
Bob Beacham
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.
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.
Education
Bob attended school in the U.K. and took an apprenticeship at age 16. He also studied for a degree in mechanical engineering at Aylesbury College in Buckinghamshire.
Covers
Publications
- Bob Vila34 articles
Writes Most On
- Experts Say These Are the 8 Best Countertop Materials for Bathrooms25 Feb—Bob VilaWe may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › In This Article 1. Marble 2. Granite 3. Quartz 4. Solid Surface 5. Laminate 6. Concrete 7. Glass 8. Tile The choice of countertop material has a major impact not just on the style of a bathroom but also on how easy it is to live with. It needs to look great, but if it’s high-maintenance, then keeping it that way can soon become an unwelcome chore. Cost also has an impact, and it...
- We Researched the Best Indoor Heaters for Power Outages, Our Favorite is a Must-Have for Every Home12 Dec 2024—Bob VilaWhile being plunged into darkness during a blackout is never ideal, indoor heaters are designed to solve one of the greatest problems a power outage can cause: how to keep yourself and your family warm. Even gas furnaces rely on electricity to ignite, so it’s crucial to have other ways to heat your home in an emergency. There are two main types of non-electric heaters: kerosene and propane. Kerosene burns hotter, but propane burns cleaner, making propane the better option from an...