If you’ve got a handyman — or woman — in your life, you probably couldn’t be happier knowing there’s someone around to fix things, build things and improve things for the rest of us. You want to do your part to help, but most of the time, that just means buying things to round out the tool chest. With the holidays fast approaching, we’ve created a small list of great go-to gift items for any handyperson in your life, even if that’s you!
GIVE ’EM A HAND Power tools and accessories are great gift ideas, but don’t forget the importance of a good pair of all-purpose work gloves. Channellock Synthetic Leather Heavy-Duty High Performance Gloves combine comfort and durability. They have PVC leather palm pads, knuckle guards, and a terry cloth thumb for wiping sweat and debris. The hook and loop wrist strap closure allows for adjustments and easy-on, easy-off.
A DO-IT-ALL If you’re looking for something that can virtually do it all, you can’t go wrong with a high quality multi-tool like the Leatherman Wave. In fact, it’s the most popular full-size Leatherman multi-tool. All locking blades make the Wave an essential for any job or adventure. With 17 components designed for so many uses in one easy-to-carry tool, it’ll quickly become a new favorite item in the toolkit.
THE ROTARY CLUB Anyone who considers themself to be a handyperson or DIY pro needs a high performance rotary tool kit. The Dremel 3-Tool Maker Kit includes a two-speed rotary tool; a soldering torch with precision flame for detailed and intricate work; an engraver for decorating glass, metal, stone and more; plus 32 accessories. You’ll be amazed how often they’ll reach for the Dremel.
CLEAN UP THE CORDS Messy, cumbersome extension cords can be the bane of any workshop. Help streamline the situation with an Alert Stamping retractable extension cord reel. The 25-foot cord reel with three grounded outlets easily pulls out and locks at whatever length the project requires, and then automatically retracts when finished. It also includes hardware for ceiling and wall mounting, and a resettable circuit breaker. They’ll also love how easily it stores, unlike typical extension cords.
TO THE RESCUE If your DIY’er is a camper, hiker or fixer-upper of any kind, don’t let him/her leave home without a Channellock Rescue Tool. It has many uses, and it’s light enough to fit in a backpack or tool belt. It pries open windows and doors, and it cuts standard battery cables with ease. Hardened cutting edges shear through soft metal, and a spanner wrench tightens and loosens up to six-inch hose couplings.
MEASURE UP For someone looking for a little more than a standard tape measure, check out the Bosch 65 foot Laser Distance Measurer. It provides precise laser measuring technology for bigger jobs, accurate to ⅛ inch. It has a simple one-button operation, and it fits nicely in your hand or pocket.
TRIM TIME OFF YARD WORK Say goodbye to manual garden shears, and say hello to a faster and easier way to trim hedges, remove branches, and shape up unsightly foliage. The Black & Decker 40V MAX 24 in. Cordless Hedge Trimmer has a powerful lithium ion rechargeable battery that holds a charge five times longer, and has double the life of NiCad batteries. Your DIY’er can trim up to 6,000 square feet per charge.
Visit your local Do it Best store or doitbest.com for thousands of the best home improvement products, including an array of gifts and ideas for the handy people in your life and all their DIY projects.
By JEFF CARDWELL & GARRETT RETZ who operate Cardwell Do it Best® Home Center in Indianapolis. They are part of Do it Best Corp., a Fort Wayne-based cooperative of thousands of independent hardware stores, home centers and lumberyards throughout the U.S. and around the world.
(This article is for informational purposes only. Electric Consumer and Do it Best assume no liability for the accuracy or completeness of its content, or for injuries, property damage, or the outcome of any project.)
