wood working tools

[OIIIIIIIO]

Hi,

Any wood workers out there?

Looking for a gift idea for my Dad (no not for Christmas)...something that's neat, wouldn't be something most wood workers would have...but still useful...max budget of probably $300...

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Patrick

 

[Firefyter-Emt]

The budget sounds great, but to give ideas, we really would need to have an idea of what he has, what he does with what he has, and stuff like that. Does he build things mainly on a table saw, lathe work, or is ha and old galoot that uses all hand tools and cuts dovetails by hand? There are a ton of awesome "toys" that would be a great addition for a guy that has a nice shop, like the latest / greatest miter gauge. However, a drill press might be the exact tool he has been longing for so he can stop using the cordless drill for everything. See what I mean?

 

[lacewood]

Lie nielsen skew plane....bought one for my father a couple years ago and he loves it.
http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?grp=1274

Or how about a festool drill?
http://www.festoolusa.com/products/cordless-drills

 

[bhalv]

a bench top mounted mortise cutter is always fun, and a woodworker can never have too many clamps

 

[djjsr]

If there's a Rockler store near you, go there. They have some great woodworking tools and a lot of stuff that the big stores don't carry.

 

[smschriefer]

Wood. Exotic woods that he wouldn't normally buy. If he uses veneers, that is the route I would go as you can get a greater variety. I have some species that I got a few years ago that I treat like gold and every time I use them I think of who got it for me. So it is very sentimental as well as practical.

As a woodworker, I am particular about the tools I buy as I want something that feels good in my hand and personally don't want people to buy them for me, due to my standards. Oh, nice blades for his saws. A nice blade is something I am always happy to receive and it doesn't matter the type as they all get used in time.

I also enjoy getting sandpaper and slow setting yellow glue. These seem like simple things, but you go through a ton of these items.

 

[demographic]

When my father died a few years ago I used a little of the money he left me (the other 1300 pounds went on the mortgage) to buy a Veritas low angle block plane which is a little wider than most others and as I have fairly large hands it suits me down to the ground.
Since that time I've picked up a Lie Nielson low angle block plane (which is narrower) and I'm so glad that I bought the one I did.
That's not belittling the quality of the Lie Nielson version at all, its just nothing like as well suited to my hand as the Veritas version.

 

[Firefyter-Emt]

Oh... I know, given what we have to work with, a $300 gift card to Rockler! And most other woodworkers do not have one!

 

[Root]

I bought my dad a Rockler Electric Branding Iron. This way he can customize it and brand all his projects. I thought it was a great gift idea for him, for Christmas, tho'. He builds quite a bit of things and sells them.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10369

 

[ddawg16]

Biscut cutter or the Kreg pocket hole cutter.....two of the most useful tool I have...

Or, portable planner....

A set of clamps? Woodworkers never have enough clamps....

Rockler does have a pretty neat roll-around clamp rack.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I bought myself one of these from Rockler a few years ago:

It's an edge plane, used for putting nice rounded edges on your wood. It works slick, and only costs $23.00. http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=5320

 

[Jackfre]

Over the years I've visited Lie Nielsen frequently in my trips to ME. Over the years I've accumulated many of their tools and they are all just outstanding and a wonderful gift. The small low-angle block plane seems to always fall to my hand. The adjustable mouth low angle block is great too. They and the low angle Jack plane would be my first choices for a gift. In fact, I'd go with the LA Jack. A LN tool is an exceptional quality gift and will put a smile on about any woodworkers face.

 

[Zeke]

You could spend 300 on a set of chisels if you want very high quality. Get a nice mallet to go with them.

 

[Nighttrain]

Biscut cutter or the Kreg pocket hole cutter.....two of the most useful tool I have...

Or, portable planner....

A set of clamps? Woodworkers never have enough clamps....

Rockler does have a pretty neat roll-around clamp rack.

I second the Kreg pocket hole jig. Just got mine and am using it in my cabinet build. Don't know how I got along without it.

 

[johnnybentwrench]

anyhting from bridge city tool works!!!! japanese chisels are nice too

 

[never enuf time]

Kreg If he doesn't have one, or gift certifacate to Lee Valley,Highland woodworking.
Rockler is great for local buy's , but most stuff is imported & overpriced.

 

[OIIIIIIIO]

he's more of a power tool rather than carving...

builds mostly small furniture from plant stands to children's tables and chairs...

he's got a branding thing a ma bob as well as a biscuit jointer, table saw, miter saw, drills, router, clamps up the wazzu...

that edge planer looked pretty nice...would allow him to finish those edges a little bit differently...

 

[johnnybentwrench]

A forrest Blade then. might of spelled it wrong?

 

[camarotoolman]

Pile of lumber, find out what breed he likes. There are lots of nice woodworking tools on feebay, used Stanley planes etc.

 

[Zeke]

Sounds like he could use a bandsaw. Benchtop models are well within your budget.

 

[jlckmj]

I do some woodworking, and I have to second the idea of buying some exotic lumber (it is expensive) or a gift certificate to a woodworking store.

My tools are purchased on an as is basis, and I buy only what I need when I need it. It would be a shame to buy him something that he did not use.

Jim

 

[rsanter]

depends on what kind of woodowrker he is...

if he is a wood turner then get him a set of the tools with the carbide inserts

if he is a general woodworker that does furnature and fine work then get him the most bitchen high end hand wood plane

often woodworkers like to collect old wood working tools like the antique planes and such

bob