8th Annual Garage Journal Secret Santa (Official Thread)

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

My Secret Santa sent me a sweet set of socket organizers. Can't wait to get them loaded up. They where drop shipped from Westin so I would like to thanks my Santa for the great gift!!!!

You're welcome! Glad you like them!

 

[Bobcat753]

A big thank you to my Secret Santa Bobcat753! The gifts are awesome!!! Really nice to receive the hand written note too. You really have my interests figured out. They will all be put to good use. I'm going to be installing my new handle very soon.

Glad you liked everything! Make sure you post a pic of the handle once its installed

 

[jerryW]

Finally opened my GJSS package, from BigEarn86.

1st and foremost, thank you for your service! I was Army from '70-73 myself.

The enclosed items are above and beyond! The hitch cover will go on my wall and I am proud to show it! One I sure don't have, an Eagle, Globe and Anchor Marine emblem.

The other are most welcome also!

I've got about 30 different torque wrenches but don't have on like you sent!

I'll try and get my camera working and post some pics soon.

Thank you so very much!!!!!


jerry

 

[loranger]

Thanks to Romanova for my awesome box of loot! Love all the LaRue goodies! Im off next week so I will definitely get the .223 loaded up! Wife claimed dibs on the dish towel and the ornament!

 

[3baygarage]

Thank you so much to Jdcompman my secret santa. I received a beautiful new Trusty Cook dead blow hammer and some interesting old wrenches he discovered on his land. Pictures to come.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Merry Christmas to my recipient as well! I hope your package arrived on time. And to all the members have a good and safe holiday!

 

[dodge610]

Thanks to Romanova for my awesome box of loot! Love all the LaRue goodies! Im off next week so I will definitely get the .223 loaded up! Wife claimed dibs on the dish towel and the ornament!

THOSE lARUE BOTTLE OPENERS ARE FANTASTIC i GOT ONE FROM ROMONOVA A FEW YEARS BACK. EVERYBODY THAT USES IT LOVES THST BOTTLE OPENER.

 

[Gareth68]

A big thank you to my Santa for the incredible gifts. I will get pics up soon.


And here is a pic...

Truly above and beyond.

A set of Snappy HD screwdrivers, coolie, flag patch, a couple license plates, and a cool sticker.

Sweet.

Thank you so much.

 

[stg454]

Glad you liked everything! Make sure you post a pic of the handle once its installed

As promised!

 

[Bobcat753]

Looks Awesome!

 

[spencerian]

Wow.
I don't know what else to say.
My SS was Duct Tape Man.
I got all this in one box!

Thanks so much!
I really couldn't have asked for a better present.

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[stg454]

I love how my new HF tool cart handle came out!

 

[dodge610]

That handle looks awesome darn bobcat you should make those and sell them now i want one.

 

[stg454]

He did a very nice job on it. Have been looking for something to replace the cheep Chinese one that it came with.

 

[dodge610]

I can see that looks great I have to of the HF cabinets. The red and the black those would look great on mine.

 

[Bobcat753]

That handle looks awesome darn bobcat you should make those and sell them now i want one.

Hmm, custom toolbox handles, I can definitely do that! I'll have to get a new thread started soon...

 

[jerryW]

GJSS items

<a href="http://imgur.com/bWGfb3s"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/bWGfb3sb.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

Thx Santa!


jerry

 

[Travisnd]

BIG thanks to GJ member PECVD2 for an AWESOME package!!! He definitely did his research as I was pleasantly surprised with a new Raiders hat which I have been wanting along with a Raiders calendar to hang up!!! Some very nice NOS Channellock pliers along with a nice Craftsman 1 1/2 wrench to complete the set and an awesome patch!! Can't thank you enough. No doubt another successful GJ Secret Santa season complete both for myself and my GJ SS recepiant. Merry Christmas PECVD2 and to all!!

 

[taumac]

Thanks Gerard, aka taumac! I LOVE the shirt and the apron. You got me the perfect size shirt! I am getting more and more into woodworking, so the chisels are great, and as for the gloves; when can you ever have enough! I love it, thanks a ton, merry christmas to you and your family!




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Your welcome, I'm glad you liked everything.

 

[mrpizza]

Thanks to Miles for the sauce and pliers. I was looking for a smaller pair to work on lift chairs.

Glad you liked it. I have the same pliers, my most reached for ones due to their adjustability. They make a 6" one too thats a bit smaller.

That BBQ sauce is from a local place thats real famous, one of my favorite local places!

 

[quick86]

http://imgur.com/4TP3S8y.jpg

Got these from my secret santa. These are badass!!! And they have 90lbs of force each so they are going to help a TON when I build my new workbench over the coming days. I'm so excited!

