Table Of Content“An indispensable guide to building things, fixing things, and being a better, bolder
version of yourself. If you’ve ever wondered how to change a tire, fix a running
toilet, construct a birdhouse, or just feel a little braver in your own skin, this is
the book for you. It’s accessible, inspirational, and actionable—and will help you
understand why so many girls have benefited so much from Emily Pilloton and her
mission to get us all fearing less and building more.”
—MELINDA GATES, PHILANTHROPIST AND AUTHOR OF THE MOMENT OF LIFT
“When I started this book, my house had a toilet that hadn’t flushed well for months.
Halfway through Girls Garage, a delightful guide to all things construction—I
realized—holy cow, what am I waiting for? I can fix my own toilet! Girls Garage
is more than a guide book, it is a clarion call for girls (of all ages) to take their des-
tinies into their own hands. Learn to wield a tool, this book says, and you will build
not only cool bookshelves, planters, and doghouses, but your own confidence.
Encouraged by Pilloton’s enthusiastic certainty in my greatness, as well as the
many inspirational bios of other female builders, I fixed that toilet in no time. This is
a book I wish I’d had as a kid, an ebullient manifesto to the DIY spirit in every girl.”
—CAROLINE PAUL, AUTHOR OF THE GUTSY GIRL
“Girls Garage is a do-it-yourself book for young girls everywhere. It empowers the
next generation of girls to be self-reliant by providing a practical guide on how to
use common tools and demystifying common repairs. Along the way, girls hear the
encouraging words of strong female role models who all sing in unison: ‘You can do
this and you are not alone!’”
—LUZ RIVAS, CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLYWOMAN, 39TH DISTRICT,
AND FOUNDER OF DIY GIRLS
GIRLS
GARAGE
How to Use Any Tool, Tackle Any Project,
and Build the World You Want to See
By EMILY PILLOTON
Illustrated by KATE BINGAMAN-BURT
This book is intended for girls 14 and up, with skilled 3M and Super 77 are registered trademarks of the
adult supervision. Even if you’re an adult, you should 3M Company. The "Allen" name is a registered
work with a buddy while operating tools and working trademark of the Apex Brands, Inc. Channellock is
on building projects. While this book provides some a registered trademark of Channellock, Inc. Dremel
instruction on how to use different types of tools, you is a registered trademark of the Robert Bosch Tool
should always read your own tool manuals for each Corporation. Fast Orange is a registered trademark
specific tool you are using and follow all the safety of the Illinois Tool Works, Inc. FrogTape is a registered
precautions indicated. The authors and Chronicle trademark of Shurtape Technologies, LLC. Gorilla Glue
Books disclaim any and all liability resulting from is a registered trademark of the Gorilla Glue Company.
injuries or damage caused during the production or GRK Fasteners is a registered trademark of the Illinois
use of the projects discussed in this book. Tool Works, Inc. Leatherman is a registered trademark
of the Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. Makita is a regis-
Copyright © 2020 by Girls Garage. tered trademark of the Makita Corporation. Minwax is
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be a registered trademark of SWIMC, LLC. The "Phillips"
reproduced in any form without written permission name (fasteners) is a registered trademark of the
from the publisher. Phillips Screw Company. Quadro is a registered trade-
mark of Quadro Vehicles S.A. The "Robertson" name
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
(fasteners) is a registered trademark of Robertson, Inc.
available.
SawStop is a registered trademark of SawStop, LLC.
ISBN 978-1-4521-6627-8 (hc) Sawzall is a registered trademark of the Milwaukee
ISBN 978-1-4521-6637-7 (epub, mobi) Electric Tool Corporation. Shop-Vac is a registered
trademark of the Shop Vac Corporation. Skilsaw is
Photo credits: a registered trademark of the Robert Bosch Tool
Title page/Girls Garage: photo by Emily Pilloton Corporation. Spackle is a registered trademark of the
Introduction/baby Emily: photo by Anna Pilloton Muralo Company, Inc. Swanson Speed Square is a
Introduction/welding: photo by Emily Pilloton registered trademark of the Swanson Tool Co., Inc.
Introduction/farmers’ market: photo by Brad Tapcon is a registered trademark of the Illinois Tool
Feinknopf Photography Works, Inc. Titebond is a registered trademark of
Bibi Amina: photo by Safiullah Baig Franklin International, Inc. Torx is a registered
Patrice Banks: photo by Girls Auto Clinic trademark of Acument Intellectual Properties, LLC.
Tiarra Bell: photo by Tamira Bell Vise-Grip is a registered trademark of the Black &
Kari Byron: photo by Kari Byron Decker Corporation. Wipe-on Poly is a registered
Erica Chu: photo by Emily Pilloton trademark of the Dymax Corporation.
Quetzalli Feria Galicia: photo by Emily Pilloton
Tami Gamble: photo by Texasblewprints Illustrations by Kate Bingaman-Burt.
Jeanne Gang: photo by Sally Ryan Design by Jennifer Tolo Pierce.
Miriam E. Gee: photo by Sean Wittmeyer Typeset in Rational.
Evelyn Gomez: photo by Eric Quintero The custom Girls Garage stencil font was made
Kay Morrison: photo by Emily Pilloton by Tom Tian of Firebelly Design.
