6 Tools To Get Makers Under $20 (That They Will Actually Use)
Makers can be some of the most difficult people to buy gifts for.
We generally make everything we need ourselves. Sure, we have a wish list, but it usually only contains tools with hefty price tags well into the thousands. So what do you get the Maker in your life that they will actually use?
Let me save you some time and share the 6 tools under $20 that I use on almost every project (so your favorite Maker will use them too).
(prices are as of publish date based on quick Amazon searches)
Tool 1: Pica Pencil ($18)
Starting strong with a strange one since you can buy a box of 30 #2 pencils for $5, right?
The Pica Pencil is thick enough to withstand some abuse, but has a fine enough point for details while also coming with a built-in sharpener. Plus, the lead can be swapped out for other colors (sold separately for ~$9) so marks and writing can be seen on darker materials like walnut.
More expensive sets are out there, but this will get the pencil and grey lead to get started.
Tool 2: Lefty/Righty Tape Measure ($11)
Your favorite Maker probably misplaces their tape measure all the time and could use a spare anyway, but this one has an extra feature I love.
The Lefty/Righty shows the numbers on both sides of the tape, which has saved me from accidentally cutting an inch off more times than I care to admit. Sure, you can mentally flip it in your head, but I find it lessens the likelihood of mistakes when I'm trying to finish a project ahead of a deadline or am just in a hurry.
Tool 3: 123 Blocks ($19)
For Makers who build smaller projects or like to draw out designs on large rolls of paper, 123 blocks are like clamps—you can never have too many.
123 blocks are metal blocks precisely milled to be 1", 2", and 3" depending on which way you set it. Since they are metal, they are also heavy enough to help align small parts while you're gluing them together without worrying about the glue sticking to the block (and it's a massive upgrade to random scraps of wood).
Tool 4: X-Acto Z-Series #2 Blade ($10)
An X-Acto blade is just like any hobby knife to cut cute things, right?
Wrong! The #2 blade specifically has become my go-to because it is stronger than the standard #1 blade that comes in almost every other hobby knife. It can withstand a drop or two without damaging the blade, works with thicker material like leather and foam, and feels better in my hand even when making precise cuts in tape for airbrushing designs.
Tool 5: GluBot ($9)
Not an essential tool, but one that your favorite Maker will have seen in countless YouTube videos and won't buy for themselves.
The GluBot is a refillable glue bottle that has a neck letting the glue come out no matter how the bottle is held. Having a separate glue bottle saves some money by buying wood glue in bulk to fill the bottle and also saves a mess when refilling because the inlet and outlet are separated.
Tool 6: Tweezer Set ($6)
I'll admit that I didn't see the value of tweezers till I started adding greeblies to my Star Wars projects.
Small parts are tough to move in place by hand and even worse to try to glue without getting your fingers covered. My favorite set includes a pair of straight precision tips, tips at an angle, and a wider set for slightly larger items.
BONUS Tool 7: "Every Tool's A Hammer" Book ($14 Paperback)
Added this as a bonus because it's not a tool for the workshop (although, the hardback would arguably make a passable hammer).
I've reread Adam Savage's "Every Tool's A Hammer" book a few times now and find something new with every read. It's a good balance of stories and advice from decades of Making things as well inspiration for how you can improve your workshop and projects.
