Most Popular Books by Popular Mechanics

A decade after the World Trade Center disaster, rampant speculation abounds on what actually happened. Wild talk flourishes on the Internet, TV, and radio. Was the Pentagon really struck by a missile? Was the untimely death of Barry Jennings, who witnessed the collapse of Tower 7 and thought he heard “explosions,” actually an assassination ? Not everyone is convinced the truth is out there. Once again, in this updated edition of the critically acclaimed Debunking 9/11 Myths, Popular Mechanics counters the conspiracy theorists with a dose of hard, cold facts. The magazine consulted more than 300 experts in fields like air traffic control, aviation, civil engineering, fire fighting, and metallurgy, and then rigorously, meticulously, and scientifically analyzed the 25 most persistent 9/11 conspiracy theories. Each one was conclusively refuted with facts, not politics and rumors, including five new myths involving the collapse of 7 World Trade Center and four longstanding conjectures now considered in the context of new research.

This nostalgic flashback to a simpler time is filled with illustrated projects that range from the everyday (birdhouse, bean shooter) to the unusual (ice glider, magnetic theater).

“. . . readers will count on Popular Mechanics’ advice.” —Booklist (starred review) For any home repair, big or small, homeowners can turn to this practical and portable reference. Got a squeaky floor or a rattling door? Is your grout a color you don’t recognize anymore? From quick fixes like linking broken chains and patching drywall to more involved projects like replacing a fuel line and bleeding your brakes, Popular Mechanics How to Fix Anything is the handy and reliable go-to guide for the most common household problems offering a primer on plumbing, unexpected hacks like using a golf tee to fill a stripped screw hole, instructions for tuning up the garage door, and so much more. Throughout the book Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics’ senior home editor, answers questions about the trickiest fix-its, including how to deal with a recurring ceiling cracks or get rid of that stench from the kitchen sink.. And because it’s organized room by room, from basement to bathroom to bedroom, it’s simple to find the solution you need—so you won’t have to hire someone else to do the job.

From the trustworthy experts at Popular Mechanics comes the definitive guide to hand tools and how to use them. “The expert and enthusiastic editors at Popular Mechanics have created a ‘definitive guide’ to the baffling world of tools. . . . [an] exceptionally instructive and upbeat resource.” — Booklist This tool . . . or that? Learn how to choose the right one for tackling any home project and completing it quickly, correctly, and efficiently. The editors of Popular Mechanics share their expertise, explaining which tools deserve a prominent spot in your shop and how to keep them in tip-top shape. Divided by type, this must-have guide covers multipurpose and single-purpose tools that cut, tighten, measure, and mark. You’ll also find tried-and-true suggestions, helpful notes, and simple hacks to make any job easier.

The projects in Handy Projects for Boys first appeared in a major collection arranged by the editors of Popular Mechanics Press in 1913. During this time period, the methods and techniques used to create these items were just as important to the boys and men building them as the final projects themselves. They took care with their materials; they were precise and they labored over the smallest details. To know something was handcrafted was to know it was a quality piece. Because of the exactitude of the craftsmen's methods in the early 1900s, this historical and practical text features specific step-by-step instructions and includes many detailed illustrations for even the smallest or quickest jobs, including: Eskimo snow houses Box kites Boomerangs Chair sleighs Homemade roller skates Catapults Canoes And more More important than building the projects inside, this book offers fathers and sons, grandfathers and grandsons, and even uncles and nephews an opportunity to spend some time together, learn a bit about history, and produce fully functional pieces.

From an old-fashioned porch swing to a white picket fence, woodworking projects to enhance gardens, decks, and patios. In addition to detailed diagrams and photos, theres a key point box for every project. It includes the prep, shop, and assembly times, skill level, cost/benefit ratio, and more. Build a planter to show off flowers, shrubs and trees ; a handy garden cart; an outdoor dining set.

Intended as much for entertainment as instruction, contains toys and games that were originally featured in the pages of Popular mechanics, some dating back to 100 years ago.

Popular 1911 manual offers complete designs and instructions for making 18 authentic Mission lighting fixtures: chandeliers, reading lamps, droplights, desk lamps, dome fixtures, and more. Over 75 working drawings, diagrams, and figures.

