My husband’s hobby is woodworking and when i asked him for ideas for Christmas he was sort of cryptic. He likes to be surprised, but at the same time doesn’t like to be disappointed. (good combination)
He says he wants a quality tool.
He loves hand tools, planes, saws, chisels. He doesn’t have a lot, and of course would like more.
We have a woodcraft store here in town and there’s still time to get stuff off of the internet and ship it if i have to.
My budget is around $200.
What are your suggestions?
Replies
A gift certificate at Woodcrafters!
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
I went to Woodcraft's website and put together a list of some items he's sure to like. Not sure what he has, but these are all top quality tools that will last for generations. Bear in mind that they also have a number of smaller tools of excellent quality, but the list would be endless. If you should choose to go that way, the store clerk should be able to give you some good advice. Merry Christmas, to you!
Jeff
mikkimel
Second the "gift certificate". Like him trying to buy you clothes, no mistakes and returns with a gift certificate. In essence, you are giving something he really wants and putting the "ball in his court" to make his finicky decisions of what. Any mistakes and whose court was the ball in? ha..ha...
Merry Xmas...
sarge..jt
Proud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
thanks for the ideas.
I would go the gift certificate route, except for the fact that we will be in northern minnesota for christmas and he will not be able to use the gc for several days. I'd rather have something he can open and if he hates it he can return it.
He has mentioned the Lie Neilson planes in the past, so i will probably pick one of those up.
thanks again.
mikkemel
Lie-Nielsen #4 1/2, #62 (5 jack low-angle) or low-angle smoother. You can't go wrong if he mentioned LN. A winner for sure. If you happen to get a "buy one-get one free" I will e-mail my address to save some space in his shop. ha.. ha...
Regards...
sarge..jtProud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Mikkimel,
The gift certificate is a great idea..and he can shop several times before the money is spent.
On the other hand, if you want it under the tree...and something he may never buy for himself...but secretly desire...then Sarge's suggestion for the LN #41/2 is absolutely the best. If that is too high priced...then the LN dovetail saw ...
You can't go wrong with Lie-Nielson whatever - if he doesn't already have it - he wants it! And most of us feel guilty sending the money for the best on ourselves. Now a gift - gotta love it.
p.s. evrything on Jeff's list was good.
Merry Christmas
Edited 12/12/2003 11:39:52 AM ET by Jim in CO
Hey, where in northern Minnesota will you be? I use to live in Bemidji, now I live in Moorhead. I have to agree with the gift certificate idea. Everyone knows that I love getting gift certificates for ACME for Christmas. I saved all of them that I got from the few years, and when I moved to Moorhead a month ago I was able to put almost $500 worth of gift certificates towards my new table saw. And depending on where you are going to be in northern Minnesota, there is an ACME store in Fargo and Grand Forks if you are worried about him being able to shop right away. Of course, they specialize more in power tools than hand tools, but it is still a woodworkers dream inside either store. Lots of toys to look at. Just thought I'd mention it.
DOC! oh my lord!
My husband was BORN AND RAISED in Bemidji!
Jason Bahr is his name, ever heard of him?
I can't say that I recognize his name, but I know there are several Bahr's in town. I didn't grow up in Bemidji, but I spent many years there. I went to college there, and our family has a cabin near Cass Lake, so it's been my second home my whole life. I bartended all through college and after, so odds are if he's ever gone out for a few beers, I've probably crossed paths with him. I also have a ton of friends that are my age that may have gone to school with him depending on his age. I'm 32. Also, my truck blew a radiator line a couple years ago on my way to town, and I coasted to a stop in front of Bahr's Cars and Stereos. They let me park it there overnight until I could get it towed into town. Any relation?
The guy that own's Bahrs cars and stereos is a distant cousin.
what other Bahrs do you know? Where did you bartend?
I bartended at T.Juan's for many years, and then Keg-n-Cork for about 3 years. I'm the only guy with a ponytail that has ever worked at either of those places, so that might ring a bell with one of you. That seems to be the way that everyone remembers me is "the guy with the ponytail." How old is he?
Jason is 28. We've gone to TJuans before, i don't think we've ever gone to the keg n cork, but i know where it is.
He went to college in minneapolis and when he graduated we moved to nashville where we now live.
He used to teach guitar at "The Melody Shop" before it closed.
Well, if he's from Bemidji, and he's obviously musically inclined, then he must know Karen Bradley. She was the music teacher at the middle school. She has been a very good friend of mine for years, and she was also my landlord. I rented from her for years. Her ex-husband is the band teacher at the high school. I'm sure he knows them both.
It is such a small world.
Karen Bradley was his music teacher when he was at Lincoln Elementary.
And Mr Bradley and he were extremely close, i think his senior year he was Mr Bradley's student aid and was in like three different band classes.
what's your name? i understand if you don't want to reveal it.
Sorry, I was out for a bit. My name is Matt Amundson. I know Terry Bradley as well. I'm also very good friends with their son Pat Bradley. Your husband probably knows him. He would be a few years older than your husband.
I like the LN planes. I'd suggest the 62 low angle plane but it's over $200. I think if you can only get one LN, get the low angle block plane. This one is hard to beat for all around use. It's $150. If you have a Woodcraft (not Woodcrafters) nearby, he can exchange it if it's not what he wants. It makes a great presentation on Christmas morning.
I personally own 4 LN items:
the 62 low angle smoother
the low angle block plane (the one with the adjustable mouth) WC#812862 (the number in previous message is incorrect) Woodcraft warehouse is out of this item (see, it's popular) until 12/19 but your local store may have one you could grab!
the scrub plane
the dovetail saw.
Good luck.
Jim in GA
What you're doing is really nice. I agree that a gift certificate is a nice idea, but it doesn't do much to satisfy the "surprise" itch. Talk to a WWing buddy or friend who knows what he's got and what he needs. If there's no one that fits the "Bill", probe him a bit yourself...or....go into his shop with a digital camera and take a bunch of pics. The folks at Woodcraft would probably be more than willing to advise based on the pics. (Best go at a non-peak time if possible)
Also, Hartville Tool has alot of nice hand tools. One gift set includes a couple of rosewood handled planes, rosewood square, and a rosewood marking gauge for $80. That'd leave money for a nice TS blade like a Forrest if he doesn't already have one.
Merry Christmas.
p.s. Please call my wife!
Patrick Leach makes a beautiful marking knife for, i think, $58. Here's the link to the site, http://www.supertool.com/layknife.htm. May i suggest giving him the knife to open on Christmas, then give him a gift certificate to Woodcraft for the other $150, and tell him that you want to go with him when he uses it? I'd love for my wife to do that for me - something i really want from woodcraft, plus time spent with her, plus an opportunity to point out other things i might want for future birthdays/Christmases/etc. It's a good present, and it shows you're interested in him and in things he likes.
Peace,
kevin
Hugh Fennyman: How?
Philip Henslowe: I don't know. It's a mystery.
Edited 12/12/2003 1:38:35 PM ET by RK Kelly
I think he would appreciate a long vacation in the Swiss Alps, sipping cool martinis ( shaken not stired) and having time to himself to unwind.....contemplating the long hours he toiled to make all the furniture and nick nacks that now deck your home..............
Yeh....I am sure he would appreciate that..
Mike
mikkimel,
Go to Amazon.com and order him "The Complete Illustrated Guide To Woodworking" three volume set, by Lonnie Bird, et al. They have it on sale for $84.00. This is an invaluable set and will leave money for some other goodie.
Edited 12/12/2003 8:48:42 PM ET by Ken's Shop
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