Tools, Sharpening and Power Machinery - what's the latest and greatest?

Hi folks,

I guess I'm the only one to post in this forum, so let's get this party started.

Actually, I know nothing about tools; my husband is the one who has a problem. He's always in his workshop tinkering with things and making messes, but hey, it's what makes him happy. It's also what makes him relatively easy to shop for. I know he wants something in the tool department. Not being tool-inclined, all I need to know is what's the latest thing or things out there that is/are cool and handy.

So basically, gentlemen and gentlewomen: if you were looking at a present with your name on it under the Christmas tree, what would you hope it might be this year? I (and eventually my dh) thank you very much.

Happy holidays,
V

V, Welcome to the forums. You have opened a can of worms, so get ready for suggestions that will seem innocuous to us, but outlandish to you. First, we have to ask questions to drill down on his needs.
Does he build things for the house (cabinets, etc), does he limit himself to birdhouses? Does he already have a compressor (you're halfway home if he does)? How much space does he have to dedicate to a working area. That is, does he have to put up his toys when he is through in order to get the Lexus in the garage, or does he actually have a shop area?
Give us some guides, and we will fill your stocking with ideas.

What Chandler said, no easy answer to that. We need to know what he does, and what he has. Have you asked him what he might need???

I would never purchase a tool for someone without checking with them first.

Mitch - I can send you a list :D

I agree with the others, we first need to know what type of work he does in his shop, or what he would like to do if he had the tools.

gift certificate or taking him shopping to his favorite tool source a few days before Christmas and let him pick

A tool I would covet he might look at and shrug and toss in the corner .

OK, for some basics. Does he have any of the following:?
Cordless drill 14.4 volts or higher
10" or 12" compound miter saw
table saw
drill press
band saw
oscillating drum sander
planer
jointer
biscuit cutter (he might like this)
radial arm saw
router with table
circular saw
belt sander
random orbit sander
jig saw
reciprocating saw
1/2" chuck corded drill (for heavy work)
He would always be happy with a package of saw blades for the circular saw, jig saw, router bits.
Go snooping with this list and those from others, and see what he has, mark them off the list, and get back with us.

Well, this is a bit of a problem. He's said things about this stuff before, but I don't remember any of it, and asking would only clue him in about his gift(s) -- we like our surprises -- and he'd know I wasn't listening the first time around.

I'll describe his workspace. He has a lot of stuff and a lot of space. I'm thinking of that "Home Improvement" show with Tim Allen, but with a much, much messier space. Lots of toys but sawdust and rusty metal pieces and junk on the floor.

He added a room to the side of our house last year and is talking about adding another room to another side.

He also has a 1960-something Mustang and it's like his second wife (*grrr*), and he's always tinkering around with that, "renovating" might be a good word for it, since it was a heap of junk a few years ago and now is almost a nice car.

Sometimes he goes around "fixing" things (lamp, old typewriter, old pipes in the wall) that you might or might not consider broken.

I don't know if any of the above is actually helpful. But I do know that he tends to salivate over whatever the newest tool of the holiday season seems to be -- only this year I have no idea what that would be!

Go for it, don't hold back. If I get some good responses I'll print them out and snoop around his workspace and see if he has some of that stuff already.

Thanks!

Ooohhhhh, an old car guy, now we're getting somewhere. Hand tools are always a good bet, but if you aren't sure what he has or needs, how about a gift certificate from Sears?? Craftsman hand tools are still a god buy, but not much else in the sears tool line, for any serious work.

Since you weren't listening before when he clued you in :eek: I think a gift certificate for any local tool store would be the next best thing. I have a lot of tools and maybe don't need any specific tool I don't have [at least not at the moment] but I'd probably salivate over a gift certificate to buy tools with. Even if the tool I decided on was more than the certificate, it is easier to justify the expenditure when most of it is already paid :D

You mentioned that his workspace is a mess so I can personally recommend the Dirt Dog. It's the same thing as a Roomba except it's built for industrial areas and can vacuum up nails and debris.

I suppose there will be many people who will add to the discussion with car tools or car parts, or tools for building walls and rooms.

Best of luck and happy holidays,
Nellie

if you do decide to surprise him keep the receipt an be sure you can return it .

dirt dog sounds like a under foot hazard to me , could really be dangerous if you where to trip over it while operating a power tool

I'd go for the gift certificate as well.

I'm a little like your guy - I already have every tool I need, but certainly not every tool I want.

The problem is, unless you're a "tool person" you wouldn't understand anything I want, and you're going to buy something I don't need.

Example: My mother still wants to buy me a Christmas present every year. Despite my efforts to tell her not to, every year she orders the latest neat tool gizmo they are demonstrating on home shopping network. The problem is, most of this stuff is complete junk, and a waste of money for all but the most novice DIY'ers. I can't remember the last time I could use something she gave me.

You might have him give you a list of things he wants, and buy something off that list, but otherwise I wouldn't try.