Want to find great gifts for the aspiring DIYer on your list?
If you’re shopping for someone who enjoys tackling do-it-yourself projects, here’s a list of super gift ideas. With stocking stuffer and big gift options from under $10 to $200 (most are between $20 and $50), your favorite DIY chick or dude is bound to love receiving one of these tools.
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Tool box essentials
1. Compound miter saw: These are super-easy to use and (depending on the size) can easily crosscut a 2×8 or piece of trim, including tricky angles. If you’re looking for a literal and figurative short cut, this tool is tops.
2. Small drill: This drill just feels like it was designed for a woman’s hand, but my hubby likes it too. It’s lightweight, easy to operate and fits into tight places better than a bigger drill. It’s cordless and you need to purchase the rechargeable battery separately, but the batteries are easy to find on Amazon or at Home Depot.
3. Drill bit set: If you have a drill, you’re going to want drill bits. There are many collections of bits. We have one like this basic set from DeWalt that isn’t too expensive and would stuff a stocking. If you’ve got a lot of projects on your list, you may want a larger variety of bits and driver attachments like this one.
4. Laser level: This is on my wish list, especially with my upcoming DIY bathroom remodel. A laser level will show me how to position the initial row of tiles on the shower wall, along with helping install cabinets. Laser levels come in many styles and prices. Here’s a reasonably priced model that Amazon recommends.
5. Palm sander: For building or refinishing furniture or cabinets, hand held sanders make easy work of taking off an old finish or smoothing wood to paint or stain. I’ve got a couple of orbital/palm sanders. If I were to get one today, it would probably be one like this. I like that it takes a quarter of a sheet of sandpaper. My other palm sander is this one with an iron shape, which helps the nose get into tight spaces, but it requires special sandpaper or precision cutting.
6. Clamps: Lots of projects require clamps, and a few sets will make your life easier. Spring clamps are for light duty jobs while C-clamps have a limited range but a tight grip. Bar clamps are especially handy because they can be attached and released with one hand and can cover a broad span.
7. Kreg Jig: I don’t have one, but it’s on my list because I want to build a bench for my bedroom and perhaps some outdoor furniture. Kreg Jigs are guides that allow you to drill precise pocket joints for elegant builds or to repair wood furniture.
8. Paint trim guard: Got a lot of painting to do? Then you’d benefit from having a paint trim guard like this. I can go a lot faster cutting in if I have a paint brush in one hand and a paint guard in the other. One of these can give you a clear edge (pun intended). Just be sure to keep a rag handy so the back side remains clean.
9. Nail gun: I’m not very skilled at driving nails with a hammer. I remember trying to drive nails many years ago while helping with a Habitat for Humanity house. They soon moved me to sanding and staining trim. I’m not great with a hammer, but I can wield a nail gun! This nail gun is good for a variety of purposes, if you have an air compressor. Don’t have one? Try this electric model.
10. Speed square: Okay, true confession time. I blanked on the official name of this handy little tool and my brain said “pocket square.” No, that’s the decorative scarf in a man’s suit coat. A speed square can be small enough to fit in your Christmas stocking and is handy for marking a straight line or 45-degree angle on a board or piece of trim.
I hope you find this list helpful when shopping for the do-it-yourselfer in your life. If you’ve got a long list of DIY projects, consider requesting one or more of these tools to make your next job easier.