Skate ramps, zip lines, go-carts, and more! In this super-fun book, Todd Davisextreme sports athlete and host of HGTV's Over Your Headpresents 25 awesome projects for dads to build with their kids. Busy dads can choose projects that range from simple to challenging and take anywhere from five minutes to a full weekend. Readers are given all the directions they need to grab materials that can be found around the house or at the local hardware store and get to work banging up a sweet BMX ramp or half-pipe, building a tree house or tire swing, or throwing together a slip-and-slide or tie-dye station for an afternoon of fun. With plenty of color photographs, easy-to-follow instructions, and detailed illustrations, Handy Dad is chock-full of creative and inexpensive ways to keep kids (and dads) entertained for hours.
Handy Dad: 25 Awesome Projects for Dads and Kids
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Book Description
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About the Author
Todd Davis hosts the HGTV program Over Your Head. He lives in San Francisco and is the handy dad of 2 boys.
Illustrator Nik Shulz is the founder of L-Dopa Design + Illustration. He lives in Sonoma County, California.
Juli Stewart is a San Francisco-based photographer.
Illustrator Nik Shulz is the founder of L-Dopa Design + Illustration. He lives in Sonoma County, California.
Juli Stewart is a San Francisco-based photographer.
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More About the Author
Todd Davis (1972-) was born in Walnut Creek, California, grew up in Pleasanton, California and has resided in San Francisco for the last ten years. A former competitor on the World Freeride Tour, for both skiing and snowboarding, Todd is also an active stuntman for various movies and commercials. Clearly no stranger to risk taking and adventures. To relax he enjoys, jumping from planes and flying his wingsuit for as long as possible. Todd graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, College of Architecture and Environmental Design in 1996. Mr.Davis is a California Licensed Landscape Architect #5577 and Licensed California Contractor who owns and runs "Epic Spaces" a dynamic design/build firm specializing in unique outdoor environments. Todd was the finalist on HGTV's number one hit show "Design Star", and has hosted other hit shows such as "Showdown", and "Over Your Head". Recently he has taken the time to write "Handy Dad" to share his enjoyment and his passion to design and build, really fun elements of play. Something he seams to understand very well,... we can't imagine why? He is also a proud "Handy Dad" of two little, adventurous boys.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The perfect antidote to a world oversaturated with television and video games
July 8, 2010
Format:Paperback
Handy Dad: 25 Awesome Projects for Dads and Kids is a user-friendly compendium of construction projects that dads (or moms, uncles/aunts, grandparents, or anyone else!) can create to promote quality playtime activities with children. From a backyard rope swing, to a bird feeder, a tree house, a half-pipe, or even a tie-dye shirt, the ideas range from toys that promote physical activity to delightful personal keepsakes. (Not all of the projects involve woodworking, although many do.) Older children can even participate in the joy of building something with one's own hands, under close supervision of course. Each project listing spells out the needed tools and materials and where to find them, along with step-by-step instructions. Full color photographs illustrate this wonderful guide to tapping into one's creativity to spend quality time with children. The perfect antidote to a world oversaturated with television and video games, Handy Dad is highly recommended.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Without knowing anything about wood working, I jumped into a "weekend project" in the middle of the book. The pirate treasure chest/toy box looked easy enough, so I copied the shopping list and went to Home Depot. $70 later I had the materials. After 9 hours of work, I had a finished toy box that looks very much like the one in the pics. It's a quality piece, built by an idiot. (attaching pic above)
Handy Dad has tons of helpful pics, and the directions are thorough. The projects vary in complexity, but everyone should be able to do at least half of them. Material costs will vary, but a cost estimate on each project would have been nice. Still, great book.
