DIY gift suggestions?

ClubDead · 19-09-2019 1:15pm #1

My husbands birthday is coming up. He has been accumulating tools for the last year since we moved into our new house. He has a good drill and drill bits. DIY has become a bit of a hobby/interest for him and I'd like to get him something DIY related for his birthday.
Can you think of any home DIY essentials that you would recommend (things you use regularly or can't live without)? I could then go through what he has and get things that he might like. Thank you.

chillyspoon · 19-09-2019 1:29pm

If he's working with timber and already has a good drill then you can't go wrong with adding an impact driver and/or an random orbit sander and if he's already got one.

Something like these are DIY level, not too bad quality but not pro stuff either:

https://www.mydiy.ie/products/ryobi-rid1801-one-18v-impact-driver-18-volt-bare-unit.html
https://www.mydiy.ie/products/ryobi-r18ros-0-one-18v-random-orbit-sander-18-volt-bare-unit.html

They're both "bare units" so you'll have to buy at least one battery and charger too, or a kit like this containing a combination:

https://www.mydiy.ie/products/ryobi-rc18120-213-one-compact-charger-18v-and-2-x-18v-13ah-li-ion-batteries.html

Obviously budget comes into play too. The Ryobi stuff would be seen as a step above the likes of Aldi/Lidl's stuff but below the likes of Bosch, DeWalt etc.

If he's doing more general work about the house, hanging shelves and so on, then a stud/cable/pipe finder could be a useful present; something like this one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Professional-Detector-protective-detection/dp/B0046041C8/ref=sr_1_23?keywords=stud+finder&qid=1568896239&sr=8-23

Knowing what his current drill is, what he's interested in and a rough budget will help people suggest more accurate/appropriate options.

ClubDead · 19-09-2019 1:40pm

chillyspoon wrote: »

Knowing what his current drill is, what he's interested in and a rough budget will help people suggest more accurate/appropriate options.

He recently bought himself 2 Makita drills (I think he said one is for hammering?...it works on bricks).
He just does odd jobs around the house, repairs, hanging light fixtures, hanging pictures...etc. Nothing too big like making things from scratch.
So I was thinking of tools, accessories that he could use in the coming years. I was thinking of a budget of 300euro-ish.

my3cents · 19-09-2019 1:48pm

Check what drills he has and if they are 18V battery versions (take a picture and post it if not sure).

If he has 18V batteries then this is a really nice extra Makita DML808 LED Flashlight, 18 V

listermint · 19-09-2019 3:18pm

All this talk of drills and no ones mentioned a compound mitre saw.

Pffft.

Get him a compound mitre saw.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Evolution-Power-Tools-Multi-Purpose-Sliding/dp/B006BRVQ9K/ref=sr_1_6?crid=17HVLG2FVKWDC&keywords=evolution+compound+mitre+saw&qid=1568902683&s=gateway&sprefix=evolution+comp%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-6

Calahonda52 · 19-09-2019 3:24pm

Always important for hubby to have a good drill:D

What about a multi tool.

https://www.ie.screwfix.com/erbauer-emt300-qc-300w-multi-tool-220-240v.html?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3tir-Ird5AIVDUTTCh0_hggHEAQYASABEgLVTvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Its very versatile and takes up very little room, unlike the compound mitre saw.

victor8600 · 19-09-2019 3:39pm

A set of boxes / bags for keeping tools and bits organized?

chillyspoon · 19-09-2019 4:38pm

ClubDead wrote: »

He recently bought himself 2 Makita drills (I think he said one is for hammering?...it works on bricks).
He just does odd jobs around the house, repairs, hanging light fixtures, hanging pictures...etc. Nothing too big like making things from scratch.
So I was thinking of tools, accessories that he could use in the coming years. I was thinking of a budget of 300euro-ish.

With your budget and the kind of work he's doing around the place I think you could easily do a couple of the ideas here.

- Calahonda52's multitool; as my3cents suggested; check the type of his existing batteries - and check for a compatible Makita multitool; chances are you'll end up with one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Makita-DTM51Z-Multi-Tool-18-V/dp/B00QEBOE0Q (but you've got to do that compatibility check)
- victor8600's storage -> one of these units from Rutlands is a good start: https://www.rutlands.co.uk/sp+hand-tools-tool-storage-tool-boxes-organisers-premium-tool-box-system-with-castors-rutlands+dk9000
- the stud/cable finder that I recommended above would be a shoe-in and is definitely worth it for anyone drilling holes into walls in a house. Anything that helps avoid hitting power cables and water pipes is good.

