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Remodeling tips, trends, ideas, and a few things thrown in for giggles

November 8, 2010

15 Great Christmas Gifts for the DIYer on Your List

Let’s face it, DIYers are a special breed – you may as well forget buying them a nice sweater, it’ll wind up covered in caulk or paint, HDTV, what for?! Who needs to see Norm Avram in high def anyways...  and while they may still enjoy a techno gadget or two, a new impact driver is what really gets their engines revving.

If any of this sound familiar, you're not alone - there are support groups... and now the perfect Christmas list from The Dusty Hammer.  Our crack team of bloggers have scoured the web - for almost an hour ;o) and have underdeveloped this semi-inclusive list of 15 cool gifts with the DIY recipient in mind.
  
While we can appreciate the merits of a gift like the Bosch 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Driver Combo Set (that even now gets us a little light headed just typing about) we've largely Ignored the standard DIY gifts - choosing instead to focus on an assortment of unique gifts that are sure to make even the most discerning DIYer light up (and their circle of friends turn green with envy). 

CRAFTSMAN HEATED WORK JACKET 

Sears calls it revolutionary workwear,  we call it "toasty goodness."  With three temperature settings between 85-110 degrees F, this little heat producing treasure will keep the handyperson in your life working on that honey-do list long into the frigid months of the year.  The rechargeable system keeps the temperature nice and balmy for up to 5 hours and with a two-year wear-out warranty this stylish work jacket will be around for the long haul.   



TOOKS CLASSIC HEADPHONE BEANIE

No doubt you’ve seen beanies with built-in headphones before, but most of ‘em are ill-fitting, substandard and totally unstylish - thus rendering them useless. 
Tooks CLASSIC Headphone Hat With Built-in Removable Headphones - COLOR: GRAYThankfully Tooks headphone hats are the real deal: cranium-snuggling beanies with high quality integrated ‘phones. And unlike crummy rivals  these ultra-comfy babies actually cover your ears. Tooks Headphone Hats’ internal ‘phones stay flush with your lugholes no matter how much head- banging you do. Keeping your head warm and your earphones in place has never been easier. 


                                            ZIPPO HAND WARMER
Zippo Handy Warmer - Hand Warmer
Cold hands, warm heart… what a bunch of hooey.  If their hands are icy you can bet your frozen bottom the rest of them is pretty darn cold too.  Oh sure, you could get ‘em those fingerless wool
 glove numbers with the little mitten cover that Velcros down.  But to really impress your buddies you gotta have the latest and greatest not last year's must have.  The maker’s of the worlds most iconic lighter have come to the rescue of frostbitten handymen the world over with their ultra stylish Zippo Hand Warmer.  
This little stainless steel puppy is more than just a pretty face; radiating up to ten times more heat than rival hand warmers and up to 12 hours with a single 12ml filling of lighter fuel – and all that without a flame!  Harnessing the power of catalytic combustion (as best as I can figure it’s like having a full-on fire in your pocket without all the burning ashes) the guys at Zippo have come up with one cool gift that’s sure to keep ‘em warm! 

                                   MAGNOGRIP
MagnoGrip 311-090 Magnetic Wristband
What do you get when you cross a high powered magnet with a 80s style tennis wristband?  The prototype for the next must have tool.  Sure, at first glance the Magnogrip looks kinda like a Power Ranger action bracelet, but how many times have you gotten the muffled call from the crawl space 

under your house to pass a 2” screw through the heating vent?  
Screws, nails, bolts, or whatever other little metal pieces DIYers are forever searching for can now be held securely in place thanks to this little hummer.  Your DIYer will love having full use of both hands while still keeping their fasteners close by.  And you'll love them keeping those little things out of their mouth - which means they can now call you for other important things, like hailing the fire department to help them off the roof.   

  
           BIRCH CLOCK
Forget counting the rings of a tree - this birch wood block actually tells the time!  Thanks to a bright LED projector and a clever projection method through thin veneers of wood, this unremarkable looking piece of birch becomes a really cool clock with a "magic" digital display.  
Not only does it include the standard 12/24 hour time format, date, alarm with 6-cycle snooze, it also includes a night/economic power mode where the LED brightness automatically reduces between 6pm and 7am and even conceals two internally powered speakers, strategically placed for optimum audio output of your connected portable device (iPod, MP3, MP4, etc).  It's almost a whole new classification of cool - DIY geek chic. 

GLOW BRICK

Glow Brick Blue Night LightBehold the "Glow Brick."  We weren't quite sure where to classify this little guy, perhaps sometimes cool things shouldn't be classified - just admired.  This weird and wonderful block of acrylic is a deliciously strange piece of lighting, it contains a disembodied phosphorescent light bulb that seems to float within its transparent surroundings. As darkness falls, the bulb begins to glow a ghostly shade of green or blue, gently bathing its surroundings in ethereal light. Stranger  till, the Glow Brick seems to be powered by phantom forces, there's no power cord, battery box or on/off switch. But don't go jumping under the bed in distress just yet - this ingenious piece of mood lighting is actually solar powered. By day, the Glow Brick serves as an eye-catching tabletop ornament soaking up natural light, by night, well... it really has to be seen to be disbelieved. 


