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gift idea help for GFs dad?

aaronrkelly

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Feb 25, 2014
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419
Location
southern Iowa
Got tasked with buying my GFs dad a gift. In the past they always get him some shirt or clothing item they admit they know he wont likely wear.

Hes a farmer.....Ive used his tools before. All quality stuff but basics. I thought Id buy him something he could use.

Thinking around $50 or $60....

My ideas, based on tools I have and love

#1
Wera screwdriver set, the chiseldrivers - about $60 (love the fact these can be used with a 1/4 drive, beat on and are great screwdrivers......who doesnt need a good screwdriver set)

#2
Knipex 10" pliers wrench - about $50 (I use mine all the time, hardly ever pick up an adjustable wrench anymore)

#3 .
LED rechargeable work light - about $55 (I use mine daily, couldnt live without it....dont remember the brand but its amazing)

My problem is all of these are good ideas, but expensive enough I can only get one.

Anyone think one is a better idea over the other......or even have another idea of their own?

Thanks guys.
 
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ovrrdrive

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Sep 13, 2015
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Central Florida
I gave my Dad 7" Knipex Pliers Wrench for his birthday and he loved them. He may never use them, he may use them a lot, who knows. What I did know was they were high quality, a brand name he had heard of before, and more expensive than he would have paid out of his own pocket for a tool like that. Perfect fit.

I fought with myself between the 7" and 10" and finally went with the 7. My reasoning was they would fit a pocket better and still fit most nuts he would encounter. I can always do the 10's next year.

Just make sure you don't buy him anything firearm related. lol
 
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aaronrkelly

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Feb 25, 2014
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419
Location
southern Iowa
I gave my Dad 7" Knipex Pliers Wrench for his birthday and he loved them. He may never use them, he may use them a lot, who knows. What I did know was they were high quality, a brand name he had heard of before, and more expensive than he would have paid out of his own pocket for a tool like that. Perfect fit.

I fought with myself between the 7" and 10" and finally went with the 7. My reasoning was they would fit a pocket better and still fit most nuts he would encounter. I can always do the 10's next year.

Just make sure you don't buy him anything firearm related. lol


Yeah....especially since its his young daughter....and Im closer to his age - but thats another story. Thankfully hes NOT interested in guns and Im an NRA Instructor - so I kinda got the upper hand there :)
 

bustdknuckle

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Sep 24, 2012
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152
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Colorado
The pliers wrench is my vote. If he's anything like my dad, (lifetime farmer) he will forget to charge the light, and use the Screw drivers to jump the starter solenoid or pry bar and ruin them
 

djdaredevil

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Apr 13, 2013
Messages
193
Location
GH Michigan
Why not get all three? He'll be happy, your girlfriend will be happy and then youll be happy.
Amazon has the Chiseldrivers for around $40

Sears has a Craftsman Light for 18 if youre a club member. You could also just get the light that goes with his cordless power tools.

Just to be extra nice or as a gift from you, you throw in the 10in Knipex if you can afford it
 
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Hpozzuoli

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Rhode Island
For a farmer I would suggest new boots (maybe share the cost with others), new knit hat (whatever brand you like). Maybe a nice pair of heavy winter work gloves.

I am particular about tools so if I don't ask for it please don't buy it
 

Fixed

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Ontario, Canada
Knipex. I could see them being really well-suited to stuff on the farm: lots of different fastener sizes, and it's not like a shop where you always have a set of combination wrenches and sockets with you.
 

RatZ1LLa

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Apr 17, 2015
Messages
63
All great ideas, and thanks to GJ you can probably swing to add some more. Ash from German-Hand-Tools has a black Friday deal going on till the end of the month on the Chiseldrivers, $30.18 check it out in the hot deals: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=309727

Also if he is a fan of light bars, I picked up this Capri LED Light and it's worked extremely well: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AYNQQNS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I also have multiple sizes of the Knipex Pliers Wrench and you can't go wrong there!
 

frankush

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IL
I'm leaning towards the leatherman. I've never known a farmer or rancher that doesn't have a pair of pliers on his hip. Something simple without a million attachments.
 

Davefr

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Jan 7, 2010
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11,820
Location
OR
Got tasked with buying my GFs dad a gift. In the past they always get him some shirt or clothing item they admit they know he wont likely wear.

Hes a farmer.....Ive used his tools before. All quality stuff but basics. I thought Id buy him something he could use.

Thinking around $50 or $60....

My ideas, based on tools I have and love

#1
Wera screwdriver set, the chiseldrivers - about $60 (love the fact these can be used with a 1/4 drive, beat on and are great screwdrivers......who doesnt need a good screwdriver set)

#2
Knipex 10" pliers wrench - about $50 (I use mine all the time, hardly ever pick up an adjustable wrench anymore)

#3 .
LED rechargeable work light - about $55 (I use mine daily, couldnt live without it....dont remember the brand but its amazing)

My problem is all of these are good ideas, but expensive enough I can only get one.

Anyone think one is a better idea over the other......or even have another idea of their own?

Thanks guys.


I'd go with #3. That's a "must have" for a farmer.
 

SantaAna12

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Joined
Mar 1, 2012
Messages
1,091
A quality high-output headlamp?
A quality strong multitool?
A pair of Superfeet boot inserts?
A year subscription to the Adult Entertainment site of his choice?
(this last is not meant to be an insult).
 

