5 Hot Gifts for the DIYer

by Dave Donovan

Are you stuck wondering what you’re going to get your handyman this holiday season? If he’s like most of us, he already has a ton of old tools in his garage or basement that go unused and forgotten, so trying to come up with a good gift idea can be difficult indeed. The last thing you want to do is waste your money by giving him another tool to add to the growing pile of scrap in the basement.

Luckily, DoItYourself.com has compiled a list of the five hottest DIY gifts for 2010. Give your handyman one of these in his stocking and you’ll be reigniting that do-it-yourself spirit just in time for the New Year’s resolutions.

Leatherman Skeletool Multi-Tool

The Leatherman Skeletool Multi-Tool is a high performance multi-purpose tool for the serious handyman. This little beauty can handle just about everything and its stainless steel construction means it’s not only handsome, but it will last for years.

Let’s face it, multi-tools are great gifts, but the Skeletool is light-years ahead of the competition. For starters, just look at it. Is there a more awesome looking tool on the market? This thing reeks of practicality, bare-bones functionality and superior design.

The Skeletool by Leatherman features a sharp, semi-serrated blade, two standard screwdrivers, two Phillips screwdrivers, a bottle opener, a lanyard ring, pliers and wire cutters – all in a tool that weighs only five ounces!

There’s practically nothing this multi-tool can’t do. It’s like having an entire tool box in your pocket – all for less than $70.

Dremel Multi-Max

The Dremel Multi-Max oscillating tool is one of those tools you wish you had years ago. It takes all the hard work out of just about every cutting job you’ve ever come across. Versatile and effective, the Dremel Multi-Max oscillating tool can handle virtually every repair, remodeling and restoration job you have in mind.

Its powerful 1.5 amp motor gives it the strength to handle a wide array of cutting tasks and its compact design allows it to fit in spaces other power tools can’t reach. It’s also ergonomically designed to maximize comfort and control.

The Dremel Multi-Max is ideal for cutting, sanding, removing grout, scraping and grinding, and because of the off-set design, it can make cuts perfectly even with the floor or any other flat surface. It comes with five different blades to get you started and the price is around $235.

Learn more at the Dremel design center

The UltraFire WF-502B Flashlight

Every handyman appreciates a good flashlight and with the UltraFire WF-502B, they get a lot to like. For starters, the thing puts off a blinding 900 lumens, enough to light up any space. It features long-lasting LED bulbs and the body is made of high quality aluminum alloy so if your handyman’s a bit on the clumsy side, he can drop it all day long and it will still work.

The flashlight has a slip-resistant exterior with an anti-roll, anti-reverse design, a handy carrying strap and it’s energy efficient. Oh yeah, it’s waterproof too.

The ultra durable, ultra bright UltraFire flashlight runs around $38.

The Black & Decker Powered Caulk Gun

Running a perfect bead of caulk is easier said than done, and unless you do it often, odds are by the time you’re done, your hands are covered with caulk and the job looks less-than-perfect. But not anymore! With the Black & Decker powered caulk gun , running a perfect bead of caulk is as easy as pressing a trigger.

This ingenious tool takes care of every part of the job, from the on-board puncturing tool to the dual speeds for accurate flow control to its no-drip tip. It all adds up to a beautifully done caulk job each and every time.

The no-drip Black & Decker powered caulk gun is priced around $40.

The Snow Joe ComposTumbler

If your handyman’s New Year’s resolution is to be more environmentally responsible, then the Snow Joe ComposTumbler makes the ideal holiday gift. Designed as a rotating, off-the-ground hot composter, the ComposTumbler makes it easier than ever to produce nutrient-rich compost for your landscaping and gardening.

Its large drum is capable of holding 180 gallons of material and because it has screened endcaps and aerator/drainage units on the chamber doors, it allows for maximum air flow which eliminates the odor often caused by composting. Give the ComposTumbler as a gift this holiday season and by spring’s thaw, you’ll have a nice supply of compost ready for your garden.

The Snow Joe ComposTumbler starts at around $400.