a new twist to the Home Depot series, and if I were to recommend one book on specific projects, this would be one: "The Home Depot Kitchens & Baths 1-2-3" (Meredith Books, $34.95) explores more than just basic repairs. It offers layout and design options, plus tips on how to recognize contractor danger signs, how to deal with building inspectors, and pros and cons on specific items, like different countertop materials. If you know someone who's going to pump money into their kitchen and bathrooms, this can be invaluable.

As a rule, I try to avoid buying tools for the hands-on homeowner on my Christmas list. Most do-it-yourselfers have a preference when it comes to a manufacturer. So before I buy, I try to find out the preference: Craftsman, Stanley, Black & Decker, Klein Tools or Husky? I generally refuse to buy power tools, because personal preference seems like more of an issue when you add the number of volts, RPMs and amps to a brand name.

But I have broken my own rule when I come across something that might fit into a glove box or a utility drawer. Here's a great stocking stuffer: the 13-in-1 screwdriver by Nebo Products ($6). All the bits and a magnetized tip store in the handle, and the driver has ratcheting capability.

Another good gift is a set of the new series of self-adjusting clench wrenches or super-grip pliers on the market. (Almost every major tool manufacturer has one.) These wrenches replace adjustable crescent wrenches and pliers for hard-to-remove and stripped nuts and bolt heads. You can find a two-piece set (6- and 8-inch sizes) for between $30 and $40.

There are some old favorites, too, those sure-to- please gifts, such as the 4-in-1 screwdriver and the magnetic tip screwdriver, with five or six bits that store in the handle. Both are available at hardware stores and home centers for less than $ 10. In the 4-in-1 screwdriver, the shaft slips out of the handle, and each end has a two-headed bit. You get two sizes of standard bits and two sizes of Phillips bits. Look for a new twist here, too, as some manufacturers are offering 6-in-1 screwdrivers with replaceable shafts for less than $20.

I also like the new lighted screwdriver by Craftsman ($29.95). A 20-piece set includes a battery-powered lighted driver and 19 bits. Have you ever tried to shine a flashlight with one hand and use a screwdriver with the other? Bet you this will come in handy when that do-it-yourselfer is tackling some "easy-to-assemble" toy on Christmas Day.