Tool wedding gift for husband?

[MovingAlong]

Hi,
My almost husband loves making things and spends a lot of time in his workshop! So I want to get him something related to this for a wedding day gift. He loves woodworking, has also just bought himself a mini anvil so he can make us some curtain pole brackets.. unfortunately I don’t have a lot of Knowledge in this area. Does anyone have any ideas of something I could get him? Perhaps something antique / something that he could keep forever but would be useful at the same time ….? Thanks in advance!!

Here are some assumptions from the post:
1) Upcoming wedding - budget matters
2) Making curtain brackets with a mini anvil - hands on guy
3) Could be useful but kept forever - no moving parts

It does sound (to me) like you're looking for hand tools. For a woodworker, that describes a good variety of things: panel saws, tenon saws, chisels, planes, etc.. Something edge tools need is a good sharpening system. If he has chisels and planes, quality stones shouldn't be far behind. For saws, good files.

What I've always thought was missing from most lists for new folks - books. Check out Lost Art Press as a publisher, anything from Bob Flexner on finishing. Hit up a used bookstore to see what's available locally too. Old books have an appeal to me and might to him as well.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

Good to recognize that now

All in good fun

Actually, now that I think about it...I lied. The 16" Makita beam saw IS a sidewinder. I did hate that fact though!

 

[Ton ton]

.

 

[Wamsutta]

Only if you cut from opposite sides. It will however cut 3X4's in a single cut.
There is a company called 'Big Foot Tools' that makes a replacement table/ guard for a 10-1/4" blade....THEN you can cut 4x's in a single pass. Much better than pulling out the 16" Makita beam saw to cut a 4X.

An 8-1/4'' blade won't cut through a 4x4 in a single pass?

 

[mike93lx]

An 8-1/4'' blade won't cut through a 4x4 in a single pass?

No. Only goes about 2.75".

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

I think she gave up on us guys...probably bought him a nice warm cardigan sweater and a pair of gardening gloves. Hope he doesn't read this thread and sees all the cool **** she could have bought him instead.

 

[Wamsutta]

No. Only goes about 2.75".

Wow. All this time I was thinking I should've got the 8-1/4'' instead of the 7-1/4''. Now I feel good.

 

[mike93lx]

Wow. All this time I was thinking I should've got the 8-1/4'' instead of the 7-1/4''. Now I feel good.

If you were cutting a lot of 6x, the 8-1/4 would be great as it is two passes, but if 4x is the ticket, I'd either stay with 7-1/4 or go to 10

 

[rktinc]

My lovely bride surprised me with this Waterloo just before we got married. That was over 20 years ago. I am finally building my dream garage after all this time and placed my gift in a place of honor in my new workshop. I also added a few more pieces to match it

 

[bb29510]

i got me a klein nut driver yesterday, the shaft will pop out and its 1/4 on one end and 1/8 on other, it was only $15

i thought it was nice, I really like it

 

[rharman]

^^^^maybe if you're left handed!

In my 32 years as a framer / framing contractor, I never used a 'sidewinder'...guess I wasn't a real carpenter.

Confession is good for the soul....

 

[rharman]

For our first married Christmas, my wife bought me a Craftsman 16 gallon shop vac.

That was Christmas 1981. I still have that vacuum - and that wife!

 

[Firebrick43]

My wife bought me a 175lbs (i forget the stones) peter wright in almost pristine condition for my first anniversary present 22 years ago.

 

[mike93lx]

For our first married Christmas, my wife bought me a Craftsman 16 gallon shop vac.

That was Christmas 1981. I still have that vacuum - and that wife!

There are so many new and improved options out there...might be worth looking...




Dust extractors, HEPA, auto switching

 

[Ton ton]

I have never used a sidewinder circular saw either.

 

[65Goat]

My lovely bride surprised me with this Waterloo just before we got married. That was over 20 years ago. I am finally building my dream garage after all this time and placed my gift in a place of honor in my new workshop. I also added a few more pieces to match it

Great story!

 

[Not So Legendary]

If you want a flashy woodworking vise. have a look at the twin turbo vise, it's $400-500 depending on size.

 

[LOW1]

As others have mentioned buy a Veritas, Lie Nielsen or Starrett tool and have it engraved with a suitable engraving. Depending on your budget a nice hand saw would be good for this as would a square.

 

[MarineScott]

A gift card as said before. Some might say it is a cop out solution, but it lets the get or provides a discount for what they really want. You two could look at gifts together, and then you could have a better perspective when another special day comes along.

 

[bb29510]

every i get ask what i want for

1/2 inch wrench

dont you have one, yes but i need two

so 50 years later, i got like 40 craftman 1/2 inch wrench and can be no more happier

it cheap, they dont have to think and hurt them down, and i always need a 1/2 inch wrench

 

[My Old Tools]

A nice antique wood plane would fit the bill. Drop me an email.
www.myoldtools.com

 

[Davefr]

As others have mentioned buy a Veritas, Lie Nielsen or Starrett tool and have it engraved with a suitable engraving. Depending on your budget a nice hand saw would be good for this as would a square.

That's a great idea to get something that can be engraved.

 

[rktinc]

Great story! Thanks for sharing.


Send us a picture of that cubby storage wall in the background. That looks really cool.

 

[rharman]

There are so many new and improved options out there...might be worth looking...

Dust extractors, HEPA, auto switching

Oh, I have a couple of others including a Fein Turbo with auto-switching.

That original vac is now dedicated to outdoor cleanup but I'll never part with it as long as it runs.

 

[65Goat]

^^^

 

[dchawk81]

Thanks! He has 2 good vices that he bought second hand and has them on his bench already. Are there any other essentials you can think of like this?
I’m in the UK and was thinking upto £150 ish really.
He has some old planes as well.
I’m now wondering about some blacksmithinf type tools but unsure where to start with that!

As a guy, asking me what I'd like/could use is as good as a surprise gift.

So maybe ask him to give you a list of things and choose one?

Just a thought.

 

[dchawk81]

a very romantic funds transfer afterwards.

Leave it on the dresser?

 

[dchawk81]

If he’s into woodworking, maybe look into an old hand plane or a vintage saw. Those can last forever, especially if they’re well-maintained, and would really stand out in his collection. You could even pair it with a sharpening stone to keep everything in prime condition.

WTF dude.