Gifts for Fathers

Whether Dad is an old hand at fixing things, or if he ends up taking things apart and you end up calling a pro to finish the job, he will appreciate a shirt advertising his handy-ness.

Most of these shirts are customizable. Click the "customize" button to use the Zazzle tool and add your father's name or your special message. You can create a custom gift for Dad that he will cherish.

Porter Cable PCL418C-2 Tradesman 18V Cordless 4-Piece Combo Kit includes:

Compact Drill/Driver - PCL180D. At only 3.8 lbs., the compact drill/driver reduces user fatigue when using for extended periods. 2-position gear box offers flexibility for high speed drilling and driving, and low speed for high torque applications. 1/2" metal locking single sleeve chuck offers excellent bit retention and durability.

6-1/2" Circular Saw - PCL186CS. Efficient cutting and great cutting capacity.

Reciprocating Saw - PCL180RS. Allows cutting in tight areas that are difficult to access with larger saws. Tool-free blade clamp on reciprocating saw permits blades to be removed and inserted quickly and easily.

Flashlight - PCL180FL. Soft grip handle provides non-slip gripping surface. Pivoting head allows beam to be positioned in any orientation.

This cordless tool kit was rated best by the leading consumer rating and reviewing organization in the U.S. It worked as well as a $500 kit. A great value for the price.

Cordless drills are great...until the batteries run out, and the thing is, they never tell you when that will happen. Eventually you cannot recharge them any more, so you need to buy a new battery, and those can cost a lot of money. My father prefers using corded drills, and when his old one finally gave out and he could no longer fix it, I went looking for a new corded drill for him. There aren't that many out there!

At any rate, times have changed. His old one was metal, with a keyed chuck that had most of the teeth broken off. The new ones are plastic and come with keyless chucks, so you don't have to worry about losing the key or tying it to the cord.

The one I got him also has a clutch mechanism, which you can set so that at a certain depth, the drill stops working. That allows you to sink multiple screws to the same depth every time, like in drywall jobs or when you're building a deck. It also means you do not strip out the screw head, a common problem as screws aren't always made of the strongest metal these days, either.

And as added convenient features, this one comes with a compartment to hold the drill bits (which come with it) and it has a bubble level, so you can make sure you are driving the screws in straight.

Here is a slightly older corded drill model which does not have the bubble level.

Find other gifts for woodturners including shirts, mugs, and project kits at my other lens.

Is Dad a woodworker or woodturner? I'm sure he'd love to be able to make some toys for his kids or grandchildren. Nobody young enough around? These classic toys would become quick favorites at any afterschool program, or donate them to a homeless shelter, so many kids will benefit.

These books give complete, step-by-step instructions, complete with diagrams, for making sturdy, fun toys out of wood. Even beginners will be able to make such old favorites as blocks, stacking rings, and toys you pull or push around, like cars. Dad will be able to relive his younger years as these toys spring to life under his loving hands.


Making Toys That Teach: With Step-by-Step Instructions and Plans by Les Neufeld

The book features nine projects for sturdy wooden toys that will both entertain and educate children. The author, Le Neufeld, combines his experience as a woodworker and a graduate degree in Curriculum and Instructional Materials. The first chapter explains about educational toys and what makes them important.

The projects include: Fraction Circles, Pattern Blocks, Big Beads, Bead Board, Attribute Dominoes, Shape Puzzle Box, Stacking Pyramid, The Ultimate Building Block Set, and Puzzle Train.

Kids love these basic toys and seem to instinctively react to their timelessness. They return to them over and over again to play with them.

Each project includes illustrated diagrams, written instructions, and photographs whenever possible, as well as a tool list and suggested time requirements. Of course, this will vary depending on your skill level and attention to detail.

If Dad has rudimentary skills in woodworking, this book and its projects will work for him. He will be able to create long-lasting toys for his children or grandchildren that will be treasured for years to come. They may very well end up being passed down to their children, too!


Zany Wooden Toys That Whiz, Spin, Pop, and Fly: 28 Top-Secret Projects You Can Build from the Toy Inventor's Workshop by Bob Gilsdorf

No matter how many times you try telling the kids to turn off the tv, computer, or game and get outside and play, it won't work if they don't have something to do outside that they enjoy. This book will help give them creative and fun toys that any kid will love.

The projects range from a penny shooter to launch a penny across the floor; miniature baseball, hockey or croquet games; and interactive gumball machines that let you smack and catapult your gumballs. It also includes some fun classics, like a toy car and robot, so your kids (or you--heck, adults can play too!) can let their imaginations run wild.

