OT: Christmas Gift Suggestion

[Nooch]

Totally random, admittedly, but this is where I 'hang out,' lol.

My Step-Dad is a sixty-some year-old, retired fireman. He's a tinkerer by nature, but was never into cars or bikes or anything like that... My mom likes to say he'll find something wrong with something and take it apart and put it back together for fun -- I'm sure a lot of you are likely the same way.

So my wife and I wanted to get him something more personal than another gift card to Lowes, but I'm just blanking. He's a guy who has five of every tool, because he's lost and found them so many times, had a set in the car, a set at the firehouse, etc...

Any unique gift ideas?

[MattTuck]

Not sure I can give specific advice.

Maybe a neon or other trade type sign from an old gas station?

If he does a lot of detail work, maybe he could use magnifying light.

Not sure what your price range is.

[alessandro]

He's a guy who has five of every tool, because he's lost and found them so many times, had a set in the car, a set at the firehouse, etc...

Any unique gift ideas?

How about a set of Tiles?
https://www.thetileapp.com/
Don't think it would be handy to attach to a screwdriver, but it might work for power tools, socket sets, pants, your spare Ti frameset...
http://zdnet2.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2014/10/05/481e66f9-4c4f-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57/resize/770x578/78b55d9e5aaa2eac14b0124e56c234ac/screen-shot-2013-06-21-at-10-23-52-am.png

[alessandro]

If he does a lot of detail work, maybe he could use magnifying light.

I do like that idea.

Or, a book about cool tools!
Cool Tools, A Catalog of Possibilities
http://www.amazon.com/Cool-Tools-A-Catalog-Possibilities/dp/1940689007

Interview With Kevin Kelly, Author of ‘Cool Tools’
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/10/interview-with-kevin-kelly-author-of-cool-tools/

OK, last idea: Anything by Kreg. How much Kreg stuff does he have?
This is more for woodworking, but I love using mine, and my skills are somewhat rudimentary. https://www.kregtool.com/

[p nut]

Few bikes on CL that are in need of repair? :banana:

[Louis]

Few bikes on CL that are in need of repair?

Assuming there's some charity around that gives out bikes to low-income kids, how about a starter set of bike tools?

You could hook him up with the charity and he can get a bunch of donated bikes needing repair from them, fix them up and give them back to the charity who then distributes them to the kids.

Could turn into a nice long-term volunteer effort for him.

[Ken Robb]

A really nice folding knife. Victorinox has some non-showoff medium ones with a couple of screwdrivers, corkscrew, tweezers, toothpick and locking blade that are still compact enough to carry. The older we get, the more our gums recede, the more we appreciate a good toothpick. Really.:banana:

[Gsinill]

This one looks cool but is out of stock: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/store/gadgets/wooden-mechanical-clock-kit/?no-ist

There are other clock kits in all price ranges out there, just google it.

[echelon_john]

These are pretty cool: http://reductivist.com/product/ringtool/

Or what about a really nice hatchet?
http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/09lb-Outdoor-Hatchet-Biber-Classic-by-Mueller/productinfo/367%2D90054/

[Cornfed]

Does he have one of these?

http://www.amazon.com/Wenger-16999-Swiss-Knife-Giant/dp/B001DZTJRQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418775819&sr=8-1&keywords=swiss+army+87

Read the comments. Hilarious. Example: "I tried to file my nails, but in the process I accidentally fixed a small engine that was near by. Which was nice."

My favorite: "Found this stuck into a stone while on vacation. I'm impressed with it, generally. Unfortunately, it turns out that removing it made me the new king of Switzerland, which is a lot of responsibility."

[Louis]

Only $2400 - what a bargain.

[Nooch]

Does he have one of these?

http://www.amazon.com/Wenger-16999-Swiss-Knife-Giant/dp/B001DZTJRQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418775819&sr=8-1&keywords=swiss+army+87

Read the comments. Hilarious. Example: "I tried to file my nails, but in the process I accidentally fixed a small engine that was near by. Which was nice."

My favorite: "Found this stuck into a stone while on vacation. I'm impressed with it, generally. Unfortunately, it turns out that removing it made me the new king of Switzerland, which is a lot of responsibility."

