Finding the best woodworking gifts for dads takes a little bit of planning, a trip or two through their workshop and understanding what types of projects your dad likes to build.
How do I know? Well, as a woodworker of almost thirty years I’ve used hundreds of tools. And know all of the latest and greatest tools most dads don’t know about.
In this guide you’ll learn how to pick gifts based on:
- Types of projects they build (or want to)
- Ability from novice to professional
- Gifts that can be used regardless of what they own
- And non-traditional dad gifts like woodworking aprons or safety equipment they may otherwise not buy
Lastly, woodworkers like unique tools from brand names and something they may not generally buy themselves.
Popular Gifts For Dad
Innovative tape measure:
› FastCap Tape Measure at Amazon ($7.99)
Eye safety glasses:
› NoCry Safety Classes at Amazon ($13.99)
Pocket hole joinery:
› Kreg 520Pro Pocket Jig at Amazon ($99.00)
Woodworking t-shirt:
› I’ll Be In My Office Shirt at Amazon ($19.95)
Leather apron:
› Brittle Woodworker Apron at Amazon ($39.95)
Woodworking Gifts For Dad
Choosing a woodworking gift is always a bit risky. Our recommendation? Before buying any gift head out their workshop and take a look around:
- Do you see safety equipment like eye protection, push sticks and dust masks?
- Are their tools “bench top” and used for small projects?
- Or, is the shop glistening with expensive tools and they likely have one of everything (the hardest to buy for)
Armed with a bit of information, the following tools are generally safe for any woodworker. But we’ll point out tools a professional may not need.
#1. Unique Tape Measure
Stop counting lines
There are not many measuring tapes on the market like this fractional tape with an erasable writing pad.
From professional woodworking dads to novices a tape measure that features the following is hard to find:
- Left or right hand lines (most are right)
- Writing pad on side of tape measure
- Fractions that take guesswork out of understanding the “little lines”
#2. Woodworking Apron For Dad
Storage + clothes protection
Protect your dads clothing with a manly leather apron designed with storage and spill-proof prevention in mind.
Nothing is worse than spilling woodworking glue on a pair of good jeans.
Why?
Because wood glue (and stain, finishes and more) doesn’t come out of clothes. A high quality leather apron will provide protection and offers up storage for tools.
#3. Pull Saw For The Dad Who Has Everything
Flush cut pull saw
A true woodworker owns one of about everything. But not all woodworkers own a Japanese pull saw.
While the traditional “western” saw cuts while pushing away from you, the much older Japanese pull saw cuts towards you. And, with a unique tooth design, can be used on flush cuts as the teeth are not hooked outwards.
Warning: a woodworker with decades of experience collecting tools might have this tool. Be sure to take a look around.
#4. Miter Saw Protractor
Fast, accurate miter angle gauge
Dads like gifts they don’t own. And a miter saw protractor is something even few professionals have. But use when they do.
A miter saw is a tool that is in almost every single woodworkers garage.
And most woodworkers have a compound saw that cuts angles. However, most saws are far from accurate with their angle markings. Which means precise angles are hard to lock-in without trial and error cuts. This protractor allows for instant setup and reduced waste.
#5. Woodworking Ear Protection
Bluetooth, FM/AM, 25dB NRR
Featuring 48 hours of playtime on a charge these bluetooth equipped earmuffs will provide a weeks worth of listening entertainment.
The simple fact is woodworking tools make noise.
A lot of noise.
And to counteract that, woodworkers use high quality hearing protection that reduces the decibels their ears are subjected to. However, like most, having both a FM/AM radio and Bluetooth is a must to make the hours spent planing and sanding go by with more enjoyment.
#6. High Quality Marking Pencils
Every woodworker needs pencils
And these simple, hard-to-break pencils are something even professionals find useful for marking up lumber.
Keeping pencils sharp is a chore. And with woodworking a fine grained pencil tip is always breaking.
The solution? A pencil system I’ve added to my shop that keeps an edge, lasts forever and replaces a lot of the random pens and pencils I’ve collected in the drawers of my benches.
#7. Top Brand in Woodworkers Glue
Professionals choice in glue
Woodworkers have trusted Titebond II for decades in their projects – making this a woodworking gift for dads that is sure to please.
When it comes to woodworking glue there are a few varieties of glue to choose from.
While. a fancy specialty bottle might seem like a good idea, the simple fact that a Titebond glue joint is stronger than the wood around it makes this an easy gift pick.
Of note, Titebond III is meant for outdoor projects but is extremely runny and hard to work with. Titebond I is a classic indoor wood, but most woodworkers have adopted use of Titebond II for cabinets, furniture, breadboards and more.
#8. Pipe Clamps Are a Sure Bet Dad Gift
Clamps by the dozen…
One of the least expensive and most useful clamps in any woodworking shop is the pipe clamp. And true woodworkers always want more of them.
Over decades of use my dozens of pipe clamps have glued thousands of wood panels. And, yes, I said dozens of clamps.
Why give a high quality pipe clamp? Simple. Most woodworking projects require gluing panels and the bar clamp is the most economical and fast way to glue. Making this dad gift sure to please (they’ll know to buy black pipe to finish the clamp).
#9. Woodworking Dad Gift They Won’t Own
Edge marking tool
Of all the unique marking guides on the market this one is truly unique in laying out lines.
Every now and then a woodworker will find the need to make precise layouts and this Incra-branded marking rule makes for a great edge guide.
By allowing for precise layout lines with 1/32″ increments anything from center marking to cutting guides are quickly possible.
#10. Woodworkers T-Shirt
Funny but true…
You can’t go wrong with a t-shirt for your dad. And this shirt says it all when it comes to how garage projects go.
What’s said in the garage is often best said with saws going.
While most woodworkers can keep their mistakes to a low volume, others shout out their mistakes. This shirt is a funny reminder of the trials and errors most dads face in the workshop.
#11. Popular Wood Joinery Jig
#1 in wood joinery
From novices to professionals, this new jig is a great upgrade or replacement to any pocket hole wood joinery solutions your dad may have.
At the very basics woodworking is all about joining wood together. And the most popular way for new woodworkers to do this is with a pocket hole jig.
Kreg, the leader in these styles of jigs, recently released this unique all-in-one hand clamp jig that offers quick clamping and replaces any basic clamp-on versions your dad have.
#12. Give the Gift of Miter Saw Safety
The “10 Million Dollar Stick”
While there are dozens of push sticks for table saws, on a miter saw the options were limited – until this safety hold down came long.
From safety brands like SawStop to push sticks for jointers most power tools have ways to keep fingers away from the blade.
But, all too often, woodworkers will try their luck with cutting short pieces of wood next to a 12-inch diameter spinning miter saw blade.
And the results can be horrific. Which is why the innovative FastCap company released this unique miter saw hold down stick to keep your dads fingers well away from the blade. Making this a sure bet woodworking gift for dads that have everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best woodworking gift for a dad?
One of the best gifts for a dad is safety equipment, woodworking clamps or small measuring tools as they are always needed.
How do I know if a woodworker has a gift I want to buy?
Using this guide you can look through their workshop, tool boxes and storage areas easily to see if they have the gifts you are thinking of giving.
Would my dad like a woodworking apron?
Most woodworkers like woodworking aprons as they allow for storage and protect clothes from damage.
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Last update on 2023-03-27 at 18:52 / Images from Amazon
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Eric has been a professional woodworker for over thirty years and has worked in small cabinet shops making everything from kitchen cabinets to hand-made furniture. Now working from a home woodworking shop Eric is sharing his passion for woodworking, tool advice and how-to knowledge from his Minnesota-based woodshop.
