Emily Pilloton - Girls Garage

An indispensable guide to building things, fixing things, and being a better, bolder version of yourself. If youve 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. Its accessible, inspirational, and actionableand 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 hadnt flushed well for months. Halfway through Girls Garage, a delightful guide to all things constructionI realizedholy 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 destinies 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 Pillotons 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 Id 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

For the women who built the world for me: Anna, Margaret, and Vivette.
And to the girls who will build the future.
E. P.

This book is intended for girls 14 and up, with skilled adult supervision. Even if youre an adult, you should work with a buddy while operating tools and working on building projects. While this book provides some instruction on how to use different types of tools, you should always read your own tool manuals for each specific tool you are using and follow all the safety precautions indicated. The authors and Chronicle Books disclaim any and all liability resulting from injuries or damage caused during the production or use of the projects discussed in this book.

Copyright 2020 by Girls Garage.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available.

ISBN 978-1-4521-6627-8 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4521-6637-7 (epub, mobi)

Photo credits:
Title page/Girls Garage: photo by Emily Pilloton
Introduction/baby Emily: photo by Anna Pilloton
Introduction/welding: photo by Emily Pilloton
Introduction/farmers market: photo by Brad Feinknopf Photography
Bibi Amina: photo by Safiullah Baig
Patrice Banks: photo by Girls Auto Clinic
Tiarra Bell: photo by Tamira Bell
Kari Byron: photo by Kari Byron
Erica Chu: photo by Emily Pilloton
Quetzalli Feria Galicia: photo by Emily Pilloton
Tami Gamble: photo by Texasblewprints
Jeanne Gang: photo by Sally Ryan
Miriam E. Gee: photo by Sean Wittmeyer
Evelyn Gomez: photo by Eric Quintero
Kay Morrison: photo by Emily Pilloton
Allison Oropallo: photo by Gretchen Gottwald
Simone Parisi: photo by Emily Pilloton
Liisa Pine: photo by Claire Porter
Kia Weatherspoon: photo by A Little Bit of Whimsy Photography

Girls Garage and Fear Less. Build More. are registered trademarks of Girls Garage. 3M and Super 77 are registered trademarks of the 3M Company. The "Allen" name is a registered trademark of the Apex Brands, Inc. Channellock is a registered trademark of Channellock, Inc. Dremel is a registered trademark of the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation. Fast Orange is a registered trademark of the Illinois Tool Works, Inc. FrogTape is a registered trademark of Shurtape Technologies, LLC. Gorilla Glue is a registered trademark of the Gorilla Glue Company. GRK Fasteners is a registered trademark of the Illinois Tool Works, Inc. Leatherman is a registered trademark of the Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. Makita is a registered trademark of the Makita Corporation. Minwax is a registered trademark of SWIMC, LLC. The "Phillips" name (fasteners) is a registered trademark of the Phillips Screw Company. Quadro is a registered trademark of Quadro Vehicles S.A. The "Robertson" name (fasteners) is a registered trademark of Robertson, Inc. SawStop is a registered trademark of SawStop, LLC. Sawzall is a registered trademark of the Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation. Shop-Vac is a registered trademark of the Shop Vac Corporation. Skilsaw is a registered trademark of the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation. Spackle is a registered trademark of the Muralo Company, Inc. Swanson Speed Square is a registered trademark of the Swanson Tool Co., Inc. Tapcon is a registered trademark of the Illinois Tool Works, Inc. Titebond is a registered trademark of Franklin International, Inc. Torx is a registered trademark of Acument Intellectual Properties, LLC. Vise-Grip is a registered trademark of the Black & Decker Corporation. Wipe-on Poly is a registered trademark of the Dymax Corporation.

Illustrations by Kate Bingaman-Burt.
Design by Jennifer Tolo Pierce.
Typeset in Rational.
The custom Girls Garage stencil font was made by Tom Tian of Firebelly Design.
The color story, icons, and textures were made for Girls Garage by Firebelly Design.

Chronicle Books LLC
680 Second Street
San Francisco, California 94107

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Lumber, plywood, metal, concrete, and other raw materials for your building projects

All the nails, screws, nuts, and bolts youll ever need to assemble, attach, and hold it together

Tools to measure, set up and square up, and hold things firmly in place

Hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, and more non-electric tools

From handheld saws to power saws with serious oomph, a saw for every type of cut and material

Awesome electric tools, like a drill and impact driver, to bring the power to your projects

Tools for smoothing your surfaces to a buttery finish and protecting them from wear

Incredible tools for fusing, cutting, and shaping metal (like a superhero!)

Tools for managing sawdust and keeping a clean and safe workspace

To my sisters-in-building,

This book is about building, tools, and how to make awesome things with your own two hands. But its also about identifying as female, overcoming fear, learning skills you havent tried before, and feeling the power that comes from making an imprint on the world.

I love building so much! I think about it all day, do it almost every day, and go through withdrawal when I dont do it. I love the idea that in just a few hours, you can build something from scratch, point to it when youre done, and say, I built that. Building something means youve changed the world a little bit by bringing something new into it using your hands, head, and heart.