Growing up, my Dad was never the most handy guy. I know a fair few people who’s dads are also not handy guys (which is why most of them just called in a professional, see here for more information). Not to say that he isn’t capable, just that working with tools was never really a high priority on his list. He’s more the phone a friend & “supervise” kinda guy. I remember always having family friends come by to fix various things around the house & bringing with them the most fascinating tools. I quickly became the one who’d hold the flashlight & learned so much along the way. I guess you could say my extended family of DIY Dads probably taught me more than I would have learned having just the one…lol! But when Father’s Day came around I was never the girl you’d find in the hardware store looking for gift ideas.

Nowadays being married to a ‘DIY Dad’ things are a bit different….

And since Kash is still a little young to shop for himself, the task is up to Mommy.

So after a little thought, and a realization or two from last week, I’ve put together a list of a few essentials that every DIY Dad should have in his tool arsenal. Much of this equipment can be found from this site, and hopefully this will help provide some Father’s Day gift inspiration.

Cordless Drill

This is one must have item in every household – ‘DIY Dad’ or not. A good cordless drill can make easy work of all kinds of household projects & is definitely a worthwhile investment. Make sure to look for one with good battery life, that is both lightweight & powerful. When purchasing battery powered tools it’s always a wise to opt for one whose batteries are interchangeable with the other tools in their product line. The ONE+ 18V Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Kit from Ryobi is a great choice. Kes loves ours & has used it at least once a week since we’ve had it. (Be sure to enter the giveaway below for your chance to win one of your own!)

Hammer

Its kind of the quintessential handyman tool isn’t it? A good quality hammer is something every Dad should own & be able to wear proudly on his tool belt. Things to look for in a quality hammer: it should have a powerful strike, but be lightweight to handle. Kes needs a new hammer & I’ve got my eye on this one for him from DeWalt. I love the fact that it has a magnetic nail starter which is awesome for those times when you need one-handed nail placement and TOTALLY not because I’ve smashed my finger holding nails in place before. Cause that’s NEVER happened.

Tool Belt

It might seem a bit corny, but one thing we learned last week is that it’s super useful to be able to always have the necessary tools at arm’s length when you’re working on a job. Particularly, say if you’re up on scaffolding & need to reach for a tape measure or pencil, (or I don’t know, a pex cutter maybe?) having a place to put them all that can be worn or kept close at hand is a huge help. I really like the look of this carpenter apron from Kuny’s. It’s got pockets in varying sizes, a wide belt that will fit Dads of all sizes and also has handles for easy carrying when needed.

Tape Measure

A good tape measure is something every handyman needs. This is one item where you might be tempted to go for the cheap-o version, but trust me, spend the extra money on a quality tape. One that is sturdy, accurate & has a decent blade standout to give Dad a better reach when measuring stuff by himself. It’ll last him much longer & keep him from running out to buy a new one when the cheap-o one breaks (and it will).

Combination Square

Once Dad’s got things measured (twice), you’ll want to make sure they’re marked. When working with wood it’s important to have accurate markings, & a combination square is great for doing just that. This little beauty will allow you to make 90 degree & 45 degree markings, measure, and also check depth.

Pencils

Pencils can never be found when they’re needed. Be sure to pick up a few to keep close at hand for when Dad inevitably calls out “Hey have you seen my pencil??” They’re great quality, the price won’t break the bank & in a pinch a utility knife makes a great sharpener. You can also get a value pack of 10 that comes with a sharpener included.

Miter Saw

If your DIY Dad is into woodworking & you want to splurge a little a miter saw might possibly be the perfect gift. It’s a powerhouse of a little saw that’ll keep his cuts precise. Having the ability to make clean angled cuts is great for small DIY projects like picture frames & shelving or even larger things like trim & moulding. The Ryobi 10″ Compound Miter is a great choice to get him started.

Clamps

If Dad is working with wood, he can NEVER have enough clamps. These QuickGrip clamps are great when you need a fast way to hold something in place. Clamping a fence to a table, holding a piece of wood to a work bench, securing a template to a piece of wood for routing, the list goes on…

Edger/Trimmer

For the backyard (or front yard) warrior in every Dad, this hybrid trimmer is the perfect companion. Not only does it function as a trimmer, but it has a rotating shaft that allows it to operate as an edger as well. And being from the ONE+ line, it’s compatible with any Ryobi 18-Volt battery. But the most surprising thing about it is that it has a dual power source – meaning it can be used cordless or with an extension cord. How’s that for versatility? I’ve currently got my eye on this puppy for Kes as well – It might have to wait until next Father’s Day though once the Dreamhouse is fully landscaped 😉

If you’re anything like me you’re a chronic procrastinator and have only just begun to think about Father’s Day even though it’s less than a week away. Well not to worry – we’ve at least got one of you covered thanks to our friends at Ryobi Canada!

Enter our giveaway below and one lucky winner will receive 1 (one):

Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Kit!

This kit contains:

• Drill/Driver with Screwdriver Bit
• Impact Driver with Bit
• Socket Adaptor
• (2) 18V ONE+ Compact Lithium-Ion Batteries
• IntelliPort Dual-Chemistry Charger
• Tool Bag

Use the Rafflecopter below to submit your entries (open to Canadian Residents ONLY)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck everyone!

Disclaimer: The giveaway item is being sponsored by Ryobi Canada. I was in no way compensated to mention any of the other products listed in this post. All opinions are my own.