LOL.

Talked it over with my wife, my sister, and my mother, we decided (my sister and I) to go halfsies on a craftsman tool chest/cabinet (top and bottom pieces). He's got one already, but considering the motherload of tools he just brought home from the fire department upon his retirement, figured the more storage the better!

Thanks for the suggestions -- I'll keep em in mind when his birthday comes up in February, lol!

[Ken Robb]

LOL.

Talked it over with my wife, my sister, and my mother, we decided (my sister and I) to go halfsies on a craftsman tool chest/cabinet (top and bottom pieces). He's got one already, but considering the motherload of tools he just brought home from the fire department upon his retirement, figured the more storage the better!

Thanks for the suggestions -- I'll keep em in mind when his birthday comes up in February, lol!

COSTCO on-line has some good-looking tool chests at good prices including delivery,

[Cornfed]

COSTCO on-line has some good-looking tool chests at good prices including delivery,

+1 for Costco tool chests. Great chests at a great price. And a very liberal return policy.

[commonguy001]

My dad is in his 70s and whenever I'm at a loss I default to a nice gentleman’s folder pocket knife. Actually I’ve used the same tactic with my father in-law and he’s always happy with what I’ve picked.

For a EDC utility folder I’d look at Benchmade and if you wanted to drop more coin and are looking for bling think Chris Reeve.

Add a personal touch and have it engraved if that's something he'd like.

[alancw3]

if he does not have one i would suggest a DREMEL TOOL. absolutely great item for a tool guy.

[Neves]

There needs to be a sticky about what to get the old man who has everything. This year I picked up a really nice cooking knife and some other small stuff. At this point it's a roll of the dice. I hope he likes it.

[FlashUNC]

I've been stuck in the same situation. Dad with few hobbies, very active and wants for nothing really.

Answer has usually been a nice cashmere sweater.

[josephr]

my dad was hard to buy for --- some of the more memorable gifts-

-a $100 bag of Susan B. Anthony dollars.
-found old pics of him and his brother hunting back on the farm -- had the negatives restored and new prints framed. was shocked as he hadn't seen those pictures since the late '40s.
-brother took all the old 8mm movies and transferred to video at Costco. turnaround is a few weeks, so might be a little late this year.

my dad wasn't a drinker, but I know I always appreciate a nice bottle of whiskey. :banana:

[eddief]

click on the personalize tab to see how you can make it more special:

http://www.opinel-usa.com/collections/opinel-premium-handles/products/opinel-no-8-luxe-polished-stainless-blade-bubinga-handle

Ordered one last week billed to me and shipped to bro in law. They got it out in 2 days.

[oldpotatoe]

click on the personalize tab to see how you can make it more special:

http://www.opinel-usa.com/collections/opinel-premium-handles/products/opinel-no-8-luxe-polished-stainless-blade-bubinga-handle

Ordered one last week billed to me and shipped to bro in law. They got it out in 2 days.

My son gave me one last Xmas. Not the ooo-ahh fancy of modern knives but very, very nice.

[Nooch]

My son gave me one last Xmas. Not the ooo-ahh fancy of modern knives but very, very nice.

Just grabbed one of those as well -- it'll be from my girls the their 'Pop Pop,' engraved on the handle :)

Thanks guys!

[p nut]

Assuming there's some charity around that gives out bikes to low-income kids, how about a starter set of bike tools?

You could hook him up with the charity and he can get a bunch of donated bikes needing repair from them, fix them up and give them back to the charity who then distributes them to the kids.

Could turn into a nice long-term volunteer effort for him.

I've done that myself for some of the neighborhood kids. Most CL bikes just need a couple of tweaks, regreasing, air in tubes and they're ready to go. If he likes tinkering, I'd think this would be right up his alley. Nashbar or Performance tool kits are pretty inexpensive.

[rugbysecondrow]

I bet he doesn't have a ZERO G Bottle Belt. :banana:

They make great stocking stuffers.

Shameless plug, courtesy of Paul Peterson. :)

http://zerogstorage.com/wp-content/gallery/zerog/thumbs/thumbs_ZeroG-Bottle-Belt-Bottle-Organizer-Web-Gallery-Image-1.png