Edit: I built the skateboard project (pic above), also a "weekend project." It looks great and rides even better. It only took 5 hours, some of which was selecting parts. There's a ton of variety in skateboard stuff, so I talked to the people at a local Zumiez shop. I selected good quality beginner stuff, and spent around $170 after tax including the wood. Keep in mind, a nice longboard starts at $200. Just semi-pro trucks start $100 each. This could be a $600 skateboard, or I priced it as low as $60 if you use all cheap stuff. I guess this is why there are no price estimates; costs will vary depending on the builder. Also, the author likes Ipe wood for some of these projects, but my local WoodCraft didn't have any. They suggested Brazilian Cherry could do the same thing. Finally, I tried to use one smaller size drill bit than what the instructions said. I figured the hardware wouldn't be loose in the deck that way, but then they wouldn't even go in the holes. Turns out the directions are spot on.
Handy Dad has tons of helpful pics, and the directions are thorough. The projects vary in complexity, but everyone should be able to do at least half of them. Material costs will vary, but a cost estimate on each project would have been nice. Still, great book.
Edit: I built the skateboard project (pic above), also a "weekend project." It looks great and rides even better. It only took 5 hours, some of which was selecting parts. There's a ton of variety in skateboard stuff, so I talked to the people at a local Zumiez shop. I selected good quality beginner stuff, and spent around $170 after tax including the wood. Keep in mind, a nice longboard starts at $200. Just semi-pro trucks start $100 each. This could be a $600 skateboard, or I priced it as low as $60 if you use all cheap stuff. I guess this is why there are no price estimates; costs will vary depending on the builder. Also, the author likes Ipe wood for some of these projects, but my local WoodCraft didn't have any. They suggested Brazilian Cherry could do the same thing. Finally, I tried to use one smaller size drill bit than what the instructions said. I figured the hardware wouldn't be loose in the deck that way, but then they wouldn't even go in the holes. Turns out the directions are spot on.
9 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Sofia B
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a detailed book! I guess I was expecting a picture book with IDEAS about things to do with kids. It's instructions, step-by-step, page by page for completing the projects. It's a good resource to keep around for the coming years. Our kids are 2 and 10 months, and most of the ideas are aimed at older kids, so I think it will get used more later.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Low Five, high Four. Interesting Fun Book
Here are the cons to buying this book-
Many of the things in this book you can easily find directions for online (for example, tie dying a shirt). Read more
Many of the things in this book you can easily find directions for online (for example, tie dying a shirt). Read more
Published 1 month ago by apoem
4.0 out of 5 stars
It was a perfect present
The husband and the boys loved the ideas in this book. There are great pictures and the instructions are clear.
Published 2 months ago by Crista Casey
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun for kids and dads
My sons gave this to my husband for Christmas to start some male bonding time. There are all types of projects in there from ones that take an hour to much larger ones. Read more
Published 3 months ago by E. Erin Dowdy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Gift
This was a gift from my son to my husband. It has some nice ideas in there, & some stuff I know they will never do. A fun book for hands-on dads.
Published 3 months ago by W. Jackson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Father's Day gift!
There are some cute projects in here. It made a really cute gift for my Mr. Fix-it/Build-it husband on his 1st Father's Day.
Published 4 months ago by Shopaholic
5.0 out of 5 stars
Husband Loves the Book
He hasn't made anything yet, but it's given him the push with ideas. Can't wait for him to get started.
Published 4 months ago by M. Price
4.0 out of 5 stars
great idea!
I love the concept of this book and bought it for my step-father who is also a grandpa to use with his 2 year old granddaughter. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Katie Rose Alchin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Had the attention of every father in the room
This book is wonderful for any father with a few tools in the garage. I gave it as a gift to my brother in law. He loved some of the book's quirks: like this is a 1-beer project. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jeremy D. Dickerson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Handy Dad
Hi Folks,
I am ALWAYS thrilled with the "used" book prices!!!! I see what I want elsewhere at full price; and come to YOU.
From Maine, Sincerely, Sandra L. Read more
I am ALWAYS thrilled with the "used" book prices!!!! I see what I want elsewhere at full price; and come to YOU.
From Maine, Sincerely, Sandra L. Read more
Published 4 months ago by sandra L. Ames
4.0 out of 5 stars
Overall pretty good
Well written, beautifully put together with pictures on every page. My only complaint is that two or three of the projects are a little lame, not to be rude, but mounted angel... Read more
Published 4 months ago by S. Lecomte
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
