What To Give A Woodworker

Do you have a woodworker on your Christmas [or Birthday] list?  It can be very difficult to find that perfect gift for someone when you don’t share their hobby.  It’s hard to guess what they need, much less know what they already have.  If you don’t want to tip your hand by quizzing them and they’re not giving hints, here are some thoughts to consider.

You might start with the kind of woodworking they enjoy. You probably know what that is by the type of projects they produce.  Some of the more common types of woodworking are: cabinet and furniture making, carving, turning, scrolling, marquetry, intarsia, and pyrography.   Each discipline requires specialized tools and when you go shopping you will likely find entire departments devoted to each area.

Another way to approach it is to look at their woodworking skill level; are they a beginner, journeyman or master craftsman?

Beginning woodworkers need lots of information. Look for educational products like books and videos about their favorite discipline.  Or consider a gift certificate for a woodworking class.  If those choices don’t appeal to you, at least you have the advantage that beginning woodworkers usually still need most of the tools of their trade so your range of options is much larger.

Intermediate or journeyman woodworkers have been at it for a while and have acquired skills and tools that support their passion.  You might look for tools that help them get to the next level like precision measuring tools or high quality chisels.

Advanced woodworkers are the hardest to shop for.  Chances are they have every tool known to man for their discipline.   So your best bet might be to broaden their woodworking horizon.  Try introducing them to something new.  Many woodworkers use multiple disciplines in their work; a furniture maker may set off his work with marquetry, a turner might embellish her pieces with carving and so on.   Books or tools from another discipline may spark a burst of creativity.

If all else fails:

• Consider making something for them yourself.  It won’t matter if it’s not made of wood – woodworkers appreciate the value of hand-made gifts.
• Nothing says loving like showing your woodworker you want to keep them safe.  Safety glasses or hearing protection belong in every shop.  Did you know that wood dust is a carcinogen?  You could add an air filter system to their shop.  Or if you have the budget, upgrade their table saw to one that won’t cut fingers off.
• Clamps – a woodworker can never have too many clamps.
• Wood – a piece of exotic lumber may be hard to wrap, but it is sure to please and may come back to you in beautiful finished project.

Done your homework and you’re still not sure what to get?  A Gift Voucher can’t miss.  If you would rather something to wrap, attach the gift voucher to a clamp or a piece of wood – that’s guaranteed to bring a smile on Christmas morning.

Article by: Gerry Phelan