Projects for Dad

Are you a handy father or know one looking for new projects? Two new books at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library might bring on some inspiration:

Geek Dad: Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for Dads and Kids to Share by Ken Denmead

The ultimate DIY project guide for techie dads raising kids in their own geeky image, in the spirit of The Dangerous Book for Boys. Today's generation of dads grew up more tech-savvy than ever. Rather than joining the Little League team, many grew up playing computer games, Dungeons and Dragons, and watching Star Wars. Now with kids of their own, these digital-age dads are looking for fresh ways to share their love of science and technology, and help their kids develop a passion for learning and discovery. Enter supergeek, and father of two, Ken Denmead. An engineer and editor of the incredibly popular GeekDad blog on wired.com, Ken has created the ultimate, idea-packed guide guaranteed to help dads and kids alike enjoy the magic of playtime together and tap into the infinite possibility of their imagination. With illustrations throughout, this book offers projects for all ages to suit any timeframe or budget. With Denmead's expert guidance, you and your child can: Fly a night-time kite ablaze with lights or launch a video camera with balloons; Construct the "Best Slip n' Slide Ever," a guaranteed thrill ride; Build a working lamp with LEGO bricks and CDs; Create a customized comic strip or your own board game; Transform any room into a spaceship; Make geeky crafts like cyborg jack-o'-lanterns or Ethernet cuff links. Brimming with endlessly fun and futuristic tidbits on everything from gaming to gadgets, Geek Dad helps every tech-savvy father unleash his inner kid - and bond with the next generation of brainiacs. (Summary courtesy of Syndetics, Inc.)

Handy Dad: 25 Awesome Projects for Dads and Kids by Todd Davis

Skate ramps, zip lines, go-carts, and more! In this super-fun book, Todd Davis extreme sports athlete and host of HGTV's Over Your Head presents 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. (Summary courtesy of Syndetics, Inc.)