That lot comes in around your budget - I wish my wife would come up with combinations like that for me! (actually I can't complain, she lets me store my sheets of plywood under the stairs

)

Stigura · 19-09-2019 4:54pm

Know what? I think Victor's nailed it! One of the handiest things I ever bought:

I can pick that up and lug it down to the stables ~ or where ever ~ and there's my tools. Beats the blazes out of marching back up here, because I haven't brought some stupid thing (like a pencil!) with me.

Same would apply to a house. He can fetch his entire tool kit and have everything on hand, beside him. And these modern 'Totes' beat the hell out of the old, blue, steel 'collapsible tool boxes' my Dad used to cart about.

Tell ye another thing? See that orangey thing, far right? That's a little, plastic spirit level. 9" long. My mum bought me that ~ just on some mad impulse. Because it's a tool and she thought I might use it.

Decades ago, that was. And, ye know what? That damn thing's had more use than most of my tools put together! I'm endlessly whipping it out ~ thinking " Thanks, mum! " ~ and doing untold little jobs with it

Other than that? What's every DIY man need more than a mate?! Sadly, the old B&D Workmate is no longer worth the cheap ****e it's made of. And, I'm sure, this forum could argue for ever over which is best now.

Personally, I have a Keter. But, the Pegasus doesn't look too bad ..... Has he got a portable base to work on? Something clampy, that he can get stuff done on / with, without having to ask you to hold something?

Just my experience / views. But, three hundred quid could probably buy me a whole shed load more useful bits and pieces. Trouble is knowing Which! I'd figure it out. But, no bugger else on this whole forum could guess it.

Do Screwfix do gift vouchers ....?

my3cents · 19-09-2019 5:52pm

listermint wrote: »

All this talk of drills and no ones mentioned a compound mitre saw.

Pffft.

Get him a compound mitre saw.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Evolution-Power-Tools-Multi-Purpose-Sliding/dp/B006BRVQ9K/ref=sr_1_6?crid=17HVLG2FVKWDC&keywords=evolution+compound+mitre+saw&qid=1568902683&s=gateway&sprefix=evolution+comp%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-6

And get the stand that goes with it, only bought a stand in recent years and wish I had done so long ago.

cletus · 20-09-2019 6:00am

my3cents wrote: »

And get the stand that goes with it, only bought a stand in recent years and wish I had done so long ago.

This times a hundred. The stand masked a huge difference

Payton · 20-09-2019 6:39am

I picked up a couple of these a while ago from Amazon they are great.
Stanley 194745 Sortmaster Organiser https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002KHLRTE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_qngHDbDP4VBXZ
Also if he hasn't got a tool bag.

HUIJIA 21 Inch Professional Power Tool Bag, Strong Heavy Duty Tools Bag, Multi-pocket, Collapsible Muti Function Technician Bag with 5 Wear Resistant Rubber Base, Shoulder Strap, Black (XL:50×23×32cm) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FS8TLJR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_KugHDb759ADAN

Andrea B. · 20-09-2019 7:07am

ClubDead wrote: »

He recently bought himself 2 Makita drills (I think he said one is for hammering?...it works on bricks).
He just does odd jobs around the house, repairs, hanging light fixtures, hanging pictures...etc. Nothing too big like making things from scratch.
So I was thinking of tools, accessories that he could use in the coming years. I was thinking of a budget of 300euro-ish.

Can u post a pic or model number of his Makita drills. If he has drill and impact, I highly recommend the cordless SDS hammer. Either way, if he is on 18volt Makita, try to look at other 18v Makita stuff like the skillsaw/reciprocating saw.

jack of all · 20-09-2019 9:39am

A good quality 3/8" drive socket set and a good set of spanners- useful for all manner of DIY jobs. A LED head torch, good quality spirit level, impact driver is nice but not essential, a vintage Stanley or Record hand plane (No 4, a tool for life), a cast iron Stanley combination square (another tool for life), a 6 or 8" Bahco adjustable wrench (the ones with the wide slim jaw- ideal for plumbing), the list goes on....

listermint · 21-09-2019 7:26am

my3cents wrote: »

And get the stand that goes with it, only bought a stand in recent years and wish I had done so long ago.

Picked my stand up the following week. 50 quid in Aldi. Universal. Absolute gold.

colm_mcm · 21-09-2019 10:55am

The Aldi stands are the exact same as they sell in B&Q and many other places. Prices vary,
They’re a great stand, very stable and there’s extendable rollers out the sides which are very handy.

my3cents · 21-09-2019 3:07pm

The stand I bought was from Lidl looks identical to a lot of the others only the colour and branding changes.

The Universal mount is the same on all of them so they will all take any chop saw and can even mount the small bandsaws they sell.

DIY gift suggestions?

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