Best repair and mechanical reference books
When you can't order a replacement, you fix what you have. These cover home repair, small engines, cars, bikes, blacksmithing, and the reference tables tradespeople keep in their pockets.
18 books, beginner-friendly first.
The All New Illustrated Guide to Everything Sold in Hardware Stores
Steve Ettlinger · 2017
Identifies tools, fasteners, and parts so you know what you're looking at. Useful when you're scavenging or improvising.
beginnerAuto Repair for Dummies
Desiree White, Deanna Sclar · 2026
A plain-English introduction to how cars work and basic maintenance.
beginner
The Backyard Blacksmith
Lorelei Sims · 2006
An approachable introduction to setting up a forge and basic smithing.
beginner
The Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair
C. Calvin Jones · 2013
Park Tool's bike repair manual. A working bike is reliable transport when fuel runs short.
beginnerBlack & Decker The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair
Editors of Cool Springs Press · 2016
Photo-by-photo instructions for common home repairs. A good all-round reference for the house.
beginnerLarge reference
Hand Mending Made Easy
Nan L. Ides · 2008
Simple hand-sewing repairs for clothes. When you can't replace things, you mend them.
beginnerHow Your House Works
Charlie Wing · 2025
Illustrated cutaways of plumbing, heating, electrical, and appliances. Helps you troubleshoot what's broken.
beginner
Pocket Ref
Thomas J. Glover · 2010
A tiny, dense book of tables: conversions, wire gauges, fasteners, first aid, and much more. One of the most-recommended items in any survival library.
beginnerPocket-sizeLarge reference
Black & Decker The Complete Guide to Plumbing
Editors of Cool Springs Press, Chris Peterson · 2023
Photo guide to home plumbing repairs and installs.
intermediate
Black & Decker The Complete Guide to Wiring
Editors of Cool Springs Press · 2025
Step-by-step photo guide to home electrical work, updated to recent code editions.
intermediateLarge reference
The Complete Modern Blacksmith
Alexander George Weygers · 1997
Alexander Weygers on blacksmithing and making your own tools from scrap steel.
intermediate
Renovation
Michael W. Litchfield · 2005
A thorough guide to renovating houses, from structure to systems. Teaches how houses are put together.
intermediateLarge reference
Small Engines and Outdoor Power Equipment
Peter Hunn · 2013
Repairing mowers, tillers, chainsaws, and generators. Small engines keep a lot of preps running.
intermediate
Tools for Survival
James Wesley Rawles · 2015
Rawles on the tools and skills needed to keep a household running after a collapse.
intermediateUgly's Electrical References
Charles R. Miller, Daniel Sandefur · 2026
The pocket reference electricians carry: formulas, wire sizing, and code tables.
intermediatePocket-sizeSpiral / lay-flat
The Woodwright's Shop
Roy Underhill · 1981
Roy Underhill on traditional hand-tool woodworking, no electricity needed.
intermediateThe Ashley Book of Knots
Clifford W. Ashley · 1993
The encyclopedia of knots, with thousands of numbered illustrations. The reference other knot books cite.
advancedLarge referenceMachinery's Handbook
Erik Oberg, Franklin D. Jones, Holbrook L. Horton, Henry H. Ryffel, Christopher J. McCauley · 2024
The machinist's bible, with data on materials, threads, gears, and tooling. For serious shop work.
advancedLarge reference