Husband's Birthday Approaching...

[swilliamsny]

Our house is still being worked on, so we haven't done too much with the garage. My husband got a winch for the hard-top on the Rubicon. How did we ever manage without that?!

So I'm thinking that there have to be other "necessities" for his garage, and maybe one would make a great birthday gift. What are some of your garage must-haves?

Here are some of the things in the garage right now, if that helps. An old Kawasaki GPz - almost running, a Honda Superhawk, an old YJ that's mostly running, and the Rubicon. At some point, we'll probably build a separate garage, since the Commander is parked outside all the time, and my wood-working tools are in his garage as well, but that's another story.

The drill press and welder take up some room, as does the lawnmower and the kids bikes. There are some smaller miscellaneous things, and a couple of of bookcases for shelves right now.

 

[lisiecki1]

Get a shed for the bikes and lawn equipment.

 

[woodrail]

budget range? You could get answers ranging from a nice screwdriver set to a 2-post lift!

For me, my spouse exchange about $50 gifts. We save the big bucks for mutual decisions. For that kinda money, maybe a nice stool from Lowe's or a radio for the shop?

If your in the $200 range, get the $170 rolling tool cart from Harbor Freight.

$500 range, workbench or tall cabinet.

Just some thoughts.....

 

[nonhog]

If you loved him you would know what he wants.

O.K. honestly most guys could care less about the right gift.
Unless of course he has been dropping hints.
(I still don't have that hoist I keep talking about)
Gift card to his favorite tool store?

My 2cents.

 

[Zeke]

You mentioned how handy the winch was. I can imagine how difficult removing the top was beforehand. Just observe other tasks that look to be harder than they are. Having problems rolling up extension cords? Get a reel.

I didn't say "get real."

 

[crewchief888]

stripper pole





somebody had to say it.

shed for the lawn mower and kids bikes sounds like a good idea.

 

[Fast LT1]

Lots of ***.... that'd make me happy!

 

[FJ 432]

They make padded hangers that attach to the wall so that you can hang your Rubicon doors that are pretty cool.

 

[Nestor]

Beer fridge. Full size.

 

[jlckmj]

I have to give you credit for even asking, you seem like a good wife!

I agree with the post above about a shed (if it's within your budget) to get some of the seldom used or seasonal items out of the garage. That would be one of the first things on my list.

Good luck,
Jim

 

[zkling]

It's really hard to say without knowing what he already has and what he needs or may need in the future. If you already have a wood shop and a welder I take it you are pretty well tooled up so to say.

Maybe one of the HF44" bottom tool boxes? Could double as a work bench and place to store his tools? Then again if he already has a nice tool box

 

[Trey T]

A nice work bench with storage space for organization? I'm not saying your garage is messy but I think i might be a good idea because I struggle a lot with organization in my garage.

 

[justin1795]

i hated having a lawn mower and shovels in my garage. a shed was one of the best things i got. made it feel like more of a shop to me.

 

[richfinn]

A Fluke multimeter or some rare Adidas Originals sneakers (is what we really want but tend to get socks or a bottle of whiskey)

Ps If my wife bought me a shed (that I had to erect)I would consider hiring a hitman

Money no object: tickets for the USA Grand Prix 2014 or if he is a redneck some NASCAR tickets and one of those rubber nut sacks

 

[Krash Kadillak]

Motorcycle lift? (brings m/c up to easy work-on height)

http://www.handy-lift.com/index.cfm...orcyclelifts&gclid=CPqErsC7j7kCFUXhQgod_gIA4w

http://www.handy-lift.com/index.cfm/products/Little-Grunt-IN-STOCK/Motorcycle-Lifts

 

[wrench409]

What guy wouldn't love these?

 

[KiltLifter]

You can see most of the responses are for storage equipment (except for the stripper pole, which I laughed at, them promptly ducked and looked around to be sure my wife wasn't watching)

Not sure where you live (i haven't added that info yet either) but if the (kids) bikes are seasonal, then what about a different kind of bike lift - the electric ones that lift the huffy's up to the ceiling or into the rafters? (google: electric bike hoist) A: It's a gizmo and he IS a male, so.. and B: you may make it a seasonal thing where bikes live there all winter and the snowblower has a home all summer.

My 2 cents (only worth 1/20th of a cent now cuz of age and inflation...)

