We all know this person, given that you are reading this post on MAKE, you probably are that person. With Christmas coming, you need something awesome, and we are here to help you find that fantastic person that will make your receiver squeal.

Every garage in America needs a grizzly bandsaw. Make sure to pick up the riser block kit to add six additional inches of sawing height. My dream is harvesting all of the natural redwood around the MAKE offices and resawing for lathe projects.

Other Ideas

• The Bandsaw Book — Learn more about the tool
• Build your own
• Matthias Wandel’s articles about Bandsaws

Productivity at work or the makerspace for a lot of people depends on concentration. Here at the MAKE office, the lab is only a few short steps away from the office, and distractions are plentiful. Give the gift of inner zen with noise canceling headphones to help eliminate disturbances.

Other Ideas

• In-Ear Noise Isolating Earphone
• iPod Nano — Take your tunes on the go
• Hook up headphones to phone

My grandpa was the kind of guy that always had a pocket knife on him. A life long scouter, and a friend of Bill Burch, he was always carving something. When he died, we knew that there would be a family war over my granddad’s pocket knives, so the only
equitable thing to do would be to bury his prized pocket knives with him. Since then, I have been pining for a Boker Knife, like the one pictured above. With proper care, they’ll last a lifetime, and there is a marked difference in the quality of the knife and other competitors.

Other Ideas

• Bill Burch Bolo Tie
• Boker Plus Anti-Grav Knife — Ceramic Blade
• Smith & Wesson SWPENMPBK Military and Police Tactical Pen
• Nebo Redline Tactical Flashlight

Get out to the great outdoors. There are National Parks everywhere (sorry Delaware…). Might as well enjoy them.

Other Ideas

• Marmot Scree Backpack — Black, obviously.
• Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket
• Kershaw Camp Ax

This is a huge rage at Maker Faire every year. I haven’t taken the chance to learn yet, but that is one of my 2013 goals. Here is a cheap master lock to practice on.

A lot of projects that pop up on Kickstarter are nice, and these speakers take the cake. I love the simple design, old-school aesthetics, and in addition to the lovely design, so when it adorns your mantle, with stocking hung with care, you can say, “I built this”.

Or, you could pick up some discrete component and build it yourself for about $200.

Build your own parts:

• MicroRax for the sides
• Acrylic for the front/back/sides
• Bluetooth Bridge
• Passive Crossover
• Woofers
• Tweeters
• Amp

At the top of the list of geek chic is the knit tie. Before hipsters, this was the tie of the working class. And I think they are just plain fantastic. Some dads might complain about another tie, but when unwrapping one of these, they’ll go through the roof. I’m hoping to find one in my stocking this year.

• Clark’s Desert Boot — Everyone needs a pair of Chukkas.
• Ben Davis Work Shirt
• Dickies Carpenter Jeans

Everyone has fun with Legos. Even after stepping on one, writhing in pain, people still want to play with Legos. Make as a great gift, and the creations are endless.

• The Cult of Lego, great book by MAKE author John Baichtal
• Lego Millenium Falcon — Be honest, you would die if you got this.
• LEGO Architecture Fallingwater