Christmas 2008: What to Get a Woodworker

Every year I post my thoughts on what a woodworker might like to receive. My previous gift posts have additional ideas and can be found here:

• Christmas 2006 (Part 1)
• Christmas 2006 (Part 2)
• Christmas 2007

I have not checked this year's list to see whether I've repeated myself, but you can be sure that if I've said it more than once, it will be appreciated. Here is this year's list of gift ideas, divided into rough categories. Some are expensive, some are inexpensive, all are useful.

This year's list doesn't stick with just flashy or unusual objects. Some of the items are mundane but useful. These aren't just filler; they will be much used in the shop and can make great stocking stuffers.

Cutting and Shaping

Jigsaw
This flexible tool provides much of the flexibility of both a scroll saw and a band saw. I think of it as the ultimate freehand power tool.

Jointmaker Pro
While I admire Bridge City tools for their beauty and innovation, I usually think they are pricey and optional. With that said, I think the Jointmaker Pro truly delivers the value of its price, and that nothing else on the market can do what it does. It introduces a real innovation that even power tool users can appreciate.

If your woodworker does fine work, especially on a small scale, no other tool can provide the speed and reliability of this tool. It opens up a world of possibilities for speed and flexibility in woodworking.

The name tells only part of the story, because the tool can also be used to make extremely precise sculptural effects and tiny parts.

Router Bits
Another almost limitless source of gift ideas. A router needs bits to function, and the more bits, the more can be done with the router. If you want something that looks like more than a stocking stuffer and your woodworker doesn't have one, consider a good router table.

Router Plane
Yes, it's a hand tool, but even power tool users can appreciate one of these. Often when a dado or rabbet is cut there is clean up to be done on the joint. The Router plane set to the correct depth makes short work of it.

General

Blue Tape
This valuable addition to any shop makes an inexpensive stocking stuffer that will be used for everything from masking, clamping, to impromptu "ribbon" on brown-paper-wrapped shop-built gifts finished moments before delivery.

Cabinet Maker's Wrecking Bar
Actually not a wrecking bar, since the intent is to remove previously installed moldings without damaging them. If you get one of these, choose a brand with a very thin pry end, which allows the end to fit under the molding. I'm very satisfied with my Sharkgrip from Bakuma, which I bought through Sears. I've recently seen a Stanley version of the tool, but I thought the pry end looked too thick.

Rare Earth Magnets
Having a stock of rare earth magnets is inspirational. I use one to keep the chuck key at hand on my drill press, and others to turn hinges and tool bases into temporary bulletin boards. These also make a good closure option in small boxes and cabinets: they can either be visible, or hidden by a thin veneer.

Sandflex Blocks
Great for rust removal and maintenance. These are sometimes called rust erasers, because they work in the same way a pencil eraser does: by rubbing on the surface of the item to be sanded. They can also be used on wood.

Screw Extractors
For when a screw cams out. Everyone who works with screws eventually finds themselves in trouble with a damaged screw head. I need a set of these myself.

Toolbox
What do you give someone who has everything? Something to put it in. There's almost always a use for more tool storage.

Historical


Roman Woodworking by Roger B. Ulrich
This book takes a thorough look at roman woodworking, citing sources and including numerous pictures of primary source material. This will especially please the history buff and hand tool user.

Joining

Hammers
I love hammers, so I might be biased in this, but different sizes and shapes work better for different jobs. Holding a well-made hammer just makes me happy, especially if I know I have nails somewhere nearby.

Kreg Pocket Screw Jig
Good for building jigs, shop stands, yard furniture, prototypes (to avoid doing the real joints), and more. This type of joint is quick and effective.

Layout and Reference

6" Combination Square
Woodworkers need trustworthy layout and referencing tools, and different jobs need different sizes. I prefer the 6" combination square for most small work because there isn't as much of it to get in the way. If you get your woodworker layout and reference tools, don't economize. This is one area where cheap, aluminum, "good enough" knockoffs are definately not good enough. Choose an all steel (preferably hardened steel) from a reputable maker like Starrett or Brown & Sharpe. They are much more expensive than the combo squares sold at Home Depot and Lowes, but they will be acurate and (barring terrible abuse) stay accurate.