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[mrpizza]

My SS was Monte from Germany (i think) He sent me some Wiha screwdrivers, some work gloves, a wire stripper, and some Haribo Gummies and Mon Cherie candy!

When i was deployed to Iraq, we always stocked up on Haribo gummies when we had our layover in Germany. Thank you for the local flavor in my gift!!!!

 

[RStewart]

I want to thank Chris, ckadams for the awesome ss gift box. Starting with your daughters artwork, the mustang related items, the pin is going next to the 50th anniversary pin in my carpet, the knife, the snap on cup, the punches, square and assorted bits, gun safe drier, the Dewalt adjustable and the notebook. All handy and useful. Thanks for your generosity to a complete stranger. Best of everything to you and your family in the new year.
I'll try and get some pix up if my Luddite mind can figure it out. Maybe I'll ask my kid.
Forgot the ammo can it was all packed in and the detractors too.

 

[Bears Fan]

Wow! Got a really cool package today from Pugetdude...Vintage Lietz survey level/scope with case (Now I need to figure out how it works?). A awesome 1912 Bear Safety Service Equipment catalog (I will frame this to hang in DaBarn). Some Chicago Bears duct tape and cork screw/bottle opener (In case Mike Ditka stops by tonight). A really cool Washington State license plate (this will hang proudly in DaBarn). A new scribe (now i can stop using my calipers to scribe everything) and a really nice letter...Who ever said giving is more fun then receiving never had Pugetdude for a Secret Santa!

Thank you, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

 

[egnorant]

Got my Cowboys T-shirt which is fitting as it is only 62 degrees here.
The Camillus pocket knife was a great touch of local pride.

Now to the BBQ sauce. While I claim to be the worlds biggest baby when it comes to spicy food, the Dinosaur Sauce (Made in Syracuse!) was a hit! The Creole Honey Mustard sauce didn't scare me but the "Wango Tango Habanero Hot Sauce had me a bit concerned.

Our Christmas afternoon tradition includes lots of finger food such as meatballs, little sausages, taco fixins' even crawdads. The Habanero sauce was a big hit and not as painful as I expected! VERY tasty and while I avoided the fried mouth and thrashing/dancing about that usually accompanies my investigation of the "Hot Side" it did cause full rolling head sweats. Good stuff there!

Bruce

I think my SS was Rickster55 so just a note...I got magnetic fingers last year and wondered about them too. Then I dropped a bolt inside a frame rail. I could touch it but... finger got it out in about 1 second! Now I use them for the tough to start bolts too!

 

[Duct Tape Man]

Wow.
I don't know what else to say.
My SS was Duct Tape Man.
I got all this in one box!

Thanks so much!
I really couldn't have asked for a better present.

Glad you enjoyed the gift, spencerian! I tried to make sure everything in the box was American-made goodness for ya. Hope they will come in handy. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!

 

[toomanytoyzz]

RedRabbit was my SS. He hooked me up with a Tamiya 1/24 scale 80 series Landcruiser model as well as a spring assisted AK47 knife. Funny thing about the model is I was just talking to my father-in-law a few weeks back about getting back into dong models to get my son interested. I guess RedRabbit answered my call.

Heading to the hobby store Monday to pick the color and get some glue and primer. I will post a pic of the model once it's done. Thank you very much for the gifts. I hope you and your family have a great holiday!!

 

[cnttxmdc]

Very cool book! do my Eyes (and magnifier) deceive me, or is 1917 misprinted as 1971 on the back? 5th edition ties in with 1917.



ps: still waiting for my daughters to wake up to open presents...

I believe it actually says 1924 on the back. I'm at work right now, and the book is at home, so I can't look at it in person right now. Here's a higher quality version of that photo though:

 

[gipraw]

Thank you gipraw for my gearwrench ratchet wrenches, knipex pliers, craftsman bottle opener (that will get a lot of use in two months), and for my new borla hat.

My pleasure. Merry Christmas.

 

[firworks]

Thank you FIRWORKS (Mike) for all the incredible gifts. Starting with the Fruitcake from Collins Street Bakery I opened that bad boy first thing this morning and had a slice with my coffee. Then opened the other box and WOW what a great assortment of quality tools and Peoria, Illinois magnetic cards and candies. I will put them all to good use especially the 1/2" USA Craftsman ratcheting wrench and all the Wilde greatness. Great insight into your work on CATEPILLER design and your home town. I will be googling Peoria to find out more especially this Carp fishing craze. The candy coins and the Snow ToGo were snatched up by the neighbor kid who showed up to spread some Christmas cheer. Thanks again Mike (FIRWORKS) you truly served up a wonderful Garage Journal Secret Santa Christmas. I hope you and your family have magnificent holiday and best wishes in the new year.

Crazy how bright this circuit on board LED is....awesome fill factor.

First two pieces didn't last long. Yummy!

