What are some tools for Christmas gifts? Here are twelve of my favourite tools of the year. Many are from Lee Valley, but hey, they do produce some good tools at different price points, and are available all over Canada (and the US).
- Veritas Drill Stop Gauge – a gauge with a V-shaped cross-section, this is an ideal jig to set the depth stop on a drill bit. (Lee Valley, C$8.95)
- A plumb bob, vintage – Laser levels are nice, but honestly you can’t beat a good old-fashioned plumb-bob. If you can’t find a vintage one, then Lee Valley makes has designed some new ones.
- Awls are a great tool for any woodworker, for laying out, or starting a pilot hole. Veritas has a great Japanese-style awl – in two sizes. The benefit of these is the replaceable tip. (Lee Valley, C$26.50-32.50)
- A Japanese tool, more specifically a plane (kanna). I recently bought two from Tokyocraft on Etsy. They took a month to arrive from Japan (probably too late for Christmas), but are exceptionally well priced.
- A Japanese woodworking saw (like the Nakaya Douzuki Super Fine 210mm, C$51.99) or arborist saw from the Canadian distributor Big Bear Tools.
- Forged in Fire too much for you? Start with making one of the Japanese Knife-Making Kits from Lee Valley. (Carving knife kit, C$49.50).
- It may be tempting to build your own shooting board, but its almost better to spend that time actually building a project, and besides, the Veritas Shooting Board is pretty awesome. (Lee Valley, C$249.00).
- Need a plane small enough to carry around the workshop all day long? Look no further than the Veritas Pocket Plane, which is only 4½” in length. (Lee Valley, C$109).
- Need an outdoor saw? You could try the Boreal21 from Agawa Canyon, in Uxbridge, ON. The saw has a bunch of blade options, and starts at C$79.50. For a wooden buck saw, Canadian Outdoor Equipment Co. carries the Esker Folding Wooden Bucksaw, which is made in Canada (C$129.95).
- Some good hempseed oil for an alternative to Linseed oil – Canadian made BADGER Wood Oil (C$12.95 for 237ml).
- An instant-multi screwdriver from Canadian company Picquic. I have the Stubby, and it’s an awesome screwdriver to have around. You can get them from Amazon.ca – the Picquic 44503 3 Multi-Driver Family Pack is only C$29.52.
- What about set-up? Veritas has a bunch of set-up block sets. The Primary Set is C$56.60, and includes 1/16″, 1/8″, 1/4″, 1/2″ and 3/4″ thick 2″ long blocks made of anodized aluminum plus a steel 1 2 3 block.
working by hand 