Father’s day is Sunday, June 19, 2011. Started by Sonora Dodd to honor her father who raised five children alone after the Civil War, President Coolidge supported the idea, Lyndon signed a proclamation, and in 1972 it was official.
Dad deserves something special this year. After all, he made you! Here are some gift ideas to get the Father’s Day wheels turning. We’re giving away a one-year subscription to MAKE, just let us know why Dad deserves a subscription in the comments below. One winner will get a year’s subscription for his/her Dad, and comments close Wednesday June 8th at the stroke of midnight PT.
Workshop essentials
Outfit Dad’s workbench with the best.
- Weller soldering station
- Edsyn fume extractor
- Robert Larson 800-2875 center finder
- Extech 382213 desktop power supply
Cooking gear
I asked my dad the chef to tell me what’s hot in his kitchen lately, and his suggestions don’t disappoint:
Ties, wallets, and cufflinks
Get Dad the best handmade accessories that show off his (or your) appreciation for DIY.
Hit the jump for the rest of the guide!
Gifts for Dad from MAKE and Maker Shed!
Get a gift subscription for Dad! When you order a gift subscription, we’ll send a notification to your recipient. But we want to give you the option of notifying them in style. Here’s a special PDF just for Dad that you can print out and give him in person. Be sure to let us know why your dad deserves a subscription to MAKE in the comments below, and you could win him a one year subscription!
Tools: Who doesn’t love tools? Keep your dad making into the future with a fresh addition to his collection.
- Make: Circuit Breaker Leatherman: available in ES4 (Wire Strippers) and PS4 (Pliers).
- Beginners Lock-Picking Blend Set
- Make: Electronics Deluxe Toolkit
Arduino: Processing power in the palm of your hand! We’ve got plenty of flavors and condiments to try.
Books: Give your dad the inspiration to make new projects, and the instructions to get there! Here are some books for Dad.
132 thoughts on “Happy Father’s Day from MAKE, a Gift Guide for Dad”
Comments are closed.
I was ready to get excited about this list, and show it to my wife and kids. However, for a site as awesome as Make, this is a pretty meh gift list, at least the highlighted items (face it, most people are just going to scan the pictures here). I’d rather get socks than ties and cufflinks and plaid wallets.
Plus, if I’m going to send my family to Make to get gifts, it’s not going to be grilling gear.
Oh well. Thanks for trying. Geek it up for next year :)
Look out for another one on Wednesday all about things you can make for Dad, and thanks for the feedback!
Look out for another one on Wednesday all about things you can make for Dad, and thanks for the feedback!
I was ready to get excited about this list, and show it to my wife and kids. However, for a site as awesome as Make, this is a pretty meh gift list, at least the highlighted items (face it, most people are just going to scan the pictures here). I’d rather get socks than ties and cufflinks and plaid wallets.
Plus, if I’m going to send my family to Make to get gifts, it’s not going to be grilling gear.
Oh well. Thanks for trying. Geek it up for next year :)
I was ready to get excited about this list, and show it to my wife and kids. However, for a site as awesome as Make, this is a pretty meh gift list, at least the highlighted items (face it, most people are just going to scan the pictures here). I’d rather get socks than ties and cufflinks and plaid wallets.
Plus, if I’m going to send my family to Make to get gifts, it’s not going to be grilling gear.
Oh well. Thanks for trying. Geek it up for next year :)
Our kids are 4 and 2 years old, with another on the way due in August, so as much as I’m sure they would love to write to you as to why their daddy deserves a one year subscription to MAKE, I’m not too sure you could comprehend it :-)
My husband, Steven and I got married only 4 months before his deployment to Iraq in 2006. About a month before his deployment we discovered I was pregnant with our son, Matthew. Even though Steven was half way across the world from us, he made sure he was as involved as he could be every step of the way. When our son was born March 8th 2006, My husband, an MP (military police) was on top of an Iraqi Police roof with his partner guarding the IP station. He still somehow managed to call me and let me know how much he loved me, and how he couldn’t wait to meet our son. Three weeks later, Steven came home for RNR and met our son for the first time. It was an emotional, wonderful moment. He didn’t finally return home from his deployment until our son was 9 months old. I believe that the experience of becoming A father during A deployment, was A life changing one for him and aside from the missions the Army confided him and his fellow soldiers with, he made it his life’s mission to be the best Dad he could be, and that’s exactly what he has been!