Popular Mechanics' ultimate survival manual will teach you the essential skills to protect your family, save yourself, and conquer any possible danger. In an emergency, would you know how to survive—to purify water, jump-start a car, escape a flood or fire, forage for firewood, protect your family? Whether the threat is low or the risk is apocalyptic, Popular Mechanics can help you handle it with lifesaving advice for dangerous situations. Crucial information on how to handle the critical decisions you might face both immediately and in the long term will help you not only survive, but thrive in the aftermath of any disaster. Also includes expert tips on must-have equipment to keep on hand as well as many dramatic survival stories (including lessons from a dog sledder and the account of a helicopter pilot who crashed into the icy waters of the Arctic).

Here are valuable home improvement ideas from the experts at Popular Mechanics. Over 225 two-color illustrations clearly demonstrate the repairs and techniques described, and a comprehensive glossary of terms, as well as a detailed tool guide, take the guesswork out of selecting the right materials and equipment for the job.

Over 550 step-by-step drawings explain how to fix electronic ignitions, suspension systems, plastic body panels, brakes, steering and much more!

How to construct wireless outfits, boats, camp equipment, aerial gliders, kites, self-propelled vehicles engines, motors, electrical apparatus, cameras and hundreds of other things which delight every boy.

An absorbing and enlightening inside look at sports secrets—now in an updated and expanded edition! What makes an athlete successful? Why do some players excel? In this new, expanded edition, the experts at Popular Mechanics, along with top athletes, coaches, and sports journalists, explore the science behind everything from the perfect curveball and Phelpss kick to gene doping. Theres great new coverage on the recent doping scandals that rocked the Tour de France, as well as a new chapter on lacrosse, and the clear, understandable explanations come from people who really love their game. Youll even learn how to bend it like Beckham—or at least how Beckham did it. This book is for both the player and the fan, helping athletes become better prepared and giving enthusiasts a more complete appreciation of the subtle nuances of competition.

"How to Tempt a Fish" draws its knowledge from expert fishermen of all stripes--fly, lake, surf, deep-sea, and even ice fishing enthusiasts. Unique in that it covers so many aspects of one of America's favorite individual sports (there are at least 44 million people who fish in the United States alone), it offers insider advice that has stood the test of time. Among the topics covered in wonderful classic black-and-white line illustrations are: fly casting, bait casting, and salt-water fishing; gathering and using live bait; caring for your rods; tying knots and splices; and retrieving lost lures and lines.

Vintage projects from the 1910s and 20s feature a tremendous range of possibilities — outdoor models and indoor crafts, science projects, and toys. Step-by-step instructions include charming drawings and photos.

“Nostalgic and timeless, convenient and functional. You name it—or need it—and it can be found in this seemingly all-inclusive ‘how-to’ tome of more than seven hundred projects.” —David Stiles, from the Introduction Practical Projects for the Handy Man, Third Edition, is the perfect book for any model maven, do-it-yourselfer, or just plain grown-up kid. Originally published in 1913 by the editors of Popular Mechanics Press, this gigantic collection of activities and improvements for home, garden, transportation, recreation, and more can keep a pair of hands busy for a lifetime. Written at a time when precision and craftsmanship were as important as the final product, this book gives clear, step-by-step instructions and offers detailed illustrations for nearly every job. Practical Projects for the Handy Man, Third Edition, is as satisfying and reliable a guide for the modern builder as it was at the turn of the century. Some of the hundreds of fun and fascinating projects from which to choose include: • Porch swing chair • Toboggan sled • Mission library table • Homemade still • Electric clock • Aquarium • Wooden paddleboat • Treehouse • Grape arbor • Leatherwork • Ornamental ironwork • Bird house • Telescope • and much more

One hundred and fifty-six marvelous magic tricks gathered from long agao issues of Popular Mechanics magazine reveal the secrets behind amazing feats of illusion! Now conjurers of all ages can discover crowd pleasers like these: Card levitation, The dancing handkerchief, The floating hat, The magic knot, The spinning egg, Making spirits play the violin, cutting a thread inside a glass bottle.