The wind is howling and a glistening blanket of cascading white covers the landscape as far as the eye can see.
Although the chill of winter has been thrust upon us, it’s the season to gather with family and friends and bask in the soothing warmth of contentment while being gently caressed by the subtle glow of a beautifully decorated tree. The ornaments, the lights, the presents beneath... so very peaceful.
And then suddenly, panic sets in: What if the gift you bought isn’t well received? How many sweaters can one person own? The hunt for the many gifts we wish to give can often be a source of unwelcomed, pre-season stress. Might I suggest the gift of one (or more) tools?
At a very young age and sometime before Christmas, I recall startling my dad in the basement. He was making noise while working on what he quick-wittedly described as "book ends" — a supposed gift for my mom. However, Christmas morning revealed the true nature of his endeavours; meticulously hand-crafted wooden semi-trailer toy trucks, for both my brother and me.
This memory remains so vivid to this day, one of many throughout my childhood that instilled in me a deep-seated desire to fashion something from nothing. My dad was always building or fixing things. There can be no doubt these traits were passed on to me.
Every Christmas beneath the tree, was a music-related gift (of course) and either a hand tool or power tool of some sort. My parents rarely ever missed an opportunity to expand upon my ever-growing collection of tools. And when the time came for me to move out on my own, a rather large assortment of tools that had accumulated over the years accompanied me to my new abode. Many of the hand tools can, to this day, be found in my toolbox. However, innovative advancements in power tools far outshine those of yesteryear.
As such, here are some suggestions for the hard-to-shop-for DIYers on your Christmas list this holiday season.
Drill bits
The perfect stocking stuffer — because you can never have too many. Most drill bit packs are available for drill and/or driver applications and contain a wide range of sizes from 1/16 inch to 1/2 inch in diameter. Make note that drill bits are often recommended for specific types of materials; some are best for wood, for metals, or sometimes for both. A drill bit pack can range from $20 to $50 — or more — depending on the bit type. Milwaukee drill bits have outlasted other brands in my experience.
Cordless power tools
Not long ago, completing a task with power tools required several extension cords — and they’d tangle up and unplug at the most inconvenient times. How things have changed! Many tool manufacturers have introduced comprehensive lines that use batteries, thereby eliminating the need for extension cords. DeWalt, Makita and Milwaukee offer a wide range of tools — the DeWalt 20v Max line best suits my specific construction needs. Although costs per tool are quite reasonable, multi-packs are by far the best way to go. Not only do you save on tools, but you usually get extra batteries in a multi-pack.
The driver and hammer-drill combo, for instance, comes with two slim batteries, a charger and carry-case. Priced at less than $200, this is extremely reasonable — the driver alone can set you back $150.
The most cost-effective combo contains a circular saw, a reciprocating saw, a standard drill, a driver and a flashlight, along with two large batteries, a charger and the very large duffel bag-style carry-case as well. Priced often less than $800, that’s a $400+ savings when comparing the cost of buying each of these tools individually. The cordless jigsaw is the most recent DeWalt 20v Max tool to grace my collection. The efficiency exhibited by such a wide variety of cordless tools that operate on interchangeable battery packs has proven indispensable on any job site. It makes life easier at home, too.
Wet saw
Once you go wet, it’s impossible to revert to scoring and cutting dry tile. Although there are several wet saws on the market, the Ridgid line of wet saws in my opinion, are the most versatile for the price.
Even the baseline model allows for precision angle cuts, as well as miter cuts. And it’s quite easy to use and easy to clean after use.
At less than $350, it’s a DIY tiler’s delight.
Portable compressor
If you’ve ever installed window casings and/or baseboards using a hammer and nails, you know all too well that one missed hammer hit can instantly pit or damage your trim. For a clean and efficient install, a portable air compressor and nail gun are essential. Porter Cable provides a line of reasonably priced air compressors that will satisfy any of your finishing needs, and the compressor hose and nail gun, which can accommodate brad nails of up to two inches in length, are both included — a steal of a deal for less than $200.
Whether adding to someone’s tool collection, or introducing someone for the first time to the wonderful world of tools, ANY tool will make the perfect gift. And moreover, if coming up with gift ideas has proven to be a source of tension for you in the past, just remember: There are heaps of tools from which to choose. So save yourself the seasonal aggravation and start an annual tradition!
Mom, Dad — I hope OUR tool tradition continues this year. And I just want to say thanks again for everything.
