Christmas gift for a Farmer-anything you find v handy

Caledonia

Hey guys,
Could anyone suggest a good practical farming gift.
Budget is up to €150.
It's for my dad who is a 'small' farmer. Has sheep, some cattle and two dogs.
I got him an extendable dog lead off amazon recently and he was raving about it.
Thanks!

Genghis Cant

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057336020

This thread has some great ideas.

Connemara Farmer

Nitecore hc50 headtorch + charger and two protected batteries off ebay. There was a thread lately mentioning an Irish site for the headtorch.

S Boston hand warmers if he suffers from cold hands, rechargeable aaa batteries would be good to get with them.

Helly Hansen jacket maybe, I find them good. Northface to with the removable fleece.

Does he be complaining about any particular jobs or things that could be done easier, might be clues there.

Caledonia

Thanks guys, some banter on that thread! I was never made do any work*so I don't have a clue!
He was nearly defeated by a sheep last weekend (caught in wire which he was trying to separate from the wool bare handed) and I said after watching this I'd get him a penknife and himself and Mam were like- No, don't ! I think because he wouldn't bring it out with him.. I'd say there are a whole load of little things that would make life easier for him.
Anyway I see it suggested on that thread so I might get it. And the head torch which would def be used.
He has a little dog who is wild and he has to keep him in a shed a lot when he's not with him, so I was thinking the tie out thing.

I saw an outdoor plug on amazon, that might be handy? I'm not 100% sure how you would set it up tho.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Masterplug-Weatherproof-Outdoor-Switched-British/dp/B004R276L8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418403594&sr=8-1&keywords=outdoor+plug+socket
*on the farm, in case I seem like a lazy bitch..
And this is the tie out thing.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosewood-Yard-Accessories-Tie-Out-Cable/dp/B003GKTF0C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418403635&sr=8-1&keywords=Dog+yard+tie

Genghis Cant

http://www.handyhardware.ie/product/15860/Fencing-Pliers-10in-Soft-Grip

The fencing tool is a good job if he hasn't got one.

Connemara Farmer

As I suppose an additional gift if you've money left over. A couple of Opinel No.7 knives, and a Lansky Sharpening system. The benefit of the Opinel is it's cheap, so if it's lost, who cares, but with it's wooden handle it's very light in the pocket. The blade takes a good edge. I use mine every day of the week.

Caledonia

Ah, thanks a mil guys.
I might be getting the place yet.:p

frazzledhome

Barbour jacket, thorn proof and waterproof. Get better looking as they age

Zr105

Caledonia wrote: »

Thanks guys, some banter on that thread! I was never made do any work*so I don't have a clue!
He was nearly defeated by a sheep last weekend (caught in wire which he was trying to separate from the wool bare handed) and I said after watching this I'd get him a penknife and himself and Mam were like- No, don't ! I think because he wouldn't bring it out with him.. I'd say there are a whole load of little things that would make life easier for him.
Anyway I see it suggested on that thread so I might get it. And the head torch which would def be used.
He has a little dog who is wild and he has to keep him in a shed a lot when he's not with him, so I was thinking the tie out thing.

I saw an outdoor plug on amazon, that might be handy? I'm not 100% sure how you would set it up tho.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Masterplug-Weatherproof-Outdoor-Switched-British/dp/B004R276L8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418403594&sr=8-1&keywords=outdoor+plug+socket
*on the farm, in case I seem like a lazy bitch..
And this is the tie out thing.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosewood-Yard-Accessories-Tie-Out-Cable/dp/B003GKTF0C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418403635&sr=8-1&keywords=Dog+yard+tie

The plug may be handy around the cattle crush or sheep race so that he could have a plug in light, or use an electric clippers if ever needed without having to use extension leads, may or may not work out tho depending on the layout etc.

Caledonia

frazzledhome wrote: »

Barbour jacket, thorn proof and waterproof. Get better looking as they age

Very classy. I don't know would he have meas on it, but then he probably would as he got wear out of it.
Connemara, just wondering is the no8 okay on that knife as that's the only foldable one I see on amazon.
I'm definitely going to read through some old threads on this forum as I know there's info he'd benefit from on it. Just on working smarter. He'd say 'what the flaming hell are you on about, I'm a great rancher' if he heard me saying that-and he is- but you know what I mean.