 

[malibu101]

Get a shed for the bikes and lawn equipment.

i hated having a lawn mower and shovels in my garage. a shed was one of the best things i got. made it feel like more of a shop to me.

X3.
I built an 8x12 shed last year to store the lawn equipment and other such stuff.
It made the garage much more inviting and easy to work in, rather than working in tight spaces due to the need to store some things inside.

 

[Responder]

On the theme of a seperate shed, if that is out of your budget then anything to do storage wise. That could be a toolbox to plastic bins. Never enough storage!

 

[swilliamsny]

If you loved him you would know what he wants.

I laughed at this because that's exactly what he would say. What I've learned in ten years, though, is that guys have much better ideas than I do, no matter how well I know him.

Thanks to everyone for the ideas. There are a couple that made me jump up and down. Off to go shopping now. (Think I'll leave the stripper pole out - sorry. Besides, we have four kids. Don't need any more of those!!)

 

[Moose97]

Sounds like the shed would be a good gift to "de-clutter" if it's in the budget. I saw a shop vac that mounts to the wall on one of these posts (I think it was a Craftsman) that I am really wanting. A gift card to his favorite tool store is a never-lose in my book. That's what I want from the wife, the kids, parents or in-laws.

 

[jd_1138]

I think Lowe's or Home Depot offers an option to have a shed erected, unless you think he'd prefer to do it himself.

 

[jlckmj]

(Think I'll leave the stripper pole out - sorry. Besides, we have four kids. Don't need any more of those!!)

hate to tell ya but you can still do it without having kids YA KNOW! (lol)

Jim

 

[All]

Nothing says 'nothing' like a gift card.

+1 That's a good one, ducksface. I'm going to have to remember that one.

__________


OP, I agree with the poster who admired you for taking the extra step of asking the guys what to get for your husband.

Some of the suggestions made think about what you might want also... more room for your woodworking tools in your garage.

With that in mind, an outdoor shed would make sense, however, two yellow flags of caution went up in my mind.

First, with a shed, you'd be bringing home something he'd have to build. So instead of giving him a gift, you've now given him a project. One that he has to finish fairly soon, because fall is here and winter is coming. Amidst all of the other projects he probably already has going on.

A potential Here Honey Dear can turn into a There Honey Do, if too much time goes by without him getting around to clearing the area, pouring the concrete base, or fashioning a deck foundation for the shed that has yet to be built. Even plastic sheds that don't need to be roofed or painted still need a good foundation so the plastic panels don't pop out of each other at the seams when the floor is stressed with dissimilar weights as the shed is loaded.

Second of all, what if the tables were turned, and he was buying you a gift? And he brought home a vacuum cleaner? Or an exercise bike? Yes, you may have complained from time to time about vacuuming, or thought about ways to exercise indoors when it's snowing outside (without adding any more kids to the fold) but now that he has brought you one for your birthday... is he saying that you should be vacuuming or exercising?

Obviously, only you know your husband (or at least you hope you do!) so the issues mention here might be completely irrelevant. But the last thing I want to impart is how small a gift can be, and still be very meaningful and significant.

I was working on a project, and was having difficulty with a ratchet. The socket wouldn't come off because the ball bearing in the ratchet was stuck. I pried and I tried, and finally, now riled with rage, I tossed the ratchet across the yard to hit a rock (hoping the impact would knock the socket off).

My birthday came very shortly thereafter, and lo and behold... what did I receive?

I didn't even know she was watching. I didn't even know she knew what tool I threw. I still don't know how she figured out the exact length and size of ratchet I was using, because it was an SK Williams that isn't made anymore (sorry for throwing it guys). But for my birthday, she produced a nice quality Craftsman ratchet that had the same lever type direction dial, and furthermore, had a push button release for the socket retention ball bearing.

So what was the gift? Her attentiveness. She was paying attention to me and what I was struggling with. I would never have purchased a brand new ratchet. That was her gift also. Purchasing something for me that I would never "waste money on" purchasing for myself. I didn't need a new ratchet. When I had time, I could have, and did, fix mine (sort of). But I will cherish that ratchet she bought me for the rest of my life, and never sell it, because her thought behind it practically makes me cry with gratitude every I see it. Not gratitude for a new wrench. Gratitude for her.

 

[burs0028]

Regarding All's above post: +10