you lean on him all year-round to assist, assemble and install everything from kitchen cabinetry to those amazing Patagonian rosewood floors you love so much. He tirelessly tackles the disparate demands of Honey-Do lists and familial fixes without so much as a peep. And yet, of all the men featured in our 12 Guys of Christmas, the DIY-er might actually need our help the most. After years of collecting and trading Home Depot gift cards, it’s about time he received something that took half as much thought as he puts into his trim work.
With that in mind, we’ve selected a collection of contractor-grade gifts ready to keep any mister-fix-it motivated for another year of renovations and upgrades. Just try to let him fully open the gift before you ask him for that next favor.
Looking for more men’s gift guides? Check out all our gift guides for men this way.
1. Nest 2.0
Getting up to change the temperature in you own home is as antiquated as channel surfing with rabbit ears. Nest 2.0 gives you command of your castle’s climate from the comfort of just about anywhere. Working with its paired mobile app, Nest helps you create heating and cooling schedules designed around your family’s needs. The benevolent temperature overlord then learns from your commands, making your home HVAC system more efficient than an ambidextrous accountant.
2. Rockwell JawHorse Sheetmaster Hands-Free Workstation
They say they can do everything by themselves, but a helping hand never hurts — especially when it can’t talk back. The Rockwell JawHorse Sheetmaster Hands-Free Workstation combines a workbench, stands, saw horses, vices and clamps into one space-saving package that easily collapses once the job is done. It’s specifically built to hold 4×8 plywood sheets without additional accessories; a clamping capacity of up to 49 inches should handle any household job short of building an ark.
3. Filson Tin Cloth Utility Apron
Save the 14oz denim, soft flannels and your own hide during tough projects with the Filson Tin Cloth Utility Apron. Constructed from Filson’s tough-as-nails Tincloth, this utilitarian personal protection equipment also sports seven pockets for all the gear you need to have handy. Adjustable wide nylon webbing provides a comfortable and balanced fit whether you’re hanging some drywall, forging your own prybar, or manning the hell out of your grill.
4. Modern Dwell Numbers
While we’re sure the pizza guy appreciates your efforts, it’s not the beautifully manicured Kentucky bluegrass that catches his eye; it’s your address. Make things easier for him — and up your curb appeal — by swapping out your crumbling digits for a set from Modern Dwell Numbers. Crafted from recycled, architecture-grade aluminum and treated with a weather-resistant clear-coat, these water-jetted oneders (see what we did there) come in a variety of styles and finishes and can even be custom designed.
5. ASUS RT-AC66U Dual-Band Wireless Gigabit Router
Face it: despite having the knowledge and skill set to physically construct a series of tubes that globally collects and shares information, the handyman on your list needs the internet. It’s just easier. Boasting transfer speeds of up to 1300Mbps, the ASUS RT-AC66U Dual-Band Wireless-AC1750 Gigabit Router can download anything shy of the This Old House library faster than you can even say its name. Working with a 5GHz spread-spectrum frequency, the RT-AC66U will also seamlessly stream that content, in high definition, throughout your entire home network. The integrated IPv6 and VPN support also make telecommuting safe and secure, so he can log on and check in while fixing Aunt Gladys’s plumbing.
6. Wilton Bad Ass Sledge Hammer
Whether it’s for knocking down walls of plaster, concrete, or oppression, a good sledge can provide that extra bit of persuasion needed to get your point across. The Wilton Bad Ass Sledge Hammer(B.A.S.H.) is the toughest of the lot. Seriously — it packs a guarantee that pays out $1,000 if you happen to break one. The B.A.S.H. is reinforced with six steel rods running the length of its handle to quell vibration and make sure each model is stronger than Mjölnir.
7. Haiku Fan
Give people a reason to look beyond that popcorn ceiling you’ll be tackling next year with a Haiku Ceiling Fan. Sound boring? Wrong. Haikus are both handsome and efficient — saving up to 80% more energy than your dust-ridden current model. Combine that with their organically shaped bamboo or composite airfoils and these Red Dot Design Award winners add instant sophistication to any room.
8. Age Your Own Whiskey Kit
The Age Your Own Whiskey Kit by the Woodinville Whiskey Company adds a whole new realm to your do-it-yourself repertoire: the command of your own libations. It’s both simple and exciting. A two-liter aging barrel plays home to the the kit’s 110 proof White Dog unaged whiskey. Because of its small size, you can witness your whiskey’s transformation from clear distillate to oak-infused, full bodied caramel elixir in about three to six months; by then you’ll be needing something to celebrate that kitchen renovation with.
9. Techshop Membership
You need the right tools to do the job. Unfortunately, not everyone has the 15,000+ square feet (or the cool million bucks) to spare that it takes to create the top-tier tool shed of our dreams. A membership to Techshop is the easiest solution. With locations in Austin, Menlo Park, Detroit, San Francisco, San Jose and Raleigh, members can make use of state-of-the-art fabrication facilities, complete with access to their Autodesk Design Suite software, to create just about anything. On-site training and a crew of “Dream Coaches” are even at the ready to make sure newbies don’t lasercut a limb by mistake.
10. Urrea 436 Piece Industrial Master Set
The Urrea 436 Piece Industrial Master Set is a complete hand tool kit designed for the discerning handyman. Forged using American microalloy steel, each Urrea tool is machined to the highest standard, meeting or exceeding all ANSI, SAE and U.S. Federal specifications. With wrenches featuring SuperDrive technology (for added strength), a full compliment of sockets, clamps, screwdrivers and just about every other hand tool you could squeeze into a chest, this all-in-one set comes backed by Urrea’s 100-year guarantee. Training the guy who hopes to inherit them, well, that’s just part of the fun.
11. Makerbot Replicator 2
A Makerbot Replicator 2 under the tree keeps the creative juices flowing, further fostering that designing hobby (and ending all the contemplative beard scratching). Using a paper-thin 100-micron print layer, the newest Makerbot Replicator cranks out 3D models with the smoothness of wet-sanded clear-coat, while a 410 cubic inch capacity build volume means it’s time to start thinking big(ger). Whether this gift leads to an invention of meaningful proportions, or simply creates an excuse to build a display case, the DIY-er will love it.
12. Craftsman Bolt-On Modular Tool System
With a 20V lithium-ion battery and more attachments than a Kitchen-Aid mixer, the Craftsman Bolt-On Modular Tool System is the ideal gift solution for the handiest man in any family. Everybody can contribute to their go-to general contractor’s range by wrapping up either a drill, hammer-drill, impact driver, circular saw, router, jigsaw, multi-tool, sander or inflator; they’re all easily interchangeable with the Bolt-On base system. And everything fits neatly into one closet-friendly storage bag when the job’s done. Which gift giver can put him to work first is his call.
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