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The Editors Mailbox

Last-Minute Gifts for Woodworking Dads

Ed Pirnik, Senior Web Producer

6 users recommend

We polled a select groups of Fine Woodworking dads, in search of their best Father's Day gift picks.

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June 17th is less than two weeks away, and if you're a mother, wife, or child still in need of a Father's Day gift for a woodworking dad, Fine Woodworking has got you covered.

I asked a few of our very own woodworking dads (myself included) to pony up their best gift suggestions for under $50.00. Below, you'll find their favorite picks, complete with store links.

***UPDATE*** Below are the winners, accompanied by the gifts on their wish lists.

Submit Your Own Suggestions

Between now and Tuesday, June 12, 2012 (3pm EST), submit your own suggestions for Father's Day gifts under fifty bucks for a chance to bring home one of three free books. We'll select our three favorite suggestions from those left in the comments section below, add them to this blog post, and award the books to the lucky winners. **Note: We're giving away three different books, matching each book to each winner will be done at random.

Great Father's Day Gift Picks from Our Editors

Asa Christiana
Editor
Starrett 4-in. Double Square - $52.50

Most woodworkers own a 12-in. combination square, and these are certainly great. But they won't fit in your apron pocket, and they can be a little unwieldy to use for precise layout jobs, especially when marking joinery. The truth is that most marking and layout tasks are small-scale. Enter the 4-in. double square by Starrett. This size is a joy to use, the precise markings are easy to see and use, and Starrett accuracy is legendary. You'll be surprised to see your 12-in. combo square gathering dust, while this trsusty little friend becomes your go-to layout tool. I'm pushing the $50 limit, but only by 2 bucks this time!

Michael Pekovich
Art Director
Jorgensen 12-in. Adjustable Hand Screw - $25.99 

In woodworking, you can never have enough clamps and here's a pair that will help fill out anyone's collection. These 12-in. wooden hand screws from Jorgensen ($26/ea. at woodcraft.com) may look old fashioned, but they earn a spot in the modern shop. The deep reach jaws can put pressure exactly where you need it and the twin handles let you apply plenty of clamping force. For more on using these indispensable clamps check out:

Matt Kenney
Senior Editor
Veritas Precision Square - $24.50

The longer I have the Veritas Precision Square, the more I find myself using it. It's great for setting up machinery, like setting the distance between a router bit and the fence on your router table, and setting the bit's cutting height. I use it at the planer to check the thickness of my stock, hooking the long leg over the face and reading the thickness of the short leg. It also can be used in a similar fashion for layout. For example, when laying out dovetail spacing on small drawer sides, I hook the small leg on the edge of the board and the long leg across the end grain. It truly is a great tool and a wonderful compliment to standard 6 in. and 12 in. rules. And I even find myself using it as a try square on occasion.

Stephen Scott
Associate Editor
5/8-in. Thick Anti-Fatigue Floor Mat - $36.99 

Although I can easily lose track of time when I'm woodworking, I don't need a clock in the shop. After an hour or so of standing at the bench, my hips and knees let me know it's time for a break. Or at least they did until I put an anti-fatigue mat under my feet. I wrote a piece for Fine Woodworking about these spongy beauties a couple of years ago and, in the process, became a convert. A layer of foam between you and the concrete can make a world of difference, I'm happy to report. My hips and knees are happier, and I'm getting more done. 

Ed Pirnik
Senior Web Producer
Veritas Wheel Marking Gauge with Micro Adjust - $36.50

The typical pin-style marking gauge works well, but when scribing a line along the grain of some woods, that pin will tend to wander with the grain. This can leave you with an inaccurate line. Recently however, I tried out a Veritas wheel-style marking gauge in a colleague's workshop. Since the hardened steel wheel slices through wood fibers, rather than tearing them, you don't have to worry about wandering along a grain line. They've even got a micro-adjust model that makes it a heck of a lot easier to dial in the perfect setting. Plus, the micro-adjust model comes in well under $50.

