2012 Holiday Gift Guide: Launch a lifetime of DIY
1 of 1
Toolbox (bag) of tools
A bagful of basic tools is useful and might start a kid or adult on a productive DIY path.
When I was about 12, my
grandma bought me a
toolbox full of tools for
Christmas. I didn’t realize
it then, but it was the best
gift I would ever get. It
was the start of a lifelong
love of tools and fixing
things, and I hope to
someday pass on the
same gift to my sons.
Jeff Pappas, Field Editor
Piping-hot cuppa joe anywhere
1 of 1
Electric coffee warmer
Use it to keep your coffee, tea and hot chocolate warm while working.
I love coffee. I like it hot, and I prefer to drink it from a
ceramic cup rather than a plastic mug. I was thrilled
when my wife bought me this electric coffee warmer. I
keep this one in my shop, and I’ve got another on my
desk. I’ve had this for 12 years and it remains my favorite
Christmas present ever, which is proof that it really
is all about the little things in life. (Perfect for tea and
hot chocolate too.) Available for $10 to $25 at discount
stores and online. Find coffee mug warmers through our affiliation with amazon.com.
Mark Petersen, Contributing Editor
Convenient extension cord
1 of 1
Retracting extension cord reel
Keep your extension cord plugged in and ready to go, yet stored neatly out of the way.
My garage has seen a lot of improvements over the last few
years, but my favorite upgrade—by far—is the retracting extension
cord reel. Instant power now and instant self-storage later.
I use it almost every time I set foot in the garage, whether I’m
woodworking, changing the oil or charging up my cordless
mower. And even non-DIYers will love it: My wife uses it when
she vacuums her car or inflates the kiddie pool. Prices start at
about $50 at home centers and online through our affiliation with amazon.com.
Gary Wentz, Senior Editor
Gift Ideas From Our Field Editors
Family Handyman subscription
I have given gift subscriptions
of The Family Handyman to friends and
relatives, and with almost
every issue, one of them
calls to tell me what a
great idea or project they
have found in the mag.
Gary Gullic
Editor’s note:
We did not
ask Gary to write this
(really!). And he wasn’t
the only one who wrote to
tell us about giving gift
subscriptions of this
magazine to favorite
people. That’s a compliment
of the highest order.
Thank you!
Walnut cutting board
The best gift I’ve ever
given is the walnut cutting
board I made for my
son and his wife for their
wedding (Photo).
Terry Hafer
Editor’s note:
Want to
make a somewhat similar chopping board? Here's how to make a wooden chopping board
Utility knife blades
Need a great stocking
stuffer? A package of 100
high-quality razor blades
for a utility knife tops my
list. Your favorite DIYer
will never run out of sharp
blades and can replace
them when needed.
Matthew Hakeman
Two tools in one
1 of 1
Adjustable pliers/wrench
The jaws of these special pliers move parallel to each other, allowing you to use it as an adjustable wrench as well.
How many times have you needed a wrench but
found yourself with just slip-joint pliers? Sure you can
loosen the nut or bolt with pliers, but you’ll also hack
it up something awful.
The Knipex Adjustable Plier Wrench solves that
problem because it’s both a pliers and a wrench. The
adjustable jaws always close in a parallel position so
you can loosen or tighten hex or square nuts and
bolts without damage. And you can use it just like
ordinary pliers too. Available in two versions: 7-in.
(No. 8603180; about $35) and 10-in. (No. 8603250; about $40)
at tooldiscounter.com and through our affiliation with amazon.com
Rick Muscoplat, Contributing Editor
My favorite stud finder
1 of 1
Stud finder
Eliminate guesswork with this reliable stud finder.
The ProSensor 710 is unique in the world of
stud finders because instead of just one little
light that tells you where studs start and
stop, it has 13! Wherever there’s wood, lights
fire up to mark the exact width of the stud.
No more guessing. I’ve always been skeptical
about stud finders because I’ve always
found them frustrating and unreliable. Not
this one! Buy the ProSensor 710 for about $50 through our affiliation with amazon.com, or
check it out at franklinsensors.com.
Travis Larson, Senior Editor
One great drill/driver combo kit
1 of 1
Drill/driver combo kit
Combo with lithium 18-volt batteries and a great service agreement and price.
Here’s a gift guaranteed to please even the most discerning DIYer. This two-piece combo kit fromRidgid includes a compact drill plus an impact driver, both powered by Ridgid’s new HyperLithium 18-volt batteries. It’s the ultimate DIY setup for driving screws and boring pilot holes in asnap. And both tools are covered by Ridgid’s lifetime service agreement that even includes freebattery replacement! Just remember to register the tool within 30 days of purchase. The kit isavailable at Home Depot for about $179.
