Fantastic Finds for Fathers Tradesmen Craftsmen Carpenters DIY and Gardeners

Carpet layers and gardeners have allot in common in regards to ergonomics - our knees. Whether you install tile in your home, are a professional carpet installer, or a simple DIY home owner, here are my three top gifts for those who work with their hands. The investment you make in your tools helps you do the job and do the job well. The investment you make in your protective gear is what keeps you free of injury and keeps you young. Just as you train your muscles for hard work, you should provide the best protective gear for your knees, hands and feet.

Let me share with you my thee favorite gifts for the DIY, tradesman, craftsman or gardener. Prices range from a $4 mobile application to a $300 work shoe. There is literally something for everyone.

There are two men inside the artist, the poet and the craftsman. One is born a poet. One becomes a craftsman.
Emile Zola

A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist.
Louis Nizer

"Last February we wrote an article about how Irwin Tools was calling for a National Tradesmen Day. Tomorrow, September 16, 2011, is that day. If you’re a Tradesman, then Irwin Tools hopes that you and everyone celebrates and recognizes the talent and contributions tradesmen make to keep America productive and running strong."

http://www.mikeroweworks.com/

Amazingly in recent history, the DIY - the do it yourselfer has been a huge hit - not just in the stores but on television and on the Internet. The many how to's which I feel were first introduced by Reader's Digest have trained many an office worker such as myself and my husband on how to fix something ourselves.

Yet, I always rely upon my "handyman" for those jobs too hard or too important for me to handle. Hiring a handyman is as important as paying your utility bills in my opinion. You see, maintenance adds value. If you do the maintenance in increments over time the investment does pay back substantial dividends. During my career, investing dollars in maintenance is a call to action that a Finance Director must do and yet we are never thanked. Budgets never passed my desk without adequate dollars for maintenance. Yes, everyone wants to invest in capital but that capital investment must be maintained.

Yet, sadly, here in the United States, I believe we don't give our tradesmen the respect an appreciation that they deserve. They are just as important as the technical staff and they are skilled in what they do - just try watching an office worker in high heels or cuff links hang a picture - it is not a pretty sight! In my years of living alone, I have learned to hang the pictures but drilling through stone and cement and using many of the power tools, I have learned to respect the skill and dexterity of the tradesmen. With our vintage home, I would like to learn more about electrical and take up that task shortly. I have always had newer homes. The one home that I built I took my late husband's advice and walked through the home and added outlet after outlet - my neighbors were shocked! And I think jealous - the one man next door asked - how did you get that extra outlet there? I added it in the contract! He was shocked! It cost more money but very little for the lifetime of convenience. Yes, the family that has the home that I built after my husband died is very fortunate - it is their first home and they may never realize the little conveniences that make life so much easier.

Mike Holmes lives by a very simple motto: "Make It Right

"We should build homes from the outside in, not the inside out."

Mike Holmes

Holmes on Homes HGTV Host

"That pesky tradesman who won't turn up: "Oh, hello, did you ever watch Happy Days?" and when they say yes, I say, "Well, I'm Mrs C." Then I get everything I want."
-Marion Ross

Not exactly riveting stuff. Manpower CEO Jeff Joerres says parents also share the blame for the lack of interest in the skilled trades. He says their mindset is "you're going to college. No matter what."

Jeff Joerres: It almost seems better to spend $30,000 and end up waiting tables after four years of college than to spend half of that and be productive and have a career in the skilled trades.

The skilled tradesman, the carpenter, the plumber, the electrician the HVAC technician are a special breed that combines skill, knowledge, talent and common sense. They say the surge in police shows has escalated the police and forensics. The forecast is for a severe shortage of tradesman. The running joke has been the need for a timely and skilled tradesman.

One of the shows I love watching on television is Holmes on Homes. I love seeing the construction, learning about proper construction and maintenance. I enjoy Mike Holmes style of do it once and do it right. He showcases the importance of the building inspection department and the need for qualified home inspectors.

