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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Woodworking gifts for DP

15 replies

penguinwithasuitcase · 26/10/2021 09:46

My amazing DP has done something really brave this year and gone back to school to retrain in carpentry and woodwork. At 43 he's in college with a bunch of teenagers (which isn't easy!) and absolutely shining in class and out.

We had a bit of an emotional conversation a few weeks ago where he told me he felt like he'd finally found what he was meant to be doing, and how bittersweet it is that he didn't find it 20 years ago...

Anyway, in short, I'm really proud of him. So I'd really love to get him some special gifts for Christmas to honour what he's doing. I got him some technical drawing bits for his birthday in September (set squares, a compass, rulers) and a couple of basic tools (a Japanese saw, a file, some chisels).

Does anyone know much about woodworking and can suggest some things he might appreciate? Perhaps the not-obvious things he wouldn't think to get for himself, but that would be useful?

OP posts:
rbe78 · 26/10/2021 11:37

A scribing tool? Helps fit things that are funny shapes.
www.toolstation.com/trend-easyscribe-scribing-tool/p27003

Neverwrestlewithapig · 26/10/2021 11:45

Branding tool?
You can get customise them to mark what he’s made with ‘Handcrafted by…’ and similar.

steppingout · 26/10/2021 11:52

My husband is a model maker and loved a set of Japanese marking knives. Super sharp and fine edged for very accurate marking - maybe with a beautiful real leather tool roll if he doesn't have one?

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 26/10/2021 11:53

Good suggestions above.

I'd add a hoodie and a baseball cap so he can "fit in" with the lads on his course Grin

SoupDragon · 26/10/2021 11:55

A sharpener for the chisels.

52andblue · 26/10/2021 11:57

That's great for him OP and a lovely thought from you.
Following this as Dd (14) with ASD has just been chosen for a project at school and is getting very 'special interest' about it and asking for a 'woodworking corner' of the basement for Christmas. So I'm here looking for suggestions too :)

Original poster
penguinwithasuitcase · 26/10/2021 12:16

Ah these are GREAT ideas already!

OP posts:
Snugglepumpkin · 27/10/2021 00:16

Japanese pull saw.
It cuts on the pull not the push & comes in handy more times than you can imagine.

Hairyfriend · 27/10/2021 00:23

I don't work in the area at all, but relatives are carpenters/ do woodwork:

  • one of those leather aprons (as seem on shows like the repair shop etc) with a personalised message on the inside from you
  • leather work belt with pockets/ holders for various tools
  • could you ask his teacher/lecturer or another student for ideas?
Original poster
penguinwithasuitcase · 27/10/2021 08:50

@Snugglepumpkin

Japanese pull saw. It cuts on the pull not the push & comes in handy more times than you can imagine.
He's got a beautiful Japanese saw (they're really something to look at) but I'm not sure if it's a pull saw or another kind... Will check!

@Hairyfriend a leather work belt is a great idea. He's noticed a couple of the kids having things 'go missing' and has a hunch one of them might have quick fingers when it comes to nice tools / pencils etc., so he's putting everything back in his bag immediately after use. Something to keep them securely to hand would be fab.

@SoupDragon a sharpener is a great idea - it looks like there are lots of different kinds, though - ceramic stones, oil stones, some people are doing it with sandpaper... is there one you'd recommend?

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 27/10/2021 10:01

a sharpener is a great idea - it looks like there are lots of different kinds, though - ceramic stones, oil stones, some people are doing it with sandpaper... is there one you'd recommend?

My dad used both an electric sharpener/grinding wheel and a whetstone type thing that you put water on before using. The stone was clearly very old so there may be more modern equivalents! I have both in my garage.

My woodworking knowledge is all second hand through him - I'm trying to think of things he would have used regularly.

I love the idea of a leather tool roll - the opening sequence has a shot of Will the Carpenter undoing his and it makes me want one to store all the chisels I stole from my dad's workshop.

SoupDragon · 27/10/2021 10:02

Opening sequence of The Repair Shop

moregingerbreadplease · 08/11/2021 06:41

They do really nice leather tool belts on Amazon, my dh asks for a new one every year and they’re not that expensive, sharpening stones for the chisels, and last year I found a magnetic wrist strap for nails/screws too

Bigoldhag · 08/11/2021 12:41

What about an apron, you can get lovely leather or denim ones?

SolasAnla · 08/11/2021 12:51

If he is just starting and has not gotten them already a really good set of noise control ear muffs and a comfortable steel toed steel plate boots.

Not as special as tools but sometimes overlooked in favour of the tools.

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