Father's Day on a Budget -- Gifts for the Home Improvement Junkie

Finding a great Father's Day gift for your favorite home improvement junkie can be kind of difficult. You could, of course, buy him some kind of hand tool, but he probably already has every kind of screwdriver, hammer, and wrench he needs. And power tools are often too costly. So what can you get as a gift for the do-it-yourself type of guy in your life? Is there anything affordable out on the market that would make a great Father's Day present for your handyman father, grandfather, or uncle?

There are actually quite a few items that would make great gifts for any do-it-yourselfer--and I have listed several of them here for you. And don't worry about your budget, because all of these suggestions cost under $25.

--Voice Recording Tape Measure with LED Light: Every handyman has run across this problem before--you measure something with your tape measure, then by the time you find a pencil and paper, you forgot the measurement and have to redo it. Put an end to your guy's frustration by getting him this 16 ft tape measure that has a built-in 20 second voice recorder--he'll be able to record his measurements instead of having to remember them. Plus, this tape measure has an LED light that shines on the area being measured and a wrist carrying strap. This gift costs only $19.99.
http://www.x-tremegeek.com/templates/searchdetail.asp?productID=14355

--Aearo Fuel Red Mirror Lens Safety Glasses: We all know how important it is to wear safety glasses when working with power tools and other home improvement gear, yet a lot of guys don't wear them because they don't want to look geeky. Well, here's the solution--get him these mirror lens safety glasses. These are really cool--they look nothing like the safety goggles most of us remember from high school wood shop class. These glasses look more like a high-end pair of sunglasses, actually, but they meet all the safety standards. They also have advanced UV protection and are scratch resistant. These would make a great Father's Day gift, and they are just $19.97.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=16703-429-90987-00000&lpage=none

--Husky UltraFlex Gel Kneepads: Do-it-yourselfers spend a lot of time on their knees--building things, checking the plumbing, working on projects, etc. Protect your guy's knees by getting him these gel kneepads. They are super thick, but very soft and flexible so they will be comfortable for as long as he needs to wear them. Rubber straps make them adjustable to fit any size. This thoughtful gift will only cost you $19.97.
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=misc/searchResults.jsp&N=2984+3842&pagetitle=Shop+Safety+%26+Security+online

--MagnoGrip: When working on a project, it is easy to lose track of tiny nails and screws, or even the drill bits that you need. That's where this product comes in handy. It is basically a heavy-duty canvas wristband that closes with Velcro, and inside the band are some very powerful magnets. All your guy has to do is strap it on his wrist, and then any metal item he needs he can just stick to the magnet. It has a maximum circumference of 12 inches, so it will fit any wrist. The price of this is $14.99.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/917f/?cpg=wnrss&cpg=cj

--Nuts About You Keyring: This is a fun gift that also shows that you care. It is a keyring that has silver and 14k gold-plated nuts on a 1.5 inch bolt. It comes in a gift box that is inscribed with the phrase, "I'm nuts about you!" Would this be a great Father's Day gift for your do-it-yourselfer husband or father? It costs $18.95.
http://www.isabellacatalog.com/prod.cfm/pgc/21100/sbc/21103/inv/5106

--Duct Tape Wallet: Pretty much any handyman has a roll or two of duct tape around--they use it for everything, don't they? Show your guy you noticed his duct tape addiction by getting him this unique wallet. It isn't sticky, and the tape won't peel at all. This wallet has four built-in cardholders and a four-page clear plastic insert for photos or additional cards. This novel gift will cost you $20.00.
http://www.uncommongoods.com/item/item.jsp?itemId=12288

--I-Sight--Mini Task Light: Have you ever had your handyman guy call you over and ask you to hold a flashlight for him because he needs better light at a certain spot to see what he is doing? I would bet that you probably have. Well, no more of that if you buy this task light for a Father's Day gift! This gadget has a plastic loop that fits around the ear and a small attached light that can be pointed and aimed in any direction--this enables your handyman to focus the light on his project area. The price of this is $12.99.
http://www.kleargear.com/1886.html

--Bounce Back Coil Hose: This is the most compact hose I've seen. It is a full-length hose--50 feet--but it coils itself up after use to within 3 feet! It is made of heavy-duty polyurethane with brass fittings and is intended for outdoor use. It's also an attractive translucent blue (instead of the boring green that most hoses are). This hose is only $13.29.
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1339956&cp=1766747.1800946&pg=3&parentPage=family

--Standard Duty Drop Light with 25 Foot Cord: A light that hangs from a swivel ratchet hook and that you can move around all over the workshop would be a great Father's Day gift for any do-it-yourself guy. Since this has a 25 foot cord, your guy can have the light come with him as he moves around his work area--that way, he'll always have a good light source to see his project. The zinc coated reflector cage reflects the light from the 75 watt bulb you put in (bulb not included). And, it has a built-in 12.4 amp power outlet. This great workshop light costs only $18.95.
http://www.hsn.com/cnt/prod/default.aspx?webp_id=3430136&web_id=3430136&sf=HM&dept=HM0099&prev=hp!sf!dept

I'm sure that one of these ideas will make a great Father's Day gift for any home improvement junkie in your life. Or, if not these exact gifts, perhaps they will spark an idea in your mind for another gift that would be just right. You can also surf around on the websites from which I found these gift ideas--many other really cool gift ideas can be found on all of them I'm sure that any guy will appreciate that you took the time to try to find a Father's Day gift that he will enjoy.

Be sure to check out my other articles for other ideas on Father's Day gifts!