Gift for a woodworker - suggestions?

[seaglass]

My daughter's bf carves items out of wood - for example, last year for Christmas he made me a small wooden seahorse and he also made my husband and I a whale to hang on our outdoor shower.

My daughter suggested he needs a handsaw because he needed to borrow one to make the whale. I am clueless when it comes to tools and don't know what kind of saw to get him.

From what she described that he borrowed it sounds like a coping saw - does this sound right?

Also any other suggestions that might be a nice gift for a woodcarver/woodworker would be appreciated!

Thanks!

[tazkcmo]

1. Wood nt

[seaglass]

4. Thanks for the idea! n/t

[tazkcmo]

5. I know that sounds smart assy

But really, there are some types of wood that lend themselves to certain types of woodworking better than others depending on of course the finished product. Depending on what types of things this person enjoys making ( furniture, figurines, decorative lawn ornaments, who knows?) You could get them the wood they may not normally be able to afford. Just an idea. Good luck

[seaglass]

11. He makes figurines. I just saw this exotic wood sample kit that I though was great except

the measurements seem tiny 1/2 x 3 x 6 - doesn't seem like you could make much out of that I'll keep looking around.

[PJMcK]

2. Some exotic wood

Here's a website for a really good supplier:

https://www.woodworkerssource.com/shop/category/1_exotic_wood.html

Good luck and happy holidays!

[seaglass]

3. Oh wow, did not even think of that. Do you do this type of work? If yes, any input on handsaws?

Thanks for the suggestion!

[zipplewrath]

7. Saws are complicated

I must have a half dozen for different things. Nothing wrong with getting a good saw. I should caution that a bad saw is almost not worth it. So they might not be all that cheap. Nothing wrong with a good coping saw though.

[seaglass]

10. Thanks, the saw was suggested by my daughter since he needed to borrow one but I might go

with the suggestion of exotic wood and possible the coping saw too.

[PJMcK]

13. I do some home carpentry

I learned some good carpentry skills from my father when he rebuilt most of the inside of our house. In reality, I'm a musician so using power tools carries an extra risk!

Regarding tools, good ones can be expensive and it's never worth it to skimp, especially with saws and drills, essentially cutting tools. The selection of tools can be a highly individual choice so if you go in that direction, it might be better to consult with your daughter's boyfriend before making a choice.

Good luck!

[zipplewrath]

6. Good solid shop apron

They make different kinds. I've got a denim one but I also have seen leather ones that are very nice. Usually have a pocket or two in the front.

[eppur_se_muova]

8. Woodworkers tend to be *very* fussy about their tools -- hard to know what to buy in that line.

What looks appropriate to a non-specialist may turn out to be pretty useless for what he actually does. With something small and cheap like a coping saw, it probably doesn't matter.

Maybe better to buy a nice book about the craft, or as someone else suggested, a selection of varieties of wood.

If you want to go out on a limb, you could try buying a nice bow saw, but that's getting expensive. There are kits available, which might actually be more fun for him, since most craftsmen make at least some of their own tools.

[seaglass]

9. Thanks for all the info. I really want to buy the wood and am waiting to hear back from

my daughter. I saw a sample kit that was on sale that he might like. And maybe throw in the coping saw as it is inexpensive.

[eppur_se_muova]

12. Probably a good choice. Though the shop apron would probably be nice too. ;)

[femmocrat]

14. Some high-end brushes for staining.

No one ever has enough or good enough brushes.

[seaglass]

15. Thanks for the idea. There is a woodworker store nearby and I will be doing some shopping

tomorrow.