I have looked at these fastcap tapes and thought they were kinda gimmicky but upon first impression this tape measure has a good feel in my hand. I like the index finger trigger stop placement and in fact my wife has told me "stop playing with it"

Really nice CAT tee shirt with an earbud loop. Excellent!

You are very welcome! I had a lot of fun putting that all together and hunting for items to send.

I was worried about that fruitcake because they were supposed to deliver it "on Christmas" which I assumed meant like the 23rd or so. Instead they shipped it the 10th! I know people joke about fruit cake lasting forever but I had no idea really and since Collins was making a big deal about "baking it fresh" I thought maybe it needed to be eaten quickly. Glad it was still good when you got to tear into it.

For some more info on the carp fishing either watch this video:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FNjMqwxKnBU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Or go here: http://peoriacarphunters.com/

Those Caterpillar COB flashlights were like the hero of Christmas day at my girlfriend's house. I ended up clearing out the Cat Visitor Center gift shop and bought all their stock because I liked mine so much I gave one to everyone. Her family wants several more whenever they restock!

As for the Fastcap tape measure, I wasn't even planning on that. I went to the local woodworkers shop since I was off for all of December and actually got a chance to go in there! (Their hours are terrible like 9-4 M-F and Saturdays 11AM-12PM) I started playing with it too and didn't put it down and after browsing the store playing with it I grabbed one for myself and one for you.

Also, if anyone wants the original of the GJ Secret Santa logo I made up here it is:
View media item 62297
Now, on to my Secret Santa present!

Thank you Outlander for the Canadiana cross border friendship box!
View media item 62298
I had no idea Lee Valley was A. a Canadian company and B. a full service woodworking and garage supplier. I'd only ever seen people getting chisels or Veritas hand planes from Lee Valley and knew that they were great quality. Now I see that they have everything like a Woodcraft or a Rockler and more. Their catalog is very extensive. Things like these little Aluminum keychain pods. It took us some searching on the LV website to figure out what they were. I haven't come up with a use for them yet but they are very cool.

View media item 62299
There's also this hand turned pen from Gaston. It feels really primo and came in its own jewel encrustled velvet linered triangular prism. Is there any back story to this like you are friends with Gaston or he's a local craftsman?

View media item 62300"Built RIGHT... in CANADA"

Built like a beefy brick with nice long driver blades. The way they all store in the handle and the old one stores as the new one comes out is really pretty ingenious. This thing is perfect for my crazy house as the previous owners were... crazy. There's a bathroom mirror upstairs that is held on with two sizes of flat head screws, two sizes of phillips, one robertson and one empty spot where there was a screw but it's gone now. Whoever was doing the fixing from 1963-2010 apparently had a big bucket of fasteners that they shotgunned at any problem with no rhyme or reason.

Also when I showed my girlfriend this she said "That is so Canadian: 'Is it the best? You decide.' Rather than 'The absolute best tool for every situation, even situations it is horrible at!" Like you might see on a package here...

Finally, what Canadiana box would be complete without a bottle of Maple Syrup, SHAPED like a maple leaf, labeled entirely in French.

View media item 62301Shifting into MAXIMUM OVERCANADA

I haven't gotten to try it yet but I'm sure we'll be making a special breakfast to christen the bottle.

Thank you as well to Blacknwhitepit for organizing this awesome gift exchange for all of us on here. I had an awesome time and am already thinking of cool items for next year!

 

[lwlobo]

My gift arrived from Lisbon, Iowa a few weeks ago. A big and heavy, awesome type of box.

When I finally got to open it, it had an a set of great gifts, generous, well thought out, and extremely useful.

There is:
A custom Camaro print (can you tell me more about it?)
2 Snap On LED Work lights (seriously bright, well made)
Motorcycle museum puzzle (hope to posterize foe garage )
Motorcycle museum tickets

Thanks a bunch to my SS, much appreciated and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours!

My gift went to a member who left for the holidays before it was delivered. It should have arrived yesterday, I hope he likes it!

 

[RedRabbit]

RedRabbit was my SS. He hooked me up with a Tamiya 1/24 scale 80 series Landcruiser model as well as a spring assisted AK47 knife. Funny thing about the model is I was just talking to my father-in-law a few weeks back about getting back into dong models to get my son interested. I guess RedRabbit answered my call.

Heading to the hobby store Monday to pick the color and get some glue and primer. I will post a pic of the model once it's done. Thank you very much for the gifts. I hope you and your family have a great holiday!!

Im glad you enjoyed the model. I can't wait to see it completed as well. Merry Christmas.

 

[Agentwho]

Woke up from my food coma Big thanks to my GJSS FIGUREITOUT, at first I thought your handle was a challenge and was a bit surprised when it came up haha. Shears are always useful to have around, the multi chaser Klien driver is cool and I had been thinking of picking up a gimbal ratchet. Thanks again and have a wonderful Holliday!

