Gift-giving season is upon us, along with the age-old question: What do you get for a woodworker? Here are a variety of suggestions to bring a smile to your woodworker’s face after the gift wrapping comes off.

Let there be light!
There never seems to be enough light on the subject when you are running a hand router. Festool has solved that problem with a new lighting system that retrofits to Festool routers.

The LM-OF 1010 R is an LED light ring that is directly integrated into the routerbase and provides shadow-free lighting directly on the workpiece all the way around. The separate battery unit is removable as needed and can be recharged via the USB-C interface. The light can be retrofitted to all OF 1010 REQ model routers from Festool starting from production month 09/2021.

Visit festoolusa.com.

Measure twice, cut once!
Every woodworker never has enough tape measures, and this is a particularly clever model from FastCap. The ProCarpenter AutoLock tape measure has all the features of the original ProCarpenter Tape Measure from FastCap, plus the autolock and super-ergonomic design. Simply pull the blade out and it stays in place then push the release button to retract the blade.

Some of the other great features are: Lever action belt clip, pencil sharpener, and my favorite, the erasable notepad surface. It’s available in a variety of blade styles to suit any woodworker 

Visit fastcap.com.
 

Odd Job, great gift!
Speaking of precise measurements, here’s a quirky classic measuring tool that makes a great gift. It’s the Odd Job tool from Garrett Wade.

Made from 1888 to the early 1930's, and rediscovered by Garrett Wade, the Odd-Job will provoke admiring glances. It's an inside miter and try square, a depth gauge, a scribing tool for arcs and circles, a T-square, a depth marking scribe (excellent for marking out mortises), a plumb level, and a rule. Made of solid brass and steel, and carefully machined on all sides. 

This Odd Job is 4" long and comes with a 6" & 12" Maple Rule with brass edges, inches on one side and metric on the other. A 6", 12" & 18" Rule are available on thier own as well. They make excellent general use woodworking rules.

Visit garrettwade.com.

How low can you go?
That’s the question Onedia Air Systems asks with its Dust Deputy Low-Pro Lid Separators. This system makes a 5-gallon bucket into a two stage cyclone dust separator.

In small shops, saving space is the name of the game. That's why Oneida designed the new Dust Deputy Low-Pro Lid Separator to measure in at only 4" tall. Just attach it to your 5-gallon bucket, connect your vacuum hose, and tuck it all away under your workbench for an instant compact dust control system for your shop.

It’s not a gimmick. With its large 2.5" diameter ports, integrated air ramp, and chamfered vortex fins, the Low-Pro offers more than 50% more airflow (CFM) than comparable lid-style separators while preventing clogging from larger debris. Oneida claims no other solution on the market can upgrade your shop vacuum in such an efficient and compact package.

Visit oneida-air.com.
 

Plenty of pockets!
I’ve long been a big fan of European-style work pants. They are practical in the woodshop and on the job site and for my money outperform typical blue jeans and dungarees.

Helly Hansen, which started in Norway, offers the Manchester Construction Pant, which puts durability and comfort at the core with two-way stretch fabric and a cotton/poly blend main fabric. Partner that with a gusseted crotch for freedom of movement, hanging pockets that are double lined for extra durability and internal kneepad pockets (my favorite feature!) that can be adjusted for better mobility to round out a great pant to work with you on the job site.

Visit hhworkwear.com.
 

A tool to make chopsticks!
Here’s a gift you can use to make more gifts. This is a crazy, precision system from the Bridge City Tools division of Harvey Tools that allows you to make perfect matching chopsticks with hand tools.

Designed originally to be a simple tool that would allow even untrained woodworkers to create a successful woodworking project, the Chopstick Master CSMv1 allows you to create a perfect taper on the chopsticks. It features the amazingly precise and elegant machining you would expect from Bridge City Tools, so it is a wonder to look at and a pleasure to use. Even kids can make perfect chopsticks safely with this tool.

Visit bridgecitytools.com.

A gift of education!
It’s amazing how many woodworkers put in long hours in the shop making beautiful work for customers and then do more woodworking for themselves when they go home. Here’s a gift to encourage that so-called “busman’s holiday”: a gift of a classes at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking.

Conveniently located in a corn field in Indiana, the Marc Adams School of Woodworking has been teaching woodworking to people since 1993. It offers a huge selection of classes from beginner to very advanced, featuring world-class instruction. Learn a new skill or brush up on a classic technique.

Visit marcadams.com.
 

A gift for the future!
Most woodworkers care about the future of woodworking, including the trees harvested to create the lumber we use. Forests face not only problems from overharvesting, but also threats of destructive insects and blights. One blight almost put an end to what once was a huge presence in North American forests, the American Chestnut tree.

The American Chestnut Foundation has at its mission to restore the majestic American chestnut tree and the legacy we are growing for future generations. Today, with your support, The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) is restoring this iconic species to the forests of Appalachia and beyond. Thanks to thousands of dedicated members and supporters, the foundation continues to progress in this audacious journey. Consider making a gift today as part of their year-end fund drive.

Visit support.tacf.org.