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Comments (33)

Tod_Jervey writes: How about a hook knife? This is really handy for carving spoons that make gifts to share with the giver. Lee Valley has one for $28.50.
Posted: 10:17 am on June 12th

bruceclarke1949 writes: For Me $50, could buy a Kreg Micro-Pocket drill guide, Or a Japanese Standard Dozuki Saw ( Lee Valley ). But most of all with out all the tool's It's the good time I am going to have with my Family at the backyard barby.
Posted: 9:28 am on June 11th

bruceclarke1949 writes: For Me $50, could buy a Kreg Micro-Pocket drill guide, Or a Japanese Standard Dozuki Saw ( Lee Valley ). But most of all with out all the tool's It's the good time I am going to have with my Family at the backyard barby.
Posted: 9:28 am on June 11th

cahudson42 writes: Great Lee Valley suggestions from the editors!

Here is another:

Batoning Chisel
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=67735&cat=1,41504

Beautifully made. Rugged. $16.50. Get both the Left and Right versions for $33 - with Free Shipping until 6/18 (you will need to add something for yourself to hit $40 min for free shipping)
Posted: 3:29 am on June 11th

JIS2 writes: Being fairly new to woodworking, I have been slowly accumulating my hand tools. Two of my favorites are my Two Cherry chisels and my Veritas low-angle plane. I want to keep these tools in tip-top shape so I would like to get the Veritas Steel Honing Plate. Cost is $24.50. You can even throw in a couple of tubes of Diamond Paste for $12.50 each and still be under $50.
Posted: 7:57 pm on June 10th

bruceclarke1949 writes: For me at the moment would be the Kreg micro-pocket drill guide, I have two son's and two very young grand-son's, but I am afraid not one is into wood working, Hey but I do know they will be throwing Me agreat Father's Day bash.
Posted: 10:29 am on June 10th

welling2010 writes: Sorry, I forgot to mention the gift suggestions in my nostalgic rant:) I would suggest some pen kits or simple small gifts like sanding pads for the lathe. Clamps are always needed and all can be found for under $50.
Posted: 8:50 pm on June 9th

welling2010 writes: I just spent a few hours in my shop with my oldest Son, teaching him to turn his first pen on the lathe. That time was priceless and winning one of your books would be a great way to share even more in the shop with my son. Thanks for the opportunity!
Welling2010
Posted: 8:48 pm on June 9th

boater writes: Spending time with my adult son in his shop,priceless, far more valuable than any $50.00 gift. The older I get, the time spent with family is ever more valuable
Posted: 8:35 pm on June 9th

Rohcna writes: Having my father back alive for a day to work in the shop.. you can keep the $50 for something like that.
Posted: 7:53 pm on June 9th

woodchuck1954 writes: Like what others have said, no money can buy happiness or replacing your family by your side. I am 58 years old, I miss working side by side with my dad, on woodworking projects. He is still alive, at 85 years old, but suffers from a disease that prevents his woodworking abilities. I also can remember watching and later helping my grandfather in his shop, on his Shopsmith. I learned a lot, but at first, I was not that interested. I blew a lot of educational chances, that will never be available, again.
I have never been married, so never had my own family. I do not qualify for fathers day. The only regret is not getting a chance to teach my offsprings what I know about woodworking. Besides, anytime I received a tool gift from a non-user, its always been junk, unless I got what I personally specified.
So, my opinion is to enjoy the moment, Who CARES about the gift?
Posted: 7:50 pm on June 9th

mcelhajj writes: The maple tree in the side yard has to come down. Could use a couple steel wedges to split it into quarters for air drying and a Highland Woodworking Woodslicer band saw blade ($30) for my 14" bandsaw. I have successfully dried and resawn some cherry into usable boards with my 14" saw just to see if it could be done. Ready to tackle another.
Posted: 12:51 pm on June 9th

lemuel_sylvest writes: ah to sleep; perchance to dream!!! at this point i dream of BIG things, mostly waaayyyy over the $50.00 limit. Since we are bound to the amount i would choose plans from the Fine Woodworking Store. In particular the beds and tables category. As i already have sketch up downloaded to my laptop, i relish the time to be spent designing my own headboard and kitchen table. Getting the ACTUAL measurements from some of the plans would be greatly beneficial in producing projects i could be proud of. I wish to thank the staff for giving us the "bonus" posibility from the magazine.
Posted: 11:58 am on June 9th

retireejd writes: I like to have the $50 in cash. That way I can decide exactly what I want and need. Altho, I would'nt complain about anything purchased for me!
Posted: 10:49 am on June 9th

woodwrench writes: I would like Sketchup for woodworkers. Sketchup is a great program and I would like to learn to use it in my woodworking.
Posted: 8:56 am on June 9th

romc101 writes: Bahco 625 triangle scraper and pear shape blade great little scraper for molding
Posted: 8:47 am on June 9th

jmcguinness writes: Time, just time.
Posted: 8:39 am on June 9th

kerngm writes: A nice marking knife. The Czeckedge Kerf Kadet for $43.95


http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=67345&cat=1,42936,42949&ap=1

http://czeckedge.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_10&products_id=3
Posted: 8:39 am on June 9th

bill117 writes: A 30 pack of Bud to enjoy after a good day in the shop.
Posted: 8:32 am on June 9th

