The Holiday season is upon us, as Thanksgiving and Black Friday are just days away. Now's the time to start thinking of the special people in your lives that deserve to be treated with a special gift. We put together a variety of construction related gift ideas below, including tools, clothes, accessories, stocking stuffers, and even some stuff for the kids to help you find that perfect gift.
For more gift ideas, you can also check out our more current 2016 and 2017 Ultimate Construction Holiday Gift Guides!
Ultimate Construction Gift Guide 2015
For the Coffee Lover: Coffeeboxx by Oxx
The Coffeeboxx is the pinnacle coffee machine for the job site when it comes to toughness, so much so that the creators even set an entire Jeep on top of it. The machine is crush proof, dust proof, spill proof, rust proof, and impact and water resistant. It also uses k-cup technology, so there’s not need to haul around coffee grounds and filters.
The Coffeeboxx is on sale right now through Brookstone on Amazon for $199.99 ( $249.99 MSRP), so grab it while it's at a great price!
We’ve written about the Coffeeboxx in the past, to read more and to see the video of the Jeep being set on them, click here or visit oxx.com.
For the Lunch Packer: The Stanley Cooler and Thermos Combo
Many job sites are in the middle of nowhere, so it pays to have a nice lunch box that will keep your food and drinks cold and warm. Stanley has been making thermoses and coolers for over 100 years, so they know how to make a quality product. The vacuum bottle snaps to the top of the 7 quart cooler to allow you to keep one hand free.
For the Precise Jobs: DeWalt Self-Leveling Laser
Straight lines are paramount on most jobs and a good laser level can save a lot of time and hassle. This DeWalt model projects a laser up to 165 feet with an accuracy of 1/8 of an inch at 30 feet. Its three beams project both horizontally and vertically and the unit can be mounted to a tripod for higher applications.
Now through December 22, Amazon is also offering $25 off $100 orders of select DeWalt tools, get more info, here.
For the One That Loves Quality: Hardcore Hammer
Hardcore Hammers claim to be “one hammer to rule them all”, because it combines a finish and a framing hammer all in one. With a recessed milled insert forged from steel and a smooth outer rim, it won’t tear up your walls when you go from framing to finish. The original Hardcore Hammers come with an 18 inch long handle, the head weighs 19 ounces, and are built in the USA.
For the Outdoor Worker: Milwaukee Heated Jacket
Cold weather is already here and there’s no end in near sight. Those who work outside need to be kept warm to be comfortable and productive, so what better way to do that than with a heated jacket. The Milwaukee M12 heated jacket contains 5 different heating elements and provides warmth on a single battery for up to 6 hours. The same battery that is used for other Milwaukee M12 tools can be used with this jacket. There are also women’s sizes available on Amazon, which you can see here.
Milwaukee also just released brand new heated jackets, including a 3-in-1 rip stop jacket, which you can read more about here.
For the Music Lover: Bosch Bluetooth Jobsite Radio
The new Bosch Power Box will not just play music, it allows you to play anything you want through your smartphone with the use of a Bluetooth connection, while also allowing traditional methods like AM/FM radio and wired devices. The Bluetooth connection has a range of up to 150 feet, which allows you to roam freely without messing up your music. The rugged radio can be powered by either a 120V power cord or an 18V Bosch Li-ion battery.
For the Inspector: Flir One Thermal Imager Phone Attachment (IPhone) - $249.99
Flir One Thermal Imager Phone Attachment (Android) - $249.99
The Flir One is an inexpensive, but powerful, alternative to a traditional thermal imaging camera. Available for both Apple and Android devices, the camera attached directly to your smartphone and allows you to see the variance of heat in the view of the camera. It’s great for insulation inspections, looking for air leaks, inspecting an electrical panel. And many other things.
We’ve written an in depth post about the Flir One in the past, which you can view here.
We’ve also written about several benefits of having and using a thermal imaging camera, which you should check out by clicking here.
For the Craftsmen on the Go: BossMate Work Bench
Use it for safe cutting, use it as a ledge to stand on, use it as a desk, even use it to store some fire logs for the winter. Bottom line, the Bossmate is extremely versatile. The only thing extra you’ll need to do all of this is a quality 2x12 board. The unit weighs only 10 pounds, so it’s easy to transport on the go, and with a 6 foot board, the setup can hold up to 350 pounds.
Stocking Stuffers
For the Note Taker/Doodler: Sleeve Notes
SleeveNotes is the simple solution for those who either write their notes on their hands and arms, or don’t write any notes because it’s really inconvenient to write notes in a tight or uncomfortable place, which all construction workers are accustomed to. Simply strap Sleevenotes to your arm and you’ve got a handy note pad right there when you need it.
You can read our full article about SleeveNotes here
For the Small Jobs: Folding Jab Saw
For quick cuts needed in the field, a jab saw is the perfect thing to have in your tool belt. Whether it’s copper, drywall, or many other materials, the jab saw can take care of most small jobs in a snap. The saw can use any standard Sawzall reciprocating blades and folds up when you’re not using it, to avoid getting cut.
For the Odd Job: DeWalt Right Angle Attachment
Unfortunately, every job is different and sometimes we can’t fit our power drills into place we need to. Enter the DeWalt right angle attachment, which allows you to get the job done in a space smaller than your power drill allows. Use it for screwdriving bits and cutting holes in hard to reach places. It’s marked down right now to $17.75 on Amazon, which, at that price, it’s almost too good to pass up.
For the Extra Grip: Bench Dog Work Grippers
There’s nothing more annoying than the small project you’re working on sliding around on the table when you’re trying to finish it. With the Bench Dog Cookie Grippers, your workpiece will not only stay in one place, while you paint, sand, carve, or route it, but it also lifts it off of the work surface, to protect it and make it easier to finish the sides.
For When a Pencil Just Won't Do the Job: Carbide Point Scriber
For hard materials like steel, metal, glass, and ceramics, a pencil just won’t do the job if you need to mark it for cutting. A carbide scriber, like this one Moody Tools makes will create a groove in the material where you need it cut.
For the Kids
For the Kid Who Likes to Break Things: Smart Lab Wrecking Ball Building Kit
Wrecking balls are a lot of kid’s dream to use, so with this SmartLab Demolition Lab Building Kit makes dreams come true. The game allows children to mix and match pieces that come with the set to make a building structure, then when their down looking at it, they get to smash it into pieces with the wrecking ball. What could be more fun than that?
For the Kid Who Likes to Read: Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site, written by Sherri Duskey Rinker and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld, is a great introduction into the construction industry for your young child. It takes children through the journey of a Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, Dump Truck, Bulldozer, and Excavator finishing their day before laying down to rest. Not so sure it will be as easy getting your kid to go to sleep as it will be to read the book though, unfortunately.
For the Kid Who Gets Stuff Done: Powered Ride-on CAT Bulldozer
This thing is actually kind of amazing and I’m a little upset that I’m too big to ride in one. Kids love playing with toy construction equipment, but getting to drive it around has to take that joy to the next level. Topping out at a whopping 2.5mph, the bulldozer is also equipped with diesel motor and other construction sounds. Also comes withCAT hard hat, because, safety first.
