Modest Christmas gifts for woodworking friends

[Scott Stafford]

Season's greetings all!

Every year at this time I try to find very useful but inexpensive Christmas gifts for several woodworking friends. In years past I've given stainless rulers, bench cookies, small offset chisels and the like. This year I'm drawing a blank.

Any suggestions for under $20?

Thanks in advance.


Scott in Montana

[george wilson]

Lee Valley sells several nice mechanical pencils. Some of them take large dia. leads,and they have sharpeners for them. One is 3mm,one 6mm.

Japanese style nail sets could be handy. They have them too,I think,or else Woodcraft. They have a sort of L shape,and both ends are nail sets. You can use the short L end for accurately positioning over a nail head,then striking.

[Mike Olson]

a holdfast from tools for woodworking. with shipping it might be a little over $20

[Charles Goodnight]

It takes a little making on your part, but take a look at the Lie-Nielsen dovetail marking gauges and ask yourself how hard would it be to make one for your friends? I had some scrap lying around so I made some. Mine are a little different in that the wedges are symmetrical, and situated at one end instead of the center. I made 3, a 1:4, a 1:6 and a 1:8 saddle. Mine are maple and walnut.

http://www.lie-nielsen.com/images/mguage_alt.jpg

[brian c miller]

Thats a cool gift.. I wish I was your friend.

[Harlan Barnhart]

I bought screw driver shanks and brass ferules from Lee Valley to make screw drivers. It takes a little work but costs about four dollars each. I've only made one so far and that one will be disassembled because the shank isn't straight in the handle. Its harder than it looks.

[Brian Kent]

My absolute favorite most-used rosewood spokeshaves for under $20 each:

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=46321&cat=1,41182,46334

[Roy Lindberry]

My absolute favorite most-used rosewood spokeshaves for under $20 each:

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=46321&cat=1,41182,46334

Thanks for that tip, Brian. I hadn't seen those before.

They are now added to my wishlist.

[Steve Kirincich]

If you are willing to spend $25:

http://www.pocketweez.com/

[Scott Stafford]

What an unexpected danger! Now there are a half dozen new things that I want for myself for Christmas. Thanks for all of the input.

I was cleaning up the work bench last night when I discovered the simple tool that I wouldn't want to live without.... the simple bench brush I got from Lie-Nielsen years ago. I think they're made in Ireland. And, they're under my $20 limit, delivered.

If you have never had one of these, you should find one. They're addicting in a quiet sort of way.

Thanks again and happy holidays,

Scott in Montana

[John Neel]

Rockler has a digital angle gauge for 19.99.

[Jim Pletcher]

Most woodworkers don't have, or even know about - Gimlets.

I got a set of seven from Lee Valley for about $14, and don't know how I lived without them.

You may have to explain what they're for though!

[John Sanford]

Painters Pyramids.
Preppin' Weapon.

Veritas Saddle Square.

[Jim Kirkpatrick]

The Gluebot (http://www.hartvilletool.com/product/10923)
Greatest thing to happen to glue