 

[Ohmthis]

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Teamartic, you're very welcome. Hope you enjoy them.

Just opened up my gift from Anthony aka "ohmthis", I really appreciat it especially with the things you're going through. It's a Kreg jig R3 for pocket holes, simply awesome. I know a lot about Kreg, they make good tools, will definitely come in handy while woodworking. It also had some shop rags that I think we're just for packing material but will use in the garage. and came with a hand written note as well.

I'm glad you like the jig. Your welcome to show us the very first project that you make with it. The box needed some stuffing. I could have used news paper, but felt the rags were a little more appropriate Hope you had a great Christmas.

 

[Ohmthis]

I would like to thank my SS for my gifts. There wasn't a note in the box, and before I could go back and look, my wife had tossed it in the fire. So, please respond so I can personally thank you. For everyone else I recieved a Snap On pick set a set of channel lock pliers in one of the most useful sizes, and a couple of beers from Aruba. Those will be enjoyed after I get off. Thanks again

 

[RPH]

My SS was Dsltrk. I appreciate the effort put forward as I know he did some research to come up with the gifts. And yes the book will be read. Those long flights to Europe present a great opportunity to read. The Klein stubby is always handy and the straps are going to be used bringing home the hay equipment the son just bought. So I do thank you and look forward to this again. Even though I hem and haw about it every year as being on the road does make it tough sometimes to get the logistics of it done.
Merry Christmas, everyone.

 

[Bears Fan]

That is really cool Firworks...The new mascot for the 2016 Garage Journal Secret Santa thread?

 

[split150]

Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to thank gearhead1 for the fantastic variety of items that I received along with his letter. You did some great homework in picking the items, and everything is greatly appreciated.

Being a DSM car guy, the Mitsubishi hat, Turbo badge, and turbo keychain will fit right in. Funny thing about that keychain... I've had something similar on my eBay watch list for years but just never got around to ordering it. I guess I can finally delete it off of there now.

The Coast flashlight and headlamp are awesome! It amazes me how bright flashlights have become in the last few years. Those will both be appreciated in the garage. I also gave a few flashlights out for Christmas this year, and received another one from someone else too. The beginning of a collection may be forming.

I'm really looking forward to trying the local barbeque sauces and peanuts also. Can't say I've tried boiled peanuts before, so it will be a new experience. Creative BBQ sauces are always a hit.

All perfect ideas, and thanks again! Hope you and your family had a Merry Christmas and be sure to have a Happy New Year!

This is a really great event, and thanks to Blacknwhitepit for all the work to pull this off. The anticipation and homework help make this what it is. 364 days until we get to do this again.

 

[Cypherian]

Well,

Here it is PC hit it just right .... :} LOL had to make the joke it was easy and it is early :}

Pcpain it will fill out a needed niche in my mallets thank you very much :}
Now if I can keep my pups from thinking it is a chew toy I will be good lol

Cypher

 

[articsilber323]

I would like to thank my SS for my gifts. There wasn't a note in the box, and before I could go back and look, my wife had tossed it in the fire. So, please respond so I can personally thank you. For everyone else I recieved a Snap On pick set a set of channel lock pliers in one of the most useful sizes, and a couple of beers from Aruba. Those will be enjoyed after I get off. Thanks again

ohmthis, i was your SS

hope you can put to good use the pic set and pliers

merry Christmas

 

[Vortaku]

My santa killed it this year! I loved the not i got almost as much as much as the tools, We have alot in common and are local. I feel a trip over may be in order soon.

The screwdrivers are nice and a style i was looking into trying, this saved me buying them myself. They scared me a bit becausen of the ergonomics, so it is nice to try them without footing the bill

The Plano box is AMAZING, will come in very handy for storing odd hardware just like he said. I had been meaning to look around and find something. Again he saved me the time and effort!

The Kobalt 1/4 "xtreme access" set is amazing. It will go EVERYWHERE with me. I love the pass through ratchet systems, they make so much sense. The ratchet feels nice in my hand aswell! I would have never thought to have gone and snagged one from Lowes, I had worried about the quality of their tools after reading how Kobalt had moved production. These are made in Taiwan and look and feel great!

cnttxmdc,
Thank you so much man, you killed it. I am blown away by how well thought out this gift is. I can tell you looked through most if not all of my posts. I love how you had a theme you went with and worked it all together! I hope that you and your family had amazing holidays whichever they may be, and it was full of joy.

Merry Christmas to everyone on GarageJournal, good job passing on the joy of the holidays!
I was surprised how much time and thought went into gifts that we alls ent to everyone. It made me smile and feel good about people.

Vortaku/Ross


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