In honor of the tradesmen I respect and admire, here are three great gifts for you Do It Yourself-er or a professional tradesman.

"Like most tools, you get what you pay for and in the long run, cheaper may cost you more."

GmaGoldie

You have all seen the now famous Carhartt jacket that the tradesmen wear. This jacket has almost become a uniform here in the United States. Yet, what do you get the tradesman, the craftsman who has the jacket and almost every imaginable tool?

Gifts Beyond the Tool Beyond the Carthartt Jacket

Here are my top gifts for the tradesman, craftsman, artist, do it yourselfer (DIY), or gardener. Protective gear is my favorite - boots, gloves, knee pads. The mobile applications for tradesmen is growing but one you must be aware of is given at the very end.

Happy gift giving! Enjoy the journey!

Knee pads are let's face it clumsy to put on and take off. You don't want to walk with knee pads on - you look and feel ackward. Yet the method of the elastic is all we had for decades. Now there is a better way -"Work Pads" - knee pad that attach via clips rather than the elastic. Check out the photos - this is a great idea and fantastic gift for the DIY or tradesman.

I always have my foam knee pad for the garden handy - it is mandatory with the trusty steel towel and my gloves. You see, I love the hard work but I don't want my body to feel the hard work so the protective clothing and great tools mean allot to me.

As a gardener, this is something I would invest in. I own the foam knee boards in various colors but I have to carry those with me and when I am in the garden, I like to move from one spot to the other. You see, the grass is not just green further away, the weeds are always just one step away.

Innovative Protective Safety Device for the Knees

Great invention - it solves the age old problem of pouring yourself into your fitted knee pads. What a wonderful idea and a fantastic present for father's day, Christmas, birthday or any other holiday. Or simply as a thank you gift of appreciation for a job well done and a note detailing you notice their hard work.

For the gardener, for the tradesman, a washable glove is a must. Yet up until recently we had to give up leather. Or if we washed leather like I have several times, you regret the first washing because the leather is so stiff. Check out the first leather glove to be made to be washed - a washable leather glove.

Can't think of the uses for this glove? Check out some ideas that might help you when gift giving.

Leather Glove Ideas for Gift Giving Uses

• Gardening
• DIY
• Ranching/Forestry
• Plumbing/HVAC
• Fire/Police Services
• Heavy Equipment Operation
• Construction
• Heavy Cable or Wire Handling
• Masonry
• Landscaping

My fitness clients often ask about my MBT's. I LOVE my MBT's. I am a fan of comfort and there is nothing better than the MBT. They are hard to get use to but once you do your body loves you for it. Whether you choose these for fitness such as I or for the construction field or the shop floor, these are a necessary item for the comfort of both your feet and your back. Yes, you must learn the proper posture, they will not do the work for you but they will do what they do best and that is to provide a terrific rubber sole for your feet. These shoes are outstanding on cement floors. I have worn mine with great comfort on trade show floors such as McMormick place. I have had men in the shop shout their joy with these shoes - yes, men love these shoes. Why? These shoes are the king of comfort. They are pricey so they are long term investment but well worth it.

Remember the old fashion miner hard hats with the lights? And even up until recently, we "added" a light to our hats in order to read. For EMT's - the Emergency Medical Technicians, reading the prescriptions is especially hard because light is not often available where you need it. Now the LED caps and helmets put LED light right where you need it. Led caps offer unlimited, practical usage for the carpenter, craftsman, handyman, EMT, Fire and Safety personnel, Public Works, and even the DIY.

Safety is always number one and adding light is a safety item. This would be a piece of personal protective equipment.

Even the smart phones offer the tradesman a couple of tools. The flashlight has quickly become commonplace. But if the budget is tight and you wish to be inventive, take a look at the application that puts a level right on your phone.

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Share your gift idea for your favorite tradesman here. Or share a favorite gift you received that helps you on a regular basis with your do it yourself projects - even if you gave that gift to yourself! Sometimes our favorite tools are our own personal finds.