Handyman Gift Picks: Top Tools for the DIY Enthusiast You Know

As a DIY enthusiast, we want to feel prepared at a moment’s notice to handle anything life throws at us. This stainless steel compact multi-tool does just that while inconspicuously looking like a key and fitting on a keychain. It functions as a screwdriver, wrench, bottle opener, wire bender, bit driver, file and bike spoke key. Plus, it’s TSA-friendly.

Every shop eventually collects too many tools. The solution? Bring in some shop organization and mobility with the Gladiator nine-drawer work bench. With a 3/4-inch solid wood top and welded steel construction, this heavy-duty bench holds 1,500 pounds of tools and projects in progress. The 5-inch, easy-lock casters make moving it around a snap, and the integrated power strip (including a USB charger!) keeps the power flowing.

These 3M WorkTunes headphones look like traditional workshop earmuffs, and provide 24 decibels of noise reduction. They’re ideal for muffling everything from power tools to toddler tantrums while allowing you to enjoy your favorite music instead. I’ve been a fan of the 3M WorkTunes, and thanks to the passive noise reduction, you don’t have to crank the volume just to hear your tunes.

The miraculous moldable glue known as Sugru is Play-Doh for DIYers, and an easy fix-it solution for the do-it-yourself but not-so-handy types. When pinched for time, I’ve used this moldable glue to repair iPhone cables and a faucet handle. Simply mold it into whatever shape you want, such as a headphone holder or a wall hook, and let it harden. The possibilities for fixing, bonding and creating are endless!

via merchant via merchant

$18.95 at Amazon

For the Clean DIYer

Drill Brush Power Scrubber

$18.95 at Amazon

When stuck on a project, I like to get unstuck by cleaning my garage workspace. I start out using this power drill brush attachment on large areas, like the garage, gutters and siding, then move on to the tub and shower. Help your DIYer discover their new super power—deep cleaning their workspace while having the super scrubbers do the hard work so they can bask in a gleaming workspace.

An invaluable addition to the tool box, ratcheting wrenches can be major labor savers. as they combine the conventional wrench with the convenience of a ratchet and socket to create a versatile tool. Rather than using a conventional combination wrench where you have to loosen or tighten a fastener one increment at a time and then reposition the tool, ratcheting wrenches allow you to keep turning the ratchet without removing it from the bolt. This set gives you eight different sizes, which makes it a smart gift for your handy person’s needs.

Save your DIY friend the agony of hand sanding with these ergonomic sanding blocks. They’re the ideal solution for someone who already has an orbital sander, as it uses the same size sandpaper (standard 5-inch sander discs). This sanding tool is much more convenient than attaching sandpaper to a scrap of wood, as the hook and loop Velcro base grabs the sandpaper very well.

Many DIYers have under-lit or overlit workshops. Solve both issues with affordable task lighting, like this two-pack of portable rechargeable work lights. They’re lightweight and about the size of a cell phone, so they fit in tight places. The magnet holds them firmly in place, or you can use the installed hook.

While plenty of perfectly acceptable mainstream pull saws exist on the market, treat your handy friend to a classically designed pull saw made in Japan to bring some authentic elegance to their workshop. These blades originated in traditional Japanese woodworking, and have become increasingly popular in the U.S. over the last decade. It cuts so cleanly and easily, and allows precise control with less effort while the thin blade helps produce amazingly flush cuts, ideal for tight fits and precision joinery.

One of the frustrations with DIY and home improvement is the dreaded stripped screws. Your DIY-loving friend will be glad they have this screw extractor set, giving them the upper hand in situations when driving a screw doesn’t go as planned. Simply use the extractor in a variable speed drill on reverse mode and slowly back out the damaged fastener.

You can pair this gift for DIY lovers with a Starrett center punch, in case the head breaks off completely, or a T-handle, a useful accessory when using a screw extractor in tight spaces and when going slowly by hand is necessary.

The ToughBuilt C700 saw horse has an array of clever features that make a project easier. Its support arms adjust to hold two-by-fours or four-by-fours while the telescoping legs stand tall on any terrain. It also has material support pegs that fold out of the legs to allow for easier, safer cuts when working with plywood or other four-by-eight material. This best saw horse has a 1,300-pound capacity (or 2,600 pounds per pair), which is more than enough to support even the heaviest of projects.

Let your friend know you’ve got their back. Whether it’s carrying large items up the stairs or bringing home groceries, your handyman will thank you for this foldable stair-climbing dolly. The large, heavy-duty wheels allow this cart to roll smoothly and glide easily on stairs and uneven surfaces. Constructed of aluminum alloy, this best dolly is surprisingly lightweight, yet strong enough to hold up to 264 pounds, and includes a bungee cord to secure loads.

Over the years, I’ve invested in several different tool storage organization systems that have helped me be more productive with woodworking and house projects. This 12-pack of sturdy garage hooks is a favorite, and will help your DIYer make the most of their vertical storage space. These heavy-duty hooks are ideal for organizing tools, ladders and other bulky items in a garage or shop space. Plus, each hook is easy to install and suitable for plaster, wood, brick and concrete walls.

This contour gauge from Saker helps easily trace a pattern of curved and odd-shaped profiles, and then helps accurately transfer the pattern to the material to be cut. One of the top contour gauges on the market, its large size makes fitting tiles, trim work and flooring a breeze. Made from metal and high quality plastic, it features a lock switch to hold the pins, and an adjuster on the side to tweak the tightness of the pins.