Gift Ideas For the DIY-er and Maker

Heavy Duty Utility Blades

Blades can come in handy for a variety of projects and are always an item we forget to buy. Help stock a DIY-er’s stash with this inexpensive gift that they will be grateful to have when the time comes for a new blade.

We Use: Stanley 50-Pack Heavy Duty Utility Blades

Great for Projects Like: Custom Shaped Doormat

Spring Clamp Set

When it comes to furniture making and woodworking projects, our philosophy is you can never have too many clamps. Small clamps come in handy when you need several at one time.

We Use: 16-Piece Spring Clamp Set

Great for Projects Like: Plywood Shelves

CENTERPOINT TAPE MEASURE

This is a handy tape measure that takes the guesswork out of finding the center when working with large pieces of wood and makes calculating measurements a breeze.

We Use: US Tape CenterPoint ProTape Tape Measure

Paint Brush & Roller Covers

Know a DIY-er who does a lot of painting projects? Brush and roller covers keep them from drying out if you need to stop and take a break. They have kept us from wasting rollers/ruining paint brushes and saved us time from having to wash our brush out every time we need to stop painting. We find these helpful because we tend to get distracted easily in the shop.

We Use: Paint Brush Covers and Roller Covers

Great for Projects Like: Any Painting Project

Extension Cord Winder

Shops can be dangerous if they are not kept up properly. We like using an extension cord reel because it helps tidy up the shop and removes a tripping hazard by allowing you to store long extension cords off the ground.

We Use: Hand Crank Extension Cord Winder

Specialty Drill Bit Set

As a DIY-er, having a large selection of drill bits that includes specialty drill bits like glass and tile bits and diamond drill bits in your collection expands the types of materials you can work with and opens up a plethora of creative DIY projects you can make. You could give the gift of a diamond hole saw and then ask for a table lamp made out of your favorite ceramic pot for your birthday.

We Use: 15 PCS Hollow Core Drill Bit Set for Ceramic, Glass, Porcelain Tile Diamond Hole Saw Tile Set Glass Drill Bit, 1/4 to 2 Inch

Great for Projects Like: Drilling Through Ceramic Pots, DIY Industrial Table Lamp

Echo Dot

This might not be an actual tool but we find it helpful in our shop. If there was ever a time and place we need to utilize hands free technology, while we are in the middle of a project in the garage where our hands are probably covered in glue, paint or stain is it. It never fails that in the middle of staining we need an answer to a heated husband-wife debate like, “how many Home Alone movies have been made?”.

Echo Dot

Digital Angle Gauge

Woodworking requires a certain level of precision and having the right tools make it much easier. The angle finder is a helpful tool for a woodworker who spends a lot of time with their table saw. By sticking it to the side of the table saw blade, it aids in getting the perfect angle.

We Use: Wixey WR300 Digital Angle Gauge

Stud Finder

Know a DIY-er who is stepping up their home renovation game? Give them an upgraded stud finder! We like the Precision Sensor ProFinder because it can detect metal and wood and you can measure, mark, and level with it too!

Precision Sensor ProFinder 6000+ Professional Stud Finder

Lumber Storage Rack

Give the gift of organization! A lumber storage rack is a great addition to any garage or shop to keep that scrap pile of wood secure and organized.

Six-Level Wall Mount Wood Organizer Rack

Wood Chisel Set

A great addition to a woodworker’s collection is a set of woodworking chisels. We like to have several on hand since they need to be sharp to be effective so a kit with a variety of sizes was a must on our list.

We Use: VonHaus 8 pc Craftsman Woodworking Wood Chisel Set

Great for Projects Like: DIY Log Side Table, Wooden Light Fixture

Jig Saw Kit

A jigsaw is a versatile tool that allows for quick, precise, straight, and curved cuts through many types of materials. Lots of our DIY projects were made easier by using a jigsaw so it is a helpful tool to have in our shop.

