Finding the perfect gift ideas for Father’s Day can be tough for a dad who enjoys tackling home improvement projects around the house because many DIY dads already own a suite of tools and gear they love.
But, there’s sometimes a new time saver or handy helper that even an experienced home improvement enthusiast would enjoy adding to their tool arsenal. And, for the new homeowner, these gift ideas can be what they need to get started with their list of home improvement tasks.
Why do we recommend these tools?
The tools on my truck have earned their way there. Yes, many of them come from MyFixitUpLife Real Deal Tool Reviews, but some I use, review and we move on.
Others are continuously used one deck, door, or accent wall at a time. They’re with me all the time and they’ve earned their spots by being good at what they do. This Father’s Day Gift Ideas List is a quick run down of my go-to tools from cutting to fastening to organization to storage.
NOTE: No, these companies haven’t paid us to mention these tools. And, yes, we may earn a commission on some of them if you click the links, which helps support our website and keeps the integrity in our content. We don’t post about products we haven’t tried and we always share our honest opinion.
Miter Saw
Ridgid’s 10-inch “gliding” dual bevel miter saw is a beast. It does 97% of what a significantly larger and more expensive 12-inch unit does, but it’s smaller, lighter and easier to store. Let’s start with the “knuckle.” Forget rails, Ridgid employes the Bosch-inspired folding armature that means you can set this saw up right against a wall and go to town. This makes carrying it through a door and storing it on the truck a breeze.
The blade housing is knocked out so its cut-capacity is nearly that of a 12-inch tool. I can cut 5 1/4-inch Ogee base nested. Likely. The bevel adjust for when you do need it is all up front and the easiest I’ve ever seen. Belt drive and no “head jump” when it’s powered on or off and clean lines of site to the blade. This Ridgid saw is a pleasure to use.
Check out the full review of this Ridgid miter saw.
Chalk Line
I can’t possibly like my DeWalt Atomic mini-chalk line any more than I do. With a short 30-foot or so string, the tool is small and fits in a tool pouch pocket or clips on a belt. It snaps 99.9% of the lines I need snapped. Chalk is easy to refill and the small tool holds enough to be good to go when I need it. 3:1 crank. It’s all the tool I need for snapping lines and not an ounce more.
Rope
I’m lost without a length of line (sailors call rope “line”) and I use it every day, along with the life buoy knots we used when we did marine construction a long time ago.
A 3/8 or 1/4 in braided nylon rope organizes my extension cords and hoses (granny knot, the one you use to tie your shoes), I use it to secure things in my tool truck (bowline hitch), and there hasn’t been a load of lumber on my lumber racks that hasn’t been locked fast with a simple bolt of line.
Click here to learn how to tie a bowline knot and a trucker’s hitch.
Circular Saw
Flex’s uniquely designed blade left, upright, 6 1/4-inch, belt drive cordless circular saw is awkward (at first) and awesome. Both tall and small at the same time, you don’t put it down like a typical sidewinder, you lay it on its side. It’s not the most powerful saw on the planet (I think Flex’s sidewinder, which I also have, is…it doesn’t so much have a motor as it has a nuclear power plant) but I don’t need the most powerful saw on the planet.
I make my cuts carefully and it’s powerful enough for pressure-treated 2-by, plywood, and decking galore. It’s sublimely quiet and smooth to use. Awesome lines of site to the blade and rugged aluminum shoe. Check out my full review of this Flex circular saw.
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