My husband would absolutely love a subscription to your magazine. He is most definitely the “do it yourself” kind of man and thoroughly enjoys learning new things hands on. He is A self proclaimed “Jack of all trades, Master of none” I think A subscription to MAKE is exactly what he needs and nobody deserves it more than he does!
Thank you for your consideration,
Jillian
Our kids are 4 and 2 years old, with another on the way due in August, so as much as I’m sure they would love to write to you as to why their daddy deserves a one year subscription to MAKE, I’m not too sure you could comprehend it :-)
My husband, Steven and I got married only 4 months before his deployment to Iraq in 2006. About a month before his deployment we discovered I was pregnant with our son, Matthew. Even though Steven was half way across the world from us, he made sure he was as involved as he could be every step of the way. When our son was born March 8th 2006, My husband, an MP (military police) was on top of an Iraqi Police roof with his partner guarding the IP station. He still somehow managed to call me and let me know how much he loved me, and how he couldn’t wait to meet our son. Three weeks later, Steven came home for RNR and met our son for the first time. It was an emotional, wonderful moment. He didn’t finally return home from his deployment until our son was 9 months old. I believe that the experience of becoming A father during A deployment, was A life changing one for him and aside from the missions the Army confided him and his fellow soldiers with, he made it his life’s mission to be the best Dad he could be, and that’s exactly what he has been!
My husband would absolutely love a subscription to your magazine. He is most definitely the “do it yourself” kind of man and thoroughly enjoys learning new things hands on. He is A self proclaimed “Jack of all trades, Master of none” I think A subscription to MAKE is exactly what he needs and nobody deserves it more than he does!
Thank you for your consideration,
Jillian
Our kids are 4 and 2 years old, with another on the way due in August, so as much as I’m sure they would love to write to you as to why their daddy deserves a one year subscription to MAKE, I’m not too sure you could comprehend it :-)
My husband, Steven and I got married only 4 months before his deployment to Iraq in 2006. About a month before his deployment we discovered I was pregnant with our son, Matthew. Even though Steven was half way across the world from us, he made sure he was as involved as he could be every step of the way. When our son was born March 8th 2006, My husband, an MP (military police) was on top of an Iraqi Police roof with his partner guarding the IP station. He still somehow managed to call me and let me know how much he loved me, and how he couldn’t wait to meet our son. Three weeks later, Steven came home for RNR and met our son for the first time. It was an emotional, wonderful moment. He didn’t finally return home from his deployment until our son was 9 months old. I believe that the experience of becoming A father during A deployment, was A life changing one for him and aside from the missions the Army confided him and his fellow soldiers with, he made it his life’s mission to be the best Dad he could be, and that’s exactly what he has been!
My husband would absolutely love a subscription to your magazine. He is most definitely the “do it yourself” kind of man and thoroughly enjoys learning new things hands on. He is A self proclaimed “Jack of all trades, Master of none” I think A subscription to MAKE is exactly what he needs and nobody deserves it more than he does!
Thank you for your consideration,
Jillian
Our kids are 4 and 2 years old, with another on the way due in August, so as much as I’m sure they would love to write to you as to why their daddy deserves a one year subscription to MAKE, I’m not too sure you could comprehend it :-)
My husband, Steven and I got married only 4 months before his deployment to Iraq in 2006. About a month before his deployment we discovered I was pregnant with our son, Matthew. Even though Steven was half way across the world from us, he made sure he was as involved as he could be every step of the way. When our son was born March 8th 2006, My husband, an MP (military police) was on top of an Iraqi Police roof with his partner guarding the IP station. He still somehow managed to call me and let me know how much he loved me, and how he couldn’t wait to meet our son. Three weeks later, Steven came home for RNR and met our son for the first time. It was an emotional, wonderful moment. He didn’t finally return home from his deployment until our son was 9 months old. I believe that the experience of becoming A father during A deployment, was A life changing one for him and aside from the missions the Army confided him and his fellow soldiers with, he made it his life’s mission to be the best Dad he could be, and that’s exactly what he has been!
My husband would absolutely love a subscription to your magazine. He is most definitely the “do it yourself” kind of man and thoroughly enjoys learning new things hands on. He is A self proclaimed “Jack of all trades, Master of none” I think A subscription to MAKE is exactly what he needs and nobody deserves it more than he does!