We Use: DEWALT DW317K 5.5 Amp Top Handle Jig Saw Kit

Great for Projects Like: Cutting Wood Letters

Kreg Pocket Hole Jig System with Screw Kit and Face Clamp

A Kreg Pocket Hole Jig is a must have in the shop. Pocket holes have become our go to quick joint method. By using this tool you can drill a hole at an angle in one board and connect it to another board with a self-tapping screw. We use our Kreg jig on a lot of our DIY projects and recommend this for any DIY’er or maker to have in their collection.

We Use: Kreg R3 Jr. Pocket Hole Jig System with Screw Kit and Face Clamp

Great for Projects Like: Industrial Shelves, Two Level Desk

Bluetooth Earplug Headphones

We love listening to music while we work in our garage but between the power tools and needing to wear hearing protection, it often gets drowned out. Brent likes bluetooth ear plugs because they protect his ears while listening to music. Win, Win

ISOtunes PRO Bluetooth Earplug Headphones

The Dust Deputy

We continually had issues with our shop vacuum filter clogging. The Dust Deputy is a huge time saver because by separating the chips and the dust it prevents most particles from reaching the filter meaning less time wrestling and messing with cleaning the shop vacuum and more time working on projects.

The Dust Deputy

Joint Genie Professional

The Joint Genie might be Brent’s favorite way to join wood together. He gets excited every time we use this tool for a project. The jig aids in drilling precise holes to accept a dowel rod across two boards for a strong joint. The only additional tools need are a clamp and a drill. The best part, no dealing with waiting for glue to dry!

We Use: Joint Genie Professional 3/8″ Dowelling Tool

Great for Projects Like: DIY Record Stand

Plate Joiner

The plate joiner will take anyone’s woodworking game to the next level. The biscuit joint provides a great for solution for joining boards together without leaving holes in the surface and an alternative method to joining wood with screws.

We Use: DEWALT DW682K 6.5 Amp Plate Joiner

Learn More: How To Use a Biscuit Joiner

Table Saw

The table saw was one of the very first items on Brent’s shop wish list a few years ago. It is an important tool and useful for making clean cuts in large pieces of wood at precise angles. There are a variety of price points when it comes to table saws. We recently upgraded to the RIDGID Cast Iron Table Saw and are really happy with the quality.

We Use: RIDGID 13-Amp Cast Iron Table Saw

Great for Projects Like: DIY Coffee Bar, DIY Shiplap

Compound Miter Saw

It is hard to imagine building furniture without a miter saw. This was one of the first tools we purchased for our shop. We are pretty sure you will be a DIY’er or maker’s hero if you add a miter saw to their shop. Or if you are looking to get more serious about building your own furniture, this is a great tool to get started.

Shop DEWALT DW715 15-Amp 12-Inch Single-Bevel Compound Miter Saw

Great for Projects Like: Plywood Shelves, Framed Chalkboard

Cordless Drill

There are few things more frustrating than needing a plug near by every time you need to drill holes for a project. Make someone’s life easier by cutting their handyman cord. We like this drill because it is light and compact but still capable of completing tough jobs.

We Use: Bosch PS32-02 12-volt Max Brushless 3/8-Inch Drill/Driver Kit with 2.0Ah Batteries, Charger and Case

Great for Projects Like: Reading Nook, Building a Drawer

Router Kit

A router is a tool that takes a woodworking project to the next level. From dovetail joints to rounded edges, it is often viewed as a splurge for beginning woodworkers, but if you know someone looking to expand their craft, the router is an essential tool for making professional quality projects.

We Use:DEWALT 12-AMP 2-1/4 HP Plunge and Fixed-Base Variable-Speed Router Kit

Great for Projects Like: Changing Table, Nursery Camera Mobile, Vintage Gym Clock

Compressor, Finish Nailer, Brad Nailer & Crown Stapler

The value of having a nail gun and compressor can’t be overstated. It makes the time consuming act of nailing boards together a breeze. Plus, finishing nails used in nail guns are much easier to conceal than common nails.

We Use: PORTER-CABLE PCFP12234 3-Tool Combo Kit

Great for Projects Like: DIY Outdoor Sectional