Genghis Cant

frazzledhome wrote: »

Barbour jacket, thorn proof and waterproof. Get better looking as they age

Ive a sleeveless one. It must be at least fifteen years old. My young lads call it my "Hobo Jacket" ;-)

Muckit

Do they not kinda smell like a dead dog? And they are heavy as lead

Odelay

Muckit wrote: »

Do they not kinda smell like a dead dog? And they are heavy as lead

The outer layer also can't be washed, it ruins the wax:( they are a good working coat tho.

blue5000

frazzledhome wrote: »

Barbour jacket, thorn proof and waterproof. Get better looking as they age

Won't get one for €150. My suggestion is a leatherman penknife, goes in a sheath on his belt, has a pliers that can cut hi-tensile wire (at a push), even has a file and a little saw, very handy for cutting a stick out of the ditch, screwdriver so it's possible to wire a plug too. I know I'd be lost without mine.

whelan2

a carbon monoxide alarm

TUBBY

Got an 80 yr old batchelor uncle a prostitute for Christmas last year for E150.

she offered him SUPER SEX.

He said he would have the Soup anyway and see how things went after:)

whelan2

Odelay wrote: »

The outer layer also can't be washed, it ruins the wax:( they are a good working coat tho.

how do you clean it so?

Deepsouthwest

whelan2 wrote: »

a carbon monoxide alarm

That's a great one whelan, should be on of farmers wish lists.

Deepsouthwest

TUBBY wrote: »

Got an 80 yr old batchelor uncle a prostitute for Christmas last year for E150.

she offered him SUPER SEX.

He said he would have the Soup anyway and see how things went after:)

Wasn't that Eli Wallach's joke in his acceptance speech for his lifetime achievement oscar?

Odelay

whelan2 wrote: »

how do you clean it so?

A sponge and cold water, nothing else can be used, not even dry cleaning and no machine washing.

Caledonia

blue5000 wrote: »

Won't get one for €150. My suggestion is a leatherman penknife, goes in a sheath on his belt, has a pliers that can cut hi-tensile wire (at a push), even has a file and a little saw, very handy for cutting a stick out of the ditch, screwdriver so it's possible to wire a plug too. I know I'd be lost without mine.

Ive just got him the leatherman 300, so thanks! Have about 65 left over so will get some other little bits from the suggestions.

That was very thoughtful of you TUBBY.

Genghis Cant

Caledonia wrote: »

Ive just got him the leatherman 300, so thanks! Have about 65 left over so will get some other little bits from the suggestions.

That was very thoughtful of you TUBBY.

Is that the Supertool 300? They're a great job. I've one and the belt pouch to hold it is a great job too. The replaceable plier jaws are good if you're do a good bit of cutting.

Base price

Caledonia wrote: »

Ive just got him the leatherman 300, so thanks! Have about 65 left over so will get some other little bits from the suggestions.

That was very thoughtful of you TUBBY.

A few pairs of farmers socks (long ones) for the wellies.
Also from time to time Aldi/Lidl have insulated sole inserts to fit wellies and working/skiing boots. Have a few pairs of those inserts myself and find them comfy around the yard in the winter. I am sure that they are available from other outlets.

Caledonia

Genghis Cant wrote: »

Is that the Supertool 300? They're a great job. I've one and the belt pouch to hold it is a great job too. The replaceable plier jaws are good if you're do a good bit of cutting.

Yes, that's it. Did you buy the pouch separately? I must have a look for it.
It worked out cheaper on Handy Hardware than on amazon as couldn't get super saver on it.
I'll check out those inserts, base price, thanks.

Genghis Cant

Caledonia wrote: »

Yes, that's it. Did you buy the pouch separately? I must have a look for it.
It worked out cheaper on Handy Hardware than on amazon as couldn't get super saver on it.
I'll check out those inserts, base price, thanks.

The pouch can indeed be got separately. I've a leather one and a canvas one. The canvas one has a velcro opening and is easier to open with cold hands than the button opening on the leather case.

Muckit

Genghis Cant wrote: »

The pouch can indeed be got separately. I've a leather one and a canvas one. The canvas one has a velcro opening and is easier to open with cold hands than the button opening on the leather case.

Are you talking about your underpants again Genghis?? Wrong forum for all that!

Bullocks

Muckit wrote: »

Are you talking about your underpants again Genghis?? Wrong forum for all that!

Cold hands , velcro easy opening pouches and he was on about dogging on the tv the last night aswell !