Walrussell writes: At the risk of sounding like a sycophant, knowledge is great, whether shared from father to son or vise-versa. I would suggest, a book (or books), a DVD or perhaps (here it comes) a magazine subscription. A bit more seriously, there is so much to be gained from the knowledge and experience shared amongst crafts-people of the trade, it is a very deep well from which to draw.
Posted: 7:43 am on June 9th

threeglasses writes: Oh anything from the grandkids would be great. Working in the shop pounding nails or painting a toolbox, a day with them is like taking a year of stress off your life.

But I suppose if money were not an issue:

http://www.powermatic.com/Products.aspx?Part=1794224K
OR

http://www.festoolusa.com/products/domino-joining-system/domino-xl-df-700-joiner-574422.html
OR

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=45864&cat=1,41182,48944
Posted: 7:25 am on June 9th

BillyUP writes: A new 2.5 inch Steb Center Chuck for the lathe would certainly come in handy.
Posted: 7:14 am on June 9th

KenHANGITALL writes: What could be better for Fathers day than time in the shop with your kids. They could help with other chores like mowing and cleaning so we would all get time in the shop. Try to use the shop time to teach a skill they can use in world even if they don't turn out to love wood dust as much as you do. Build shop projects that can be passed on to them as they grow.
Posted: 6:17 am on June 9th

Zips writes: A nine months internship in the College of the Redwoods in California, learning new tricks and technics and drinking wine in between.
Posted: 6:02 am on June 9th

irest1896 writes: Spending the day with my son, working on a project with him in my shop---priceless!
Posted: 5:07 am on June 9th

keithgallagher writes: Anything at all. I,m only starting out and have just gotten a jet planer thicknesser, bandsaw, tablesaw and a jet mortiser. Even if it was parts for helping to make custom jigs i,d be chuffed. The only thing is we don,t have stores here Ireland that carry such a wide range of products like you guys have in the US.
Posted: 2:56 am on June 9th

jojojellybean writes: A Veritas saddle square for the apron pocket, or one of those measuring tape tips for measuring diagonals across a cabinet.
Posted: 12:12 pm on June 8th

thebigvise writes: The Woodpeckers Rule Stop 1" version. Use this with a steel rule. It's very handy for joinery and other precise layouts.
Posted: 8:10 am on June 8th

mnwoodworker writes: For $50 that list can be pretty long. To name a few are a Hock blade for a favorite vintage plane is always a plus. An angle cube has become a great friend after a weekend of going around and tuning up my powertools. A vintage Starrett combo square is always a welcome present followed closely by a double 4" square. Also never underestimate the power of a gift card!
Posted: 1:50 am on June 8th

Bsmiley writes: Spring Center Punch and Nail Set for those locations where swinging a hammer is not an option or too awkward.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?cat=1,43456&p=65547
Posted: 12:54 am on June 8th

Tumblewoodworks writes: Right at $50.00, a Blue Spruce small marking knife would make any woodworking Dad a very happy camper. I own both the large and small as well as several of his chisels. You get the added benefit of supporting a boutique tool maker. They are the ones who are keeping the craft of tool making alive and well in my little world.

http://www.bluesprucetoolworks.com/cgi/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=SMK1
Posted: 10:02 pm on June 7th

jcritch writes: A nice dovetail jig or template system that would allow me to improve my dovetail joints, box / finger joints, and those neat bears ears or heart shaped joints. A system either from a manufacturor or set of plans to build my own.
Posted: 4:36 pm on June 7th

MCano writes: Im going to go with the Ashley Iles 1/2" corner chisel. Perfect for cleaning out corners in mortises. Ideally I would like the Lie Nielsen, but those cost $75, the Ashley Iles is $43.50

http://thebestthings.com/newtools/ashley_iles_corner.htm
Posted: 1:37 pm on June 7th

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