I guess I missed this gift guide last year. Not exactly a great year I guess. So let’s see what’s on the list this year! I would try and do a post a day, but knowing me, it wouldn’t be consistent (I do have a bunch of posts in the works). So if you are looking for a gift for a woodworker, consider the ideas below!
① A copy of Quercus Magazine. This is a reasonably priced woodworking magazine which is always packed with content. Not always a lot of projects per se, but you will learn a lot about woodworkers, toolmakers, carvers etc. (C$8.50, Lee Valley)
② A set of the new Veritas Bench Rules made of solid extruded aluminum. The set includes 6″/150mm, 12″/300mm, 18″/450mm, and 24″/600mm in imperial, metric, or combo. Great product, good price at C$49.50 (while on sale).
③ If you cut dovetails by hand, then the Crucible Dovetail Template with slopes of 1:6 & 1:8 may be one of the more aesthetically pleasing templates on the market today. (C$66.50 Lee Valley, US$71 Lost Art Press). It also comes in a 1:4 slope.
④ Japanese tools are exceptional to work with, and offer a different perspective on woodworking. While saws are quite ubiquitous, it can be hard sourcing Japanese chisels, mainly because there seems to be two ends of the spectrum – inexpensive, and uber expensive. However a mid-range series of chisels is offered by Nakaya (known for their saws). In Canada you can find them at Craftsman Supply Co., where a 21mm chisel is C$55 (they are sold individually). They also sell planes and hammers from Nakaya.
⑤ Need something to help clean up the workshop? Try a Dutch style hand broom, perfect for the benchtop, or small awkward spaces, like stairs. The one I have is made by German company Redecker, and is made in Hungary from rice straw. The company makes an incredible number of brooms, brushes and dust pans. (ca. C$15).
⑥ Woodworkers all invariably have one thing in common – eventually we all end up with splinters, even when we are super careful. When it happens, you need a good set of tweezers. I recently upgraded to a pair of Tweezerman “Ingrown Hair/Splintertweeze“. They are incredibly pointy! (C$23)
⑦ Want to try something a little different to dowels? What about some Japanese wooden nails? These are made by Japanese company KAKURI, and come is various sizes. Little known outside of Japan, these offer an intriguing method of joining wood. They use a specialized drill bit, and have a tapered shank.
⑧ Need a place to store tools in for carrying round? Try a Japanese Toyo ToolBox. They come in a bunch of different sizes, and colours, and are made in Japan from a single sheet of steel.
⑨ Finding it hard to sharpen your tools? Try Christopher Schwarz’s book Sharpen This. It is the sharpening book for the novice woodworker, trying to wade through the myriad of sharpening advice out there in the ether. Easy to read, not filled with complicated techniques, or worse – expensive tools. Besides, it’s a Lost Art Press book – what’s not to like? (C$24.50)
⑩ Good small screwdrivers aren’t always easy to come by – and many tend to suffer from poor ergonomics. For a good stubby screwdriver, try the PB Swiss Tools 8453 Multi-bit screwdriver. High quality bits, six of which are stored in the handle, and a Santoprene handle for comfort. Hard to find in Canada unfortunately. Or perhaps the Wiha WIHA-38090 Softfinish Stubby with 14 bits (Made in USA, C$25).
⑪ For something a little bit nostalgic in the sharpening realm, how about a Lee Valley Replica Honing Guide? Modelled on the Stanley No.50 honing guide (25° or 30°) it works with bevel-down blades with a 7/16″ to 9/16″ wide cap-iron slot.
⑫ Maybe an antique tool? In Toronto you can purchase one from Ted Dawson Antique Tools.
For further gifts, check out the Anarchist’s Gift Guide.
working by hand 