Woodworking gifts

I have a nephew who wants to get started in woodworking. I've been debating on a really nice gift for him for his birthday, but I'm hesitant to put too much money into it in case he doesn't stick with it. What are some suggestions that hit the middle of the road?

 

Great question! I would find out how interested he is prior to buying a lot of woodworking tools and items. I like the idea about getting him something that he can do with you. That would be pretty fun. I would probably start him off with a small sander (not expensive) and some sand paper.

 

I would give him a certificate to share some shop time with you! Let him pick the project. There is no more special gift than the time you can spend with him, and share your knowledge!

 

These are great ideas. I love the idea of a woodworking magazine subscription coupled with an invitation to work on a project together. He would be learning a lot from the magazines and at the same time getting some real work experience with me in my shop. Depending on what we choose to make, I can then get him a small tool or two for his own budding shop.

 

I think working on a project together is a superb idea. How old is your nephew? When I was in Lowe's I saw these tool sets for kids. They were real tools, not sure on what kind of tools, but the size of the tools were easy for kids to handle. Right next to that display were projects, you could work on. I remember seeing a catapult project, that I wanted for myself!

 

I would get him a kit of some sort that had everything he'd need to make something. That way, if he doesn't enjoy it, he isn't stuck with tools that he'll never use again. I do like what others said about working on a project together, too.

 

Some of those kits where you make beautiful pens is a great idea if he's serious about working with wood. So are toys, boxes and birdhouses. You could always work on something together. I'm assuming the nephew is old enough to work with tools and not really a small child.