Marking Knife
Used to layout joints, especially hand cut dovetails. This can be a beautiful gift that will be used for countless marking tasks in the shop

Pencils
For the marking tasks not done with a knife. Any kind of pencil will do, though carpenter's pencils (the square kind) are too bulky for some applications.

Straight Edge
Fine woodworkers need to know if their prepped wood is flat. Especially if your woodworker uses hand tools, a good straightedge will be appreciated (even if there are several in the workshop already).

Planning

"Doors & Drawers" by Andy Rae
A great new book, released just this year. This book looks at both doors and drawers in an extremely broad and practical way. Andy includes construction detail for all styles of drawer, from the high art solid-wood dovetailed construction to the highly practical rabbetted false-front plywood drawer. Whatever you are building, this book will help you select the appropriate drawer and door designs.

Scratch Pads
A gift that will be used for drawing out rough plans, noting measurements, planning the steps of a particularly complex procedure, telephone numbers, hardware shopping lists and more. Lee Valley offers some very nice scratch pads that have a grid, which helps keep drawings to scale.

"Working Alone" by John Carroll
A carpentry reference that is useful for both homeowners and one-man home builders.

Reference

"Understanding Wood" by Bruce Hoadley
A full reference for how wood behaves and why. An excellent companion to the U.S. Forest Service guide.

"Understanding Wood Finishing" by Bob Flexner
Everyone has to apply finish, and nothing ruins a well made project as quickly as poorly applied finish.

"Wood as an Engineering Material" by the U.S. Forest Service
The full text is available online at no cost, but it is so valuable as a reference it ought to be part of any serious shop library.

Safety

Air Filtration
Like dust masks and respirators: woodworking kicks up a lot of fine particles. They aren't necessarily good for breathing, and they make a terrible mess when they settle.

Dust Masks / Respirators
If your woodworker is a power tool user (and especially if MDF is commonly used in the shop) this is a must. Tell them you love them by keeping them safe and healthy.

Ear Plugs or Muffs
Those who use hand tools exclusively won't need these. For everyone else, give the gift of hearing. Using both forms of protection is most effective. I recommend against muffs that play music. As nice as they seem they will essentially replace the noise of the power tool with the noise of the radio, and because the tool is still loud (even through the muffs) the direct feed radio will be turned up louder than normal and feeding directly into the ears.

A related caution: don't use mp3 players or earplugs on a string in a power tool shop. The wire is a hazard that could get caught and either damage the ears, or pull the head into a machine.

Goggles
Eyes are good. Keep them intact. I like the kind of safety glasses that look like aviator's goggles for several reasons. First, they don't interfere with the muff style hearing protection. Second, they prevent chips from dropping behind them. It’s a good idea to have several pairs so they can be swapped out when one starts to steam up, and so they can be kept where they are most often used.

Protective Gloves
There's lots of nasty stuff in the shop. Don't let it touch skin.

Stock

Moisture Meter
Air dried lumber especially needs to be checked before use. If the wood is too wet, expect splitting, checking, cupping, winding, and shrinking as it dries.

Wood
Beautiful wood is always appreciated. You can never have too much of the raw materials, and a beautiful or unusual piece of wood often inspires a beautiful and unusual project.

Work Holding

Clamps
Norm Abrams famously said, "You can never have too many clamps". Enough said. Look for types or sizes that may not already be in the shop, or add to a type or size that is under represented. In addition to handscrews (which I mentioned separately) consider bar clamps, paralell clamps, c-clamps, pinch dogs, miter clamps, band clamps, etc.

Handscrews
Wow. These are such great and flexible clamps I give them their own topic. If there are no handscrews in the shop, get a pair of 8" or 10" handscrews. These provide flexibility that no other clamp can provide, and using several together can provide quick effective workholding solutions that would otherwise be difficult or time consuming to accomplish. More is better, so get at least two (preferably four or more). I would be happy to receive more handscrews any day, especially in sizes I don't already have.

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That's it for this year's Holiday Gift Guide. If you have additional suggestions, please leave a comment.