6/20
For the Futuristic Friend: 3D Printer
For the DIYer, there’s nothing more satisfying than being able to fix something themself. “3D printers are a wonderful and accessible new tool to add to your growing collection,” says Sam Dirani, owner of Prototype LLC. “I not only use mine for my professional prototyping work, I regularly design and print replacement parts for a variety of things around the house, from tool organizers, jigs, kids toys to kitchen appliances.”
When choosing the best 3D printer for the hobbyist, Dirani recommends the Ender3. He adds, “Like any 3D printer, it will require time and patience to get it optimized to your needs, but well worth it.”
7/20
For the Serious Woodworker: Thickness Planer
The majority of woodworking starts with rough-sawn lumber that’s milled to dimensional lumber using three tools: a jointer, a thickness planer and a table saw. The Dewalt thickness planer is a must-have tool in the shop, and its performance is outstanding. It has three two-edged knives in the cutter head, so they can flip them around when one side gets dull.
There are two speed settings: The slower one is for smoother cuts (179 cuts per inch) while the second setting is for speedier work (96 cuts per inch). It handles stock up to 6 inches thick and 12.5 inches wide. It includes extra set of knives, infeed and outfeed tables and fastener attachments for the in/out feed table (attached to the base of the planer base).
8/20
For the Tool Hoarder: Tool Storage Chest
This 18-drawer Milwaukee heavy-duty cabinet has a deep drawer for storing drills, trim routers and nail guns. The drawers are rubber lined, so chisels and rasps won’t get nicked, and the tool chest is packed with cool features, like two power strips with USB ports. There are spots to hang their battery chargers so they stay plugged in and ready to use. Plus, that means they have a lot of storage space to fill with more new toys!