Jeff Gorton, Associate Editor
Gift Ideas From Our Field Editors
Simple thank you
My favorite gift is a
simple “thank you” from
my wife and daughter for
being their handyman
husband/dad. Every cut,
every project, every new
undertaking is done with
even more love after that.
Carl Matousek
Wood pens
I’ve given away more than
100 wood pens that I
make on my lathe. They
take about an hour to
make, and the parts cost
about $5. They’re always
a hit (Photo).
Steve Markman
All-purpose pocket tool
I gave my 19-year-old
college sophomore a
Leatherman pocket tool.
He doesn’t have any other
tools at college, and
that’s OK. With a good
Leatherman, he’ll be able
to take care of almost any
emergency, but he won’t
be tempted to spend time
on “fun projects” instead
of studying.
Mike Allen
Screwdriver meets Nintendo
1 of 1
Triggerless screwdriver
This lithium battery driven screwdriver turns in response to the motion of your hand.
Black & Decker’s MAX Gyro is a totally new concept in cordless tools.
It’s a small cordless screwdriver that responds to your hand
motion—no trigger required! If you turn your hand
slightly clockwise, it goes forward slowly. Turn a
little more, it goes faster. Turn your hand
counterclockwise, it goes in reverse.
The result: exquisite speed control. It’s
got 4 volts (plenty of oomph) and lithium
rechargeable batteries, which hold their charge for
over a year. Unlike all other screwdrivers, the Gyro has
“cool” written all over it. The list price is about $50, but you’ll find
it for about $40 at big-box stores and through our affiliation with amazon.com.
Ken Collier, Editor in Chief
Boring—but thoughtful—gift
1 of 1
New smoke detector
Smoke detectors wear out. For safety check yours and replace them when needed.
Many of the people on your gift list live in homes with
ancient smoke detectors that might not even work. So use
your handyman skills and replace their old detectors with
new ones for about $25 each. Because the electronics
wear out, smoke detectors should be replaced every 10
years. Boring? Yep! But what could possibly be a better gift
than saving someone’s life?
Travis Larson, Senior Editor
Boss snips
1 of 1
Shop Boss Snips
These handy snips will cut just about anything.
We probably have a dozen pairs of Fiskars scissors in our house, but
these Fiskars Shop Boss Snips are my favorite. They cut just about anything:
carpet, sheet metal, wire, rubber, cardboard, chicken bones—you
name it. They’re my go-to tool for opening those blasted blister packs
that encase everything these days. For about 20 bucks, they’re a fabulous addition
to your kitchen tool drawer or garage; sturdier than scissors, more
convenient than snips. Get a pair at larger retailers or through our affiliation with amazon.com.
Ken Collier, Editor in Chief (the boss)Laser-perfect parking
1 of 1
Parking laser
Park your car in your garage perfectly every time.
Photo courtesy of Smarthome
Some people use a hanging tennis ball, but I’ve got a new and
improved parking buddy: Smarthome’s Laser Garage Parking
System. The laser unit mounts on the garage ceiling, and you
can position the bright red laser beam so it shines down on your
dashboard when your car is in the right spot. Each time you
enter the garage, a motion detector triggers the laser, and when
that spot on your dashboard lines up with the laser, you’ve
landed your spaceship. Give this to the parking-challenged
people in your life. It’s powered by A/C (adapter included) or a
9-volt battery. The two-car model (about $20) and the single-car
version (about $15) are available at smarthome.com or through our affiliation with amazon.com.
Elisa Bernick, Associate Editor
Photo courtesy of reader (Dave Wirth)Custom scratch awl
Photo courtesy of GemplersBaseball cap with LED lights
Gift Ideas From Our Field Editors
Custom scratch awl
The best tool I ever gave
was a scratch awl complete
with a handle of
exotic wood that I turned
on my lathe. The best gift
I ever received was a shop
door sign from my kids
that said “Dad’s Shop.”
Dave Wirth
Light up somebody’s DIY life
This is the most useful gift I’ve ever
received. It’s a baseball cap with three
LED lights in the brim. It’s comfortable,
puts out plenty of light, and the light is
always aimed at what you’re looking
at. I lost mine about a year ago and my
family didn’t take the hint last
Christmas. I’ll give them another shot
this year, but if I have to, I’ll buy it for
myself. It’s about $22 at gemplers.com or through our affiliation with amazon.com.
Chris Phelps, Field Editor