RECLAIMED TOOL DESK CADDY

Uncommongoods.com offers this slick one of a kind desk caddy and pencil cup that is sure to toughen-up even the wimpiest of desks.  These unique handmade pieces are comprised of reclaimed tools, metal and rugged welding.  It's a handyman's dream - when he has to be at the office. http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/wrench-desk-caddy-and-pliers-pencil-cup


                                   LEVEL CUFFLINKS

Working Green Level Cufflinks Gift BoxedFor the DIYer who can cut a 2x4 as well as he can “cut a rug.” Outfit your favorite handyman with these stylish sterling silver  cuff links. Made with real working levels, these cuff links will be the hit of the party as he displays a bit of his personality with some extra panache.  And for under $10 bucks, how can you go wrong? 

 

 

DUCTI WALLET (CLASSIC)

Ducti Wallet (Classic)What better way to show 'em you care than to say it with Duct Tape.   This silvery Super Duct Tape wallet won't lift, peel or get sticky, but it will keep their cards and bills safe in true DIY style. Reinforced metal holes accommodate a security chain, and the divided billfold, four built-in cardholders and four-page clear plastic insert hold all your necessities.  Give 'em a wallet they'd be proud to show off,  whether it's a night on the town or just picking up lumber at the hardware store.


Of course you could forgo the mass made versions and give him/her a custom one of a kind made especially for them using these DIY duct tape wallet plans found at http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/07/instructions_and_pdf_docu.html

                            Stick It!  99 DIY Duct Tape Projects.  
Stick It!: 99 DIY Duct Tape Projects
If a duct tape wallet is just not enough of a statement of your affection, take their duct tape obsession to the next level with this imaginative book!  Besides simple wallets, your DIYer can sport duct tape jewelry, fashion wear, nifty paper goods and more with this invaluable guide to the world of silver adhesive. The book comes complete with folders and step-by-step directions so you can become a duct tape master. And for a touch of even more - dare I say – class, include a couple rolls of these tricked-out designer variants of our old gray friend.
  

Designer Duct TapeDuck Brand Digital Camouflage All Purpose Duck Tape, 1.88 Inches x 10 Yard Single Roll (1388825)BAZIC Duct Tape, 1.89 Inch x 10 Yard, Assorted


Snap-On 870114 16-Inch Folding Tool Organizer SeatThe best seat in the house could also be the best place to store your tools. This multi-function handyman's seat from snap-on is  not only a stylish place to store their prized tools but a great place to part their keister for a well deserved  break. Combining the features of a tool bag and a folding chair, this handy seat made of lightweight steel and water-resistant nylon includes a handy carrying strap and even has a place to store business cards.  How's that for thinking of everything?


I'm Nuts About You Key RingIf your man is the kind who'll fix anything in your car or your house when you ask him to, it's obvious he's crazy about you: Now you can let him know the feeling is mutual. This silver and gold plated hardware has a brass key ring and arrives in an "I'm nuts about you" gift box.

 


TOILET TIE

Indulge his penchant for potty humor by dressing him in this amusing toilet tie. A navy background is discreetly covered in a repeating pattern of tiny golden "thrones," making this a witty gift for those guys who think
they are the kings of their castles. With its combination of traditional colors and unexpected iconography, this is the perfect accessory for plumbers everywhere. 




Have you ever seen a horse crumple with a stone in its hoof? Ever thought to yourself: ‘Man, what I’d give to have a fish scaler right now’? Thought not. So why bother with a clunky multi-tool that’s crammed with superfluous gadgets? Get yourself outfitted for the 21st century with a pocket tool full of exactly the tools you use every day. 
Kelvin.23 is the boiling point of multi-tools. You’ll love having everything you need to hand in one rugged cast aluminium body: the Kelvin.23 packs in 16 different screwdrivers, a tape measure, hammer, level and even anLED for when you’re working in a tight hole.  


This palm-sized baby contains everything you need to take on DIY and minor jobs, like hanging pictures, building shelves, assembling flat-pack furniture or rebuilding civilization after a devastating global war - assuming, of course, that the conflict left enough shelving and pictures behind.  
GRIP 9 PC CHILDREN'S TOOL SET
Grip 9 pc Children's Tool KitThere'll be no crazy Christmas sugar plum dreams from your littlest handyman this year... Cuz Santa's bringing drop forged hammers and needle nose pliers!  Folks, this cool tool set, made especially for little hands, ain't no cheap plastic dollar store imitation, this is the real thing.  Screw drivers, wrenches, scissors (which you may want to hold on to), even a working tape measure!  Now that's a tool set any little helper would be proud to put their name on.  

In the end, remember:  If it's the thought that really counts - make sure when they think of the gifts you give them this year, they think "That was AWESOME!"


Merry Christmas and happy DIYing!

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