Allison Oropallo: photo by Gretchen Gottwald The color story, icons, and textures were made
Simone Parisi: photo by Emily Pilloton for Girls Garage by Firebelly Design.
Liisa Pine: photo by Claire Porter
Chronicle Books LLC
Kia Weatherspoon: photo by A Little Bit of
680 Second Street
Whimsy Photography
San Francisco, California 94107
Girls Garage and “Fear Less. Build More.” are
Chronicle Books—we see things differently. Become
registered trademarks of Girls Garage.
part of our community at www.chroniclekids.com.
For the women who built the world for me:
Anna, Margaret, and Vivette.
And to the girls who will build the future.
—E. P.
Contents
8 Introduction: Fear Less. 122 Saws
Build More. From handheld saws to power
saws with serious “oomph,” a
saw for every type of cut and
Safety and
21 material
Gear
131 Bibi Amina
29 Evelyn Gomez
145 Quetzalli Feria Galicia
148 Power Tools
The Toolbox
33 Awesome electric tools,
like a drill and impact driver,
35 Building Materials
to bring the power to your
Lumber, plywood, metal,
projects
concrete, and other raw
materials for your building
156 Allison Oropallo
projects
165 Sanding and Finishing
42 Simone Parisi Tools for smoothing your
surfaces to a buttery
48 Hardware finish and protecting them
All the nails, screws, nuts, from wear
and bolts you’ll ever need
to assemble, attach, and 171 Metal Tools
hold it together Incredible tools for fusing,
cutting, and shaping metal
54 Tami Gamble (like a superhero!)
61 Kari Byron 173 Kay Morrison
73 Measure, Lay Out, and 183 Liisa Pine
Secure
Tools to measure, set up and 187 Clean Up
square up, and hold things Tools for managing sawdust
firmly in place and keeping a clean and safe
workspace
84 Miriam E. Gee
Essential
96 Hand Tools 191
Hammers, screwdrivers, Skills
pliers, and more non-
electric tools 193 How to write out feet
and inches
103 Erica Chu
194 How to write and show
111 Kia Weatherspoon
dimensions
195 How to write a materials 238 How to jump-start a car
“cut list”
240 Patrice Banks
196 How to find the center of a
rectangle without measuring 242 How to change a flat tire
or doing math
Building
247
198 How to read basic construc-
tion drawings Projects
200 How to use a 3-4-5 triangle to 249 Your own go-to toolbox
make perfect square corners
254 Sawhorses
202 Jeanne Gang 258 Hand-etched steel ruler
205 How to carry lumber 262 Whatever-shape-you-want
wall clock
206 How to “toenail” a nail
266 Wooden spoon
208 Four helpful knots and when
to use them 271 Tiarra Bell
212 How to wind up an 274 Right-angle birdhouse
extension cord
280 Wall-mounted bike rack
214 How to find studs without
285 Modular bookshelf
a stud finder
290 Milk carton concrete planter
216 How to hang a frame on
the wall 295 Standing planter box
218 How to paint a wall 300 Stud-framed doghouse
220 How to flip a circuit breaker
back on (and why it trips in
310 Acknowledgments
the first place)
311 Index
222 How to relight the pilot light
on your stove or water heater 320 About the author and
illustrator
226 How to patch a hole in the wall
230 How to fix your running toilet
232 How to start a small engine
(like a lawn mower)
234 How to pick a lock (for good,
not evil!)
Introduction:
Fear Less. Build More.
To my sisters-in-building,
This book is about building, tools, and how to make awesome things with your own
two hands. But it’s also about identifying as female, overcoming fear, learning
skills you haven’t tried before, and feeling the power that comes from making an
imprint on the world.
I love building so much! I think about which I started in 2013 to give young
it all day, do it almost every day, and go girls the tools to build the world they
through withdrawal when I don’t do it. want to see. I studied architecture,
I love the idea that in just a few hours, worked in architecture firms and as a
you can build something from scratch, furniture designer, and after years of
point to it when you’re done, and say, making other people’s ideas a reality,
“I built that.” Building something means and deeply missing working with my
you’ve changed the world a little bit by hands, I quit. I wanted to build real
bringing something new into it using projects with and for communities—
your hands, head, and heart. and especially youth—because I have
Whether you’re young, older and always believed that design and archi-
wiser, adventurous or shy, good at math tecture can change the world (even if
or not, from a neighborhood you love just the world of one person).
or want to escape, the fact that you’ve Since 2008, I’ve taught architecture
picked up this book means you’re already and construction in public high schools
a brave builder girl. Welcome to the club. in rural North Carolina and the San
I want you to love building as much as Francisco Bay Area. I’ve designed and
I do, or at least experience the magic of built some amazing things with my
that feeling when you get to say, “I middle and high school students, such
built that.” I want you to take this book, as a 2,000-square-foot farmers’ market,
try something new, and walk away feel- micro homes for the homeless, and a
ing stronger and more powerful than school library. And, closest to my heart,
yesterday. I opened Girls Garage, the first ever
I’m the founder and director of a design and building work space for girls
nonprofit program called Girls Garage in the country, because I noticed that
8
Girls Garage