Milton Shaw

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Feb 11, 2011
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4,835
Most farmers spend a lot of time wondering what the weather is. Get him one of the remote reading weather gauges. One that keeps up with rainfall etc. As a farmer he is always either wanting it to rain or wanting it to stop raining, I had uncles that were farmers and they always were worried about the weather.
 

sberry

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Brethren, Michigan
Look at his tools and see what he uses, pick a couple that are well worn out. Red snips along with 2 vise grips, a 10 and 11R or wire cutting pliers he uses.
Pick something that is second nature that he is familiar with. Don't get an exotic model even if it is your raving fave, a 440 Channelok is better if it is what he uses.
 
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unslow1

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Illinois
Have you looked at a Channellock 415? Maybe get those and then a Craftsman light. I have a couple of those lights. The charge seems to last forever.
 

crewchief888

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NW indiana
All sound like good ideas..
Or get him a leatherman if he doesn't have one

Bob

For a farmer I would suggest new boots (maybe share the cost with others), new knit hat (whatever brand you like). Maybe a nice pair of heavy winter work gloves.

I am particular about tools so if I don't ask for it please don't buy it

I gave Case knives to the men in my wife's family one year. They seemed well received.

^^ all good suggestions IMO

i'm always in favor of gifts that will get used...

:beer:
 

NonSenCe

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Sep 30, 2015
Messages
63
i doubt you cant go wrong with anything already suggested. i personally would be happy to get all the above. (knipex is awesome suggestion if he is has never had one yet)

headlamp. (i think ability to work with free hands is important)

nothing wrong with high quality worklight. (agree on others, flashlights and worklights are most likely to be inferior/cheaper or just very old technology ..a modern neutral tint led flashlights output will suprise everyone used to old incan flashlights, even maglites.) and if he has and likes his maglite because of its robustness.. maybe a LED upgrade on it?

if you do go to more normal flashlight/headlamp, then maybe also get a set of rechargable batteries and charger. (one that can work out of cigarette lighter or something?)

work gloves.. like jrc gloves (or something similarly high quality leather ones).

tool roll or small tool box to take with him to the field (does he have one where to keep his tools)
 

M6erfan

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'Merica!
I grew up on a farm and would vote pliers wrench. Personally I'd skip the recommendations for a multi tool. Had one, never used it, preferred the correct tool for the job...
 

Brownsfan

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Apr 16, 2012
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Cleveland Ohio
What if anything does he need or should replace tool wise ? Something maybe he has been just getting by with and could really use a new or upgrade.
 

geojag

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Oct 11, 2012
Messages
359
Location
Little Rock, AR
I am giving my FIL a 10" pliers wrench. He has a very extensive set of quality tools and was impressed with my pliers wrench. Easy, high quality gift.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 

Brownsfan

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Cleveland Ohio
If I were to give my FIL a pliers wrench or screwdriver set he would look at me like what the hell is this? He is the most helpless man I have ever met. Wouldn't know what to do with any tools. My mother in law fixes everything. If she can't then my phone rings. Had I not married their daughter I have no idea what they would do. They would be paying repair men or bothering someone else. They sure as hell wouldn't be calling my wife's sisters boyfriend. He is as worthless as they come. It's so bad that if she has car trouble or a flat I am her first call. Not her live in boyfriend. It's like I have 2 wives without the fun part of having 2 wives. OK rant off. Just spent my weekend fixing their ****.
 
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Dozerhand

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Dec 9, 2010
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626
Location
Illinois
I vote for a stack of about 10 new 5 gallon buckets. Put a bundle of shop rags, some hand cleaner, and 3 or 4 different wire brushes in it. Never knew a farmer who wouldn't like that.
 

firworks

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Jun 29, 2015
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4,079
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IL
I'd probably steer you away from the Chiseldrivers. I like them well enough as a set of nice screwdrivers but after I broke the tip on one of mine I'm babying them a lot more now for fear of breaking another. I wouldn't hand them off to someone else and tell them they can "beat on them" anymore.
 
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aaronrkelly

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Feb 25, 2014
Messages
419
Location
southern Iowa
I think Ive decided on the 10" pliers wrench. I have the smaller ones and use them often, just thinking with the larger equipment hes likely to get more use out of the 10" ones.
 

ovrrdrive

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Sep 13, 2015
Messages
642
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Central Florida
I think Ive decided on the 10" pliers wrench. I have the smaller ones and use them often, just thinking with the larger equipment hes likely to get more use out of the 10" ones.

He'll probably be so happy he'll give you some naked pictures of his daughter.

Good choice.
 

davidw

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Joined
Sep 17, 2012
Messages
111
Location
Exton, PA
Got tasked with buying my GFs dad a gift. In the past they always get him some shirt or clothing item they admit they know he wont likely wear.

Hes a farmer.....Ive used his tools before. All quality stuff but basics. I thought Id buy him something he could use.

Thinking around $50 or $60....

My ideas, based on tools I have and love

#1
Wera screwdriver set, the chiseldrivers - about $60 (love the fact these can be used with a 1/4 drive, beat on and are great screwdrivers......who doesnt need a good screwdriver set)

#2
Knipex 10" pliers wrench - about $50 (I use mine all the time, hardly ever pick up an adjustable wrench anymore)

#3 .
LED rechargeable work light - about $55 (I use mine daily, couldnt live without it....dont remember the brand but its amazing)

My problem is all of these are good ideas, but expensive enough I can only get one.

Anyone think one is a better idea over the other......or even have another idea of their own?

Thanks guys.


Screwdrivers! Like you said, Who doesn't need a good screwdriver set? Hell I have one, and I still need one!
 
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