Thank you for your consideration,
Jillian
Our kids are 4 and 2 years old, with another on the way due in August, so as much as I’m sure they would love to write to you as to why their daddy deserves a one year subscription to MAKE, I’m not too sure you could comprehend it :-)
My husband, Steven and I got married only 4 months before his deployment to Iraq in 2006. About a month before his deployment we discovered I was pregnant with our son, Matthew. Even though Steven was half way across the world from us, he made sure he was as involved as he could be every step of the way. When our son was born March 8th 2006, My husband, an MP (military police) was on top of an Iraqi Police roof with his partner guarding the IP station. He still somehow managed to call me and let me know how much he loved me, and how he couldn’t wait to meet our son. Three weeks later, Steven came home for RNR and met our son for the first time. It was an emotional, wonderful moment. He didn’t finally return home from his deployment until our son was 9 months old. I believe that the experience of becoming A father during A deployment, was A life changing one for him and aside from the missions the Army confided him and his fellow soldiers with, he made it his life’s mission to be the best Dad he could be, and that’s exactly what he has been!
My husband would absolutely love a subscription to your magazine. He is most definitely the “do it yourself” kind of man and thoroughly enjoys learning new things hands on. He is A self proclaimed “Jack of all trades, Master of none” I think A subscription to MAKE is exactly what he needs and nobody deserves it more than he does!
Thank you for your consideration,
Jillian
If you want a chef’s knife, you can get a German Henckels for less.
http://www.amazon.com/Zwilling-J-Henckels-Signature-8-Inch/dp/B0000TPCUY
The reason I picked the one I did is because of the heavy metal bolster at the base of the blade. Henckels doesn’t make a bad knife, but the way it balances in your hand can differ.
The reason I picked the one I did is because of the heavy metal bolster at the base of the blade. Henckels doesn’t make a bad knife, but the way it balances in your hand can differ.
If you want a chef’s knife, you can get a German Henckels for less.
http://www.amazon.com/Zwilling-J-Henckels-Signature-8-Inch/dp/B0000TPCUY
If you want a chef’s knife, you can get a German Henckels for less.
http://www.amazon.com/Zwilling-J-Henckels-Signature-8-Inch/dp/B0000TPCUY
If you want a chef’s knife, you can get a German Henckels for less.
http://www.amazon.com/Zwilling-J-Henckels-Signature-8-Inch/dp/B0000TPCUY
If you want a chef’s knife, you can get a German Henckels for less.
http://www.amazon.com/Zwilling-J-Henckels-Signature-8-Inch/dp/B0000TPCUY
My dad and I are both into DIY and we love to disassemble whatever junk he picks up from the office. He’s the one that taught me to solder and lets me use his collection of tools. I think he’d really like a subscription and hopefully we could share…
My dad and I are both into DIY and we love to disassemble whatever junk he picks up from the office. He’s the one that taught me to solder and lets me use his collection of tools. I think he’d really like a subscription and hopefully we could share…
My dad and I are both into DIY and we love to disassemble whatever junk he picks up from the office. He’s the one that taught me to solder and lets me use his collection of tools. I think he’d really like a subscription and hopefully we could share…
My dad and I are both into DIY and we love to disassemble whatever junk he picks up from the office. He’s the one that taught me to solder and lets me use his collection of tools. I think he’d really like a subscription and hopefully we could share…
My dad and I are both into DIY and we love to disassemble whatever junk he picks up from the office. He’s the one that taught me to solder and lets me use his collection of tools. I think he’d really like a subscription and hopefully we could share…
My dad and I are both into DIY and we love to disassemble whatever junk he picks up from the office. He’s the one that taught me to solder and lets me use his collection of tools. I think he’d really like a subscription and hopefully we could share…
My dad and I are both into DIY and we love to disassemble whatever junk he picks up from the office. He’s the one that taught me to solder and lets me use his collection of tools. I think he’d really like a subscription and hopefully we could share…
My dad and I are both into DIY and we love to disassemble whatever junk he picks up from the office. He’s the one that taught me to solder and lets me use his collection of tools. I think he’d really like a subscription and hopefully we could share…
My dad and I are both into DIY and we love to disassemble whatever junk he picks up from the office. He’s the one that taught me to solder and lets me use his collection of tools. I think he’d really like a subscription and hopefully we could share…
My dad and I are both into DIY and we love to disassemble whatever junk he picks up from the office. He’s the one that taught me to solder and lets me use his collection of tools. I think he’d really like a subscription and hopefully we could share…
I still don’t get what it is with Americans and bacon. I don’t get what it is with Americans and Weller. They make terrible gear compared to other brands and they aren’t that cheap either. You can get a Goot PX-201 with adjustable temperature that you can also pack up easily and will outperform that Weller at the same price point.
