Have someone on your Christmas List who is addicted to HGTV? Or someone who is a thrifty Do It Yourselfer? Well, if you’re not all that handy yourself, it may be hard to find them the right present. You can stop by your local hardware store and feel overwhelmed trying to find the perfect gift. It seems the big name stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s are always trying to push the newest tools. And while some of these new, shiny tools may be great gifts, there are also a lot of little items that would be perfect for the handy person on your list.
#1 – The Magnetic Wristband (under $10)
For such a cheap gift, you’d think this would be just a little stocking stuffer… but no. This is a pretty darn neat gadget. It’s essentially a thick bracelet held together by Velcro and is completely magnetic. And the magnets are pretty strong. Not only will a dozen or so nails/screws easily stay magnetized to this wrist wrap, so will tools such as wrenches and screwdrivers. This is perfect for the handyman who does a lot of work by himself or for anyone who just likes decorating and would appreciate the convenience of having nails right at hand.
These wristbands are available all over the internet such as at Amazon.com. There are some versions where only about a quarter of the surface area is magnetic, but I’d recommend getting the kind that is magnetic nearly all the way around. That is the case with the wristband pictured here, however they do come in other colors than pink.
#2 – The Head Lamp (ranges from $15 - $35)
Whether it’s working on a car engine or a crawl space, a head lamp is a life saver! But even for the little jobs, this comes in handy. If you think about it, you’re bound to come up with instances when some extra light would be very helpful. Doing crafts like needlepoint, trying to hook up cords to the back of a computer, or to just have around the house in case of a power outage.
Head lamps can be bought at many places, including online and in hardware stores. Often during the holidays this great gift item will pop up in other places, such as Walgreens.
#3 – Battery-powered Brad Nailer (ranges from $90 - $250)
This is for the Do-It-Yourself who’s beyond just hanging pictures. A Brad Nailer is perfect for jobs like installing trim, building a dog house, or repairing furniture that’s starting to come apart. So if you’ve got a person who’s still doing his or her own home improvement with a hammer, this will help get them into the 20th century. Look to your local hardware store, Home Depots or Lowe’s to shop for this.
#4 – Laser Level Light (ranges from $15 - $50)
Instead of making it a guessing game, a laser light can help ensure you hang pictures and shelves perfectly level. Plus, anything with a laser is pretty darn cool. Just about any hardware store will have these in supply. There are several different types of Laser Level Lights. The cheaper kinds emit light at a lesser distance than the more expensive ones. However, even the $15 version casts light as far as 10 feet away, which is sufficient for most jobs. Some of the more expensive ones have such neat features as wireless remotes, but these extras are probably not necessary for most people.
#5 – Auto Hammer (around $100)
This is the new popular gadget Home Depot is focusing on its website. People are calling this the perfect tool for anyone who has difficulty driving a nail or swinging a hammer. There are a few of these out there, including one made by Ryobi and another by Craftsman available at Sears. Weighing between 2 to 4 pounds, the Auto Hammer has a magnet guide that assists you in holding the nail in place as you drive it in, which is a great feature as it helps to keep your fingers out of harm’s way. Initial reviews of this new tool are very positive.
