When it comes to selecting a gift for your average weekend warrior, a tool is a pretty safe bet. There’s always some tool or tool accessory that he could find useful in whatever big project he has planned next. The problem is identifying the right tool/accessory on your own, particularly when you might not have the same extensive knowledge that your DIY-er does. All too often, the tool gift-giving process breaks down when you have to be told what to get, instead of being able to surprise your weekend warrior with a gift you’ve chosen on your own. With that in mind and the holiday season fast approaching, here are some gift ideas, both new for this season as well as some classics, for your DIY-er.

New Items this Season

Auto Hammers

The heavily advertised tool of the season, the auto hammer is a battery-powered, handheld tool with a small piston that drives nails, removing the need to swing a hammer. While the tool will not replace your standard hammer by any stretch of the imagination, the auto hammer does allow the user to nail in small cramped quarters where one does not have the room to swing a normal hammer, such as in cabinets. The auto hammer also comes with a built-in work light and magnetized head to hold nails in place as one hammers. Both Ryobi and Craftsman offer competing versions of this tool for around $90.

Thermal Leak Detector

From Black and Decker for $50, the thermal leak detector helps to identify cold spots and drafts within a building, and thus identify where insulation is lacking. A great gift for someone who’s environmentally conscious or looking to save on energy costs.

Ready Wrench

A new gadget from Black and Decker, the Ready Wrench, retails for roughly thirty-five dollars and works in many ways just like your average set of socket wrenches. The difference is in its two rotating heads, which houses the 16 most common metric and English socket sizes. Thus the tool is more compact than your normal set of wrenches with its multiple interchangeable heads, and keeps everything in one place as opposed to rolling around the bottom of the toolbox.

Bar LED Work Lights

The versatility of these new work lights is what makes them a great gift. Light is emitted from a number of small LEDs, so the bulbs never need replacing. They run on rechargeable lithium batteries that have 6 to 7 hours of life, thus decreasing your dependency on nearby electrical outlets for task lighting. In addition, most have swiveling, bendable hooks to allow 360 degree positioning. Stanley and Black and Decker offer competing versions for around $30.

Classics

Safety Glasses

Despite the number of times we were chastised in shop class or elsewhere, there are still plenty of DIY-ers who either don’t own or don’t use safety glasses while working on projects. Thus, a new pair of safety glasses is a relatively inexpensive gift that is both practical and thoughtful. Most glasses range anywhere between $5 and $50 and come in a variety of styles in addition to tinted and non-tinted lenses.

Laser Level

A laser level works just like a normal level, but upon the push of a button, a laser guide is emitted out of either end to provide the user with a guide to work with. The precision of the level guarantees a straighter line than your standard level, and many versions have lasers that bounce off corners, so one can continue a line around them. The levels range from $30 to $60, and the more expensive ones also include built-in stud detectors.

Batteries for Cordless Tools

Of course, just about every weekend warrior could use an extra battery pack for one or more of the cordless power tools already in his collection. By having an extra battery, one can work longer with a specific tool without having to worry about it dying in the middle of a project, or having to waste time to charge a battery in the middle of a job. These batteries vary in price from $20 – $100 based on the company and type of battery required for the tool. Make sure you remember the model number of the tool when you are buying the battery, as each tool generally requires a specific type of battery that may differ from others offered by the same company.

To locate a battery charger user’s manual for the model you own, visit the ManualsOnline Library.