That fume extractor doesn’t look too bad… especially when I compare it to the one I have which I built from scrap…
Hi MAKE – Call me an old cynic but Father’s Day is just a Hallmark opportunity to make some cash. I love my Dad and would give him anything he needed but I refuse to buy into this commercial event. I mean just searched the internet and here’s an example of some tat that I’m supposed to buy my Dad once a year… http://www.presentsformen.co.uk/category.asp?cat_id=FATHERSD Oh please. I get him the odd gift and anything he needs throughout the year. End of story and don’t get me started on Mother’s Day. Grrrrr.
Hi MAKE – Call me an old cynic but Father’s Day is just a Hallmark opportunity to make some cash. I love my Dad and would give him anything he needed but I refuse to buy into this commercial event. I mean just searched the internet and here’s an example of some tat that I’m supposed to buy my Dad once a year… http://www.presentsformen.co.uk/category.asp?cat_id=FATHERSD Oh please. I get him the odd gift and anything he needs throughout the year. End of story and don’t get me started on Mother’s Day. Grrrrr.
Hi MAKE – Call me an old cynic but Father’s Day is just a Hallmark opportunity to make some cash. I love my Dad and would give him anything he needed but I refuse to buy into this commercial event. I mean just searched the internet and here’s an example of some tat that I’m supposed to buy my Dad once a year… http://www.presentsformen.co.uk/category.asp?cat_id=FATHERSD Oh please. I get him the odd gift and anything he needs throughout the year. End of story and don’t get me started on Mother’s Day. Grrrrr.
Unfortunately I do not have anyone to nominate me so I am nominating myself. I deserve a subscription since I am disabled and spend most of my days drooling over all of the Make projects I read about. I love to dabble in electronics and computers as well as Lego Mindstorms. I used to build lots of Heathkits when they were in business too. I would love a subscription to give me ideas of more things I could build.
Unfortunately I do not have anyone to nominate me so I am nominating myself. I deserve a subscription since I am disabled and spend most of my days drooling over all of the Make projects I read about. I love to dabble in electronics and computers as well as Lego Mindstorms. I used to build lots of Heathkits when they were in business too. I would love a subscription to give me ideas of more things I could build.
As a firefighter and tinker my father always improvised tools, and I swear the man could fix most any household problem with a 2×4 and a Dremel tool. He currently restores old fire extinguishers and makes walking sticks.. he appreciates Make already, and would be very deserving of a free subscription.
As a firefighter and tinker my father always improvised tools, and I swear the man could fix most any household problem with a 2×4 and a Dremel tool. He currently restores old fire extinguishers and makes walking sticks.. he appreciates Make already, and would be very deserving of a free subscription.
As a firefighter and tinker my father always improvised tools, and I swear the man could fix most any household problem with a 2×4 and a Dremel tool. He currently restores old fire extinguishers and makes walking sticks.. he appreciates Make already, and would be very deserving of a free subscription.
As a firefighter and tinker my father always improvised tools, and I swear the man could fix most any household problem with a 2×4 and a Dremel tool. He currently restores old fire extinguishers and makes walking sticks.. he appreciates Make already, and would be very deserving of a free subscription.
As a firefighter and tinker my father always improvised tools, and I swear the man could fix most any household problem with a 2×4 and a Dremel tool. He currently restores old fire extinguishers and makes walking sticks.. he appreciates Make already, and would be very deserving of a free subscription.
My dad would like a subscription to Make Magazine because he’s a true maker at heart. He’s inspired me to become a maker myself and I’d like to give him a nice thank you gift in return.
My dad would like a subscription to Make Magazine because he’s a true maker at heart. He’s inspired me to become a maker myself and I’d like to give him a nice thank you gift in return.
My dad would like a subscription to Make Magazine because he’s a true maker at heart. He’s inspired me to become a maker myself and I’d like to give him a nice thank you gift in return.
My polymath dad has inspired my interest in tinkering, engineering, and art since I was young. Getting to go to his R&D chem lab for Take Your Daughter to Work Day or work on little electronics, mechanical, or art projects after school were great experiences that made me the product design student/maker I am today. A subscription to MAKE would be the best way to say thanks for all of the things he taught me.
My polymath dad has inspired my interest in tinkering, engineering, and art since I was young. Getting to go to his R&D chem lab for Take Your Daughter to Work Day or work on little electronics, mechanical, or art projects after school were great experiences that made me the product design student/maker I am today. A subscription to MAKE would be the best way to say thanks for all of the things he taught me.
