Handyman Gift Picks: Top Tools for the DIY Enthusiast You Know (2024)

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!

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.

Combination Ratchet Wrench

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.

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 itemsup 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.

When I came across the Ego portable area light, I was instantly drawn to the rechargeable, long-lasting (up to 35 hours) battery and its five different settings—from task lighting to boost mode—that illuminate large areas up to 10,000 lumens. Bonus? A USB port lets you easily charge other devices. It also features rafter hooks for hanging overhead, and a tripod mount to cast light over an entire low-light work space.

As a one-person woodworking shop, this Little Hand is the best kept secret in my tool arsenal, providing support whenever I’ve needed an extra hand. Use it to prop up a heavy project, especially during glue-ups, and for cabinet installs. This gadget extends from 16.5 inches to 22.8 inches, and has 6-inch by 6-inch universal feet on the top and bottom.

If you know someone who spends their winter months in multiple layers of cold-weather clothing trying to stay warm, gift them this space heater from Dyna-Glo. This vent-free heater, which runs on propane or natural gas, is safe to use indoors. It can warm 1,000 square feet, and be bundled with an optional freestanding floor mount or blower.

Woodworkers, regardless of skill level, will tell you that they can never have enough clamps. These Bandy Clamps are a specialty clamp for edge binding to a workpiece, but also serve a multitude of clamping situations, like keeping power cables and extension cords out of the way. More than just a spring clamp, these feature non-denting bands that span the two jaws. An added bonus is that wood glue doesn’t adhere to the rubber band for long and easily peels off.

Any DIYer with a collection of corded power tools, lights or chargers is always hunting for more outlets. Help bring them the power they need with this power cord. The heavy-duty, steel casing withstands the hostile environment in a garage (think: sawdust and dirt), as the the six grounded outlets all have dust and debris shields that can be closed when not in use.

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.

My favorite garage upgrade over the years—by far—is this extension cord reel. Whether it’s to hook up a power tool, vacuum out the car or inflate a pool toy, I use it every time I’m in the garage. This gift for DIY lovers eliminates tripping over extension cords on the floor, as well as time and frustration from detangling and rolling up long cords in between uses. This model features a built-in circuit breaker and 180-degree swivel mounting bracket, and can be wall- or ceiling-mounted.

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.

Originally Published: November 07, 2019