Bob Beacham

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Name: Bob Beacham

Title: Contributing Writer

Bob Beacham is an engineer by trade and has spent 35 years working on everything from auto parts to oil rigs. He is also an avid DIY enthusiast. Bob started writing for the Bob Vila team in 2020 and covers tools, outdoor equipment, and home improvement projects.

Expertise and Experience

Bob spent many years working as an engineer. This gave him the opportunity to travel around Europe and the U.S., working with component suppliers to Aston Martin, Audi, Rolls-Royce and Volkswagen. He also spent some time working on control systems for the aviation and petrochemical industries.

In his late 40s, Bob changed career paths. Since woodworking was one of his favorite hobbies, he decided to start his own woodshop. During this period, he remodeled an old rural farmhouse from the ground up with his wife—the first of two similar projects. As a result, he gained extensive experience with techniques and tools. The woodshop was hugely enjoyable, but not particularly lucrative. He supported his passion with consultancy work and began writing freelance articles about his experiences for several online publications. After 10 very enjoyable years, Bob closed the woodshop after relocating to his current home. The consultancy work and writing continues.

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FEBRUARY 22, 2021 | MONDAY
The Best Miter Gauges of 2023

The miter is perhaps the most common of woodworking joints. Simple miters can be cut by hand using a miter box. It’s a quick and easy way to make picture frames, for example. A powered mi...

FEBRUARY 21, 2021 | SUNDAY
The Best Paint for Bathrooms of 2023

After deciding on a color and investing in quality brushes and paint rollers to create a professional finish, choosing the type of paint is perhaps more important for a bathroom than anyw...

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | WEDNESDAY
The Best Welders of 2023

Welding has a reputation for demanding expensive equipment and a high level of skill and training. While historically this may have been true, many modern MIG welders are quite affordable...

JANUARY 29, 2021 | FRIDAY
The Best Tile Leveling Systems of 2023

Tile offers an extensive range of style and design possibilities for your walls and floors. While it may seem that tiling requires high levels of skill to achieve a consistent finish, the...

JANUARY 27, 2021 | WEDNESDAY
The Best Bow Saws for Fast Cuts

The bow saw has been popular with woodworkers since Roman times. Early bow saws were made of wood, with a steel blade and a twisted cord or wire for tension. The design, which hasn’t chan...

JANUARY 27, 2021 | WEDNESDAY
The Best Siding Nailers of 2023

Siding helps protect the structure of your home, adds an extra layer of insulation that can lower your energy bill, and adds curb appeal to enhance the value. You can use an ordinary hamm...

JANUARY 26, 2021 | TUESDAY
The Best Forstner Bit Sets of 2023

While ordinary drill bits are quite efficient, their cutting action can create ragged holes, particularly when working with larger sizes. You could use a spade bit, but they often vibrate...

JANUARY 25, 2021 | MONDAY
The Best Crimping Tools Tested in 2023

The best crimping tools can help a variety of wiring projects go smoothly. That's why we performed hours of hands-on testing with some of the top products on the market. From crimpers mea...

JANUARY 17, 2021 | SUNDAY
The Best Guest Beds of 2023

Apartment and small-home dwellers know how tricky it can be to come up with space—and a bed—for overnight guests. Not everyone has a spare room to designate solely as a guest bedroom, so ...

DECEMBER 31, 2020 | THURSDAY
The Best Pry Bars for Your Tool Kit

Wrecking bars, crowbars, and pry bars are often combined in the same category, but important differences exist. One of the major differences about a pry bar is that it can often preserve ...