Even if you are a beginning woodworker, the clear diagrams and instructions make this a doable book. It includes tips on selecting wood and working with the grain. It explains basic tools and how to use them, such as types of saws and drills, even a hammer and nails! It also includes useful basic skills, like how to cut straight and how to make a rabbet joint.

Most of these fairly simple, quick projects can be made from scraps of wood, hand tools, nails, rubber bands, paint and glue. They come with step-by-step instructions, schematic diagrams and color pictures, so it's easy to follow along. You might try making some of these with your child or grandchild, in addition to playing with them later. In fact, this might end up being more fun for parents and grandparents than it is for the kids. Working on a project together would also be a fun way to spend a rainy day, and it would teach kids basic creative skills they can use the rest of their lives.

A note of caution: most of these toys involve small pieces that fly or get flung, so be sure that they stay away from smaller children. Use your judgement and supervise the kids when they play with these toys.

Get Dad or Grandpa this book now, so he can start making those toys for Christmas!



Turning Vintage Toys by Chris Reid

If Dad of Grandpa is a woodturner, he will be able to enjoy this toymaking book: Turning Vintage Toys, by Chris Reid. Woodturners are always looking for new projects, and this book has 15 of them to try.

Beginning turners can make a yo-yo or tops, and more advanced turners can work on kaleidoscope-colored tops and adorable walking penguins. Even experienced turners will want to crank out the easy and simple, cute wooden mice, which are pointed eggs for the bodies, plus leather folded ears and a leather strip for the tail.

Other toys include stacking rings, a diavolo, skipping rope, skittles, pecking chickens and pull toys. You'll feel like a kid again as you revisit toys you grew up with.

Projects include step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and photographs. Instructions are easy to follow and concise, with not a lot of reading required. The author includes a section on finishing, as well as how to turn spheres, which are common in toymaking but not so much in woodturning in general, since so many turners make boxes and bowls.

No matter what your father's woodturning experience is, he will enjoy turning these toys. He'll also get great satisfaction watching his kids, grandkids, or the recipients of these toys, playing with them for a long time.

Aprons are practical gifts for fathers who like to cook. Get one that expresses his speciality, whether it may be pizzas or portobellos, grilling or ice cream. Most of these can become custom gifts by adding your own message or Dad's name. Click the "customize" button when you view the product, and use the Zazzle customization tool to personalize gifts.


Cartoon Dragon Bar-B-Q Apron by alinaspencil





Vintage Baker Grocer Cook Apron by JuJuGarden

Dont mess with the cook by KLAATUWI


Portobello - Chef by lasgalenarts

Funny Patriotic American Cheese Cartoon Apron by Swisstoons



MY KITCHEN TOOL BELT - APRON by seapearls



Gimme Kimchi Kimchi Lovers Apron by alinaspencil



Dad's Cooking by tanninggirl


Giraffe Apron: Never Trust a skinny cook... by lillilonglegs



Pizza Chef by cooltees



Kiss The Cook (ASL) by Erowyn



Schnauzer Chef Apron by Art_by_Joanne



Always ready to bake cookies! by Woodswalker



rainbow flag, Gay Christian Cook by gaychristian



The best cook apron by Emazevedo



One HOT Cook! by SweetRascal



Chocoholic Apron by alinaspencil



Gimme Shave Ice Hawaiian Shaved Ice Apron by alinaspencil

Cartoon Golfer by RandomGames













Golf Ball Snowman for the golf nut by aslentz




Red Golf Ball Tie by mikek92349

Fathers will always appreciate personalized, customized gifts, especially when they are reminded of the gift giver every time they use it. Add your own photo or special message to these gifts to give Dad something he can use and cherish.

These customizable photo mug templates have three cartoon trees. Each one has a space for you to put your own photo. Th message says, Happy Father's Day from your little monkeys. The message can be changed to say Happy Birthday instead, for example. Dad will be reminded of his kids every time he takes a sip.

Personalized gifts to dad are a fun, unique way to show your love. He'll have something nobody else does, and every time he uses it, he will be reminded of you.

This customizable photo tie template has a cartoon tree with a space for you to add your own funny photo. The message reads, To Dad from your little monkey, in a yellow-green, playful font. This can be changed also. The tie is dark green.

Add your own photo to this shirt to create a cute gift that will remind him of the kids every time he wears it. Not to mention get him a lot of attention:







Daddy's Little Assistant Kitchen Shirt Template by alinaspencil



This custom photo patriotic Speck case for your iphone has a rectangular frame made from red, white and blue stripes and stars. The template is set up so you can replace the sample photo with your own. There is also a space for a short message on the bottom.

Put your kids' picture in the frame and change the message to We love you, Dad. He'll think of you every time he uses the phone.