12 Great Gifts for Woodworkers
Updated: Mar. 03, 2023Check out these 12 gifts for woodworkers—from special woods to quality hand tools.
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There’s no shortage of great gifts for woodworkers, from special woods to quality hand tools to the latest power tools. Read on for 13 gifts for under the tree that will be sure to make woodworkers happy.
DIY Log Furniture Kit
There’s something very primal about building a piece of furniture from logs. This Lumberjack Tools Beginner’s Kit comes with a tenon cutter and Forstner bit that makes it easy to attach all kinds of trunks and limbs to make rustic furniture pieces.
Classic Combination Square
The Irwin Tools Combination Square is a classic, affordable combination square. The 12-in. tool is durable and rustproof, so you can use it for years. This tool is useful for doing all kinds of layout, marking and setup tasks in the shop.
Portaband Table with Foot Switch
It’s a luxury to have a bandsaw, let alone two of them, in a woodshop. That’s where the SWAG Portaband Table with Foot Switch comes in. When you’re reluctant to cut a piece of metal on your finely-tuned woodworking bandsaw, you can do it safely and effectively with your portable bandsaw and this finely-made table. The portable bandsaw (sold separately, you can order a table to fit your model) mounts in the table, giving you a solid surface to reference for making cuts. And the included footswitch means you can always keep two hands on the piece.
Folding Wood Ruler
Before the advent of tape measures, you’d often find a folding rule in a woodworker’s pocket. The Qwork 6-Foot Folding Ruler brings the old world into the new. Made from solid hardwood with brass joints, this tool will become your go-to measuring device for all kinds of projects. And, at less than $10, it makes a great stocking stuffer. Pair it with one of these whittling knives for the complete package.
Saw Rasp
Rasps play an important role in shaping and finishing wood. The 9′ Shinto Saw Rasp makes quick work of roughing out three-dimensional shapes in all kinds of wood. Its cutting surface is like a series of folded bandsaw blades. You’ll find it works just as well for quick material removal as it does for finer detail work and even works with end grain! It’s a great gift for DIYers under $50.
Wood Glue Dispenser
Woodworkers use glue by the gallon, so a quality, refillable glue bottle is a must. The FastCap Wood Glue Dispenser is very popular. The no-drip tip, wide mouth for refilling and extra-wide base (so it doesn’t tip) make this buy a no-brainer.
A Leather Apron
Keeping clean in a workshop is a chore, but an apron goes a long way. This heavy-duty Hobart Leather Welding Apron provides excellent coverage and a couple of handy pockets. Plus, it can serve as protection if you like to work with metal, too.
Benchtop Mortiser
Making a square hole isn’t all that easy? Usually, you drill a hole slightly smaller than your square, then pare it to size with a chisel. But a hollow-chisel mortiser makes the process a lot quicker. The Powermatic PM701 Benchtop Mortiser is a premium tool, but it’s one of the best you can buy for a benchtop machine. After all, not all woodworkers have the space to dedicate to a huge, free-standing machine.
Socket Chisels
Run-of-the-mill hardware store chisels can only take a woodworker so far. Eventually, he or she will get tired of constantly sharpening a soft steel edge or get fed up with un-ergonomic plastic handles. That’s when it’s time to try out a Sweetheart. Stanley Sweetheart 750 Series Socket Chisels are great for dipping your toes into quality hand tools. The timeless design and wooden handles are the way tools are supposed to feel. With a little care and setup time, you’ll find yourself reaching for these chisels time and again.
Turning Blanks Assortment
Wood? You can’t be a woodworker without it. And most woodworkers can never have enough stock on hand. If you want to get something beyond the classic oak, maple or walnut varieties, think about a variety pack of turning blanks for tool handles, pens and other small- to medium-sized spindle turning.
The assortment includes Maple, Cherry, African Padauk and African Mahogany blanks. Get a taste for the species and wood before deciding to build a whole project. It’s a bit of a gamble, but all wood is good, right?
Layout Tool
If you always have a heck of a time trying to figure out the equal spacing for things like coat hooks and shelf locations, check out the Point 2 Point Mk2 Layout Tool from M-Power.
The Mk2 is an accordion-like apparatus with seven adjustable marking points. Just stretch it out so the distance between the marking points (or every two or three marking points) is the proper space you need, tighten the pinch bolts and mark the locations on your project. You can also use it to space fasteners, find center points and figure out how many small boards you can cut out of a larger one.
A Non-Slip Handsaw
When was the last time you used a handsaw? It was probably dull and hard to push, and chances are, you couldn’t follow a straight line to save your life. WilFiks 16-in. Pro Handsaw is extremely sharp and comfortable to grip, with its ergonomic non-slip handle.
This saw has cutting surfaces to cut up to 50% faster than traditional handsaws, and its deep gullets provide rapid removal of chips. Keep it around to break down longer boards that don’t easily fit on your miter saw. And carry it with you to the lumberyard to cut down long lengths of wood so they fit in your car for the ride home.
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