It is often harder to select gifts for men, but I’ve come up with a few ideas. For me buying for Dad was a lot harder than buying for Mom. But everyone likes to get gifts that are handmade. You can turn a project specifically for them and that will make your gift very special.
7 Gifts for Men, Turned by You
Here are 7 gifts for men that you can turn on your lathe. These presents range from the simple to the complex and all are suitable for a Father’s Day gift, birthday present, Christmas present, or just because.
There is a bonus section at the end of the post with some other ideas for you to consider.
Turned Bottle Stoppers
How do you keep your wine, or other beverage, fresh after you pop the cork? Turn a bottle stopper. This post utilizes plastic corks that you can purchase at your local grocery store or wine supply store. You can also reuse old wine corks, or buy a bottle stopper kit that has a stainless steel cork.
You can choose your wood, exotic or native. A bit of spindle turning and the addition of a cork and you can turn a one of a kind bottle stopper. It is an elegant way to cork your wine and you can tell which bottle belongs to you as well.
Turned Key Chains
This is an introduction to turning kits. These kits give you the hardware for your project. I have some more kit suggestions below.
To make a key chain, you do need the kit (the link is to a toothpick holder key chain) and a mandrel to turn the project on. Drill the correct size hole in your blank and epoxy in the brass tube. Place this on your mandrel in your lathe. Then you turn the shape you want, sand, and finish. Add the hardware and you have a finished key chain.
Wooden key chains are a small project and can be easily turned in a production fashion. Your turning style and choice of wood will set these key chains apart from massed produced chain store varieties.
Spurtle
Not sure if this one should be included or not! Well if you, or the recipient, like oatmeal then this is a good turning. Practice your skew chisel techniques and create the perfect spurtle. You can use it in the kitchen to stir more than just oatmeal.
The Tower of Hanoi
This is a great puzzle and made out of wood. It looks fantastic and gives a challenge to solve in the fewest moves possible. You can decide on how many rings or discs to have in your puzzle. It takes 31 moves for 5 discs and 255 moves with 8. You probably want less than 8 Of course you can make 8 discs and they can use fewer to do the puzzle.
There is some basic woodworking involved with making the base for the puzzle. You can choose a variety of woods to make this project really stand out.
A Coin Bank
This project is a bank for saving coins. It is in the shape of a barrel. You can use this shape or you can make any lidded box and add a coin slot to make it into a coin bank. That way you can make the bank significant to the recipient.
Pen and Pencil Holder
This is another barrel project and can be used to hold pens and pencils on someone’s desk.
Wooden Bowl
A wooden bowl is a simple object but can be special if you have turned it for someone special in your life. Wooden bowls can be used in the kitchen but they can also be used around the house for other purposes. A small bowl beside the bed can hold keys and pocket change.
Other Projects that are Great Gifts for Men
These projects are kits that you turn the wood for and then assemble to make the final product. These can be tailored to the specific needs of individuals. However, you get to select the wood and shape the turning so your contribution helps to set it apart as well. You may need additional equipment such as a turning madrel and specifically sized drill bits.
Cigar Letter Opener, Gold, Kit (you make the handle)
Coffee Scoop (you make the handle)
Pizza Cutter (you make the handle)
Travel Mug – this is the insert you can also get a wood blank from Rockler as well
Finding good gifts for men is a real challenge. Now you can plan ahead and turn a present that will please you the recipient
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