My dad deserves this subscription because he is disabled because of MS(National Multiple Sclerosis) andis half blind. Me and my dad do sicence progects durring the summer, and we are running out of ideas. If my dad got this subscripition it would give us more ideas to do instead of sitting in front of the TV- in other terms, it gets us outside and doing stuff. Also it will let us have some time together.
With my dad having MS it makes it hard to find a progect we can do toghter. But this subscripition would give us things to do.
Please, my dad deserves this so let him have this subsciption!
I am the father of 7 wonderful children who love to take things apart (some of which I’m not done using yet :-( ) I would love a subscription to MAKE magazine to guide their natural tendencies to something constructive. Thanks!
I am the father of 7 wonderful children who love to take things apart (some of which I’m not done using yet :-( ) I would love a subscription to MAKE magazine to guide their natural tendencies to something constructive. Thanks!
I am the father of 7 wonderful children who love to take things apart (some of which I’m not done using yet :-( ) I would love a subscription to MAKE magazine to guide their natural tendencies to something constructive. Thanks!
I nominate my dad as he taught me everything I know…. and I’ve got a PhD in theoretical physics (and that’s not even a joke!)
I nominate my dad as he taught me everything I know…. and I’ve got a PhD in theoretical physics (and that’s not even a joke!)
I nominate my dad as he taught me everything I know…. and I’ve got a PhD in theoretical physics (and that’s not even a joke!)
Just out of curiosity, How will we know which dad will get the 1 year subscription? Will it be announced on Facebook, Or on this forum? ….
Thank you! and I hope all the dads on here have an awesome fathers day!
Just out of curiosity, How will we know which dad will get the 1 year subscription? Will it be announced on Facebook, Or on this forum? ….
Thank you! and I hope all the dads on here have an awesome fathers day!
Just out of curiosity, How will we know which dad will get the 1 year subscription? Will it be announced on Facebook, Or on this forum? ….
Thank you! and I hope all the dads on here have an awesome fathers day!
Just out of curiosity, How will we know which dad will get the 1 year subscription? Will it be announced on Facebook, Or on this forum? ….
Thank you! and I hope all the dads on here have an awesome fathers day!
Just out of curiosity, How will we know which dad will get the 1 year subscription? Will it be announced on Facebook, Or on this forum? ….
Thank you! and I hope all the dads on here have an awesome fathers day!
Just out of curiosity, How will we know which dad will get the 1 year subscription? Will it be announced on Facebook, Or on this forum? ….
Thank you! and I hope all the dads on here have an awesome fathers day!
What can a man do with the largest hoarded collection of junk. Shelves of tools, broken machines, a watchamacolit-thingamagig. Is MAKE the answer to what to do with this collection? I can never get my dad what he wants, why not get him something he can actually use. My dad needs MAKE to clean his garage.
What can a man do with the largest hoarded collection of junk. Shelves of tools, broken machines, a watchamacolit-thingamagig. Is MAKE the answer to what to do with this collection? I can never get my dad what he wants, why not get him something he can actually use. My dad needs MAKE to clean his garage.
What can a man do with the largest hoarded collection of junk. Shelves of tools, broken machines, a watchamacolit-thingamagig. Is MAKE the answer to what to do with this collection? I can never get my dad what he wants, why not get him something he can actually use. My dad needs MAKE to clean his garage.
What can a man do with the largest hoarded collection of junk. Shelves of tools, broken machines, a watchamacolit-thingamagig. Is MAKE the answer to what to do with this collection? I can never get my dad what he wants, why not get him something he can actually use. My dad needs MAKE to clean his garage.
My husband deserves a subscription because he is always looking for fun projects to do with our daughters. He repaired a switch on one of their toys recently instead of spending $5 to buy a new toy so that he could show her how it was done. Make would help keep him inspired and give him more opportunities to make things with the girls!
I would like to nominate my wonderful husband for the free Make subscription. When I met my husband, I had recently ended a very abusive relationship with my ex-husband and I had two children. He had three children from a previous marriage and now we have one together. We were still fairly young when we met and I have enjoyed watching my husband grow, learn and really turn out to be a dependable, caring provider. Last year I lost my job. At the time I was making a little more than him and honestly, I was scared about our family’s future. Instead of letting this bad situation get him down he has worked harder, received a raise and started working on more complex issues at his job. As far as being a father is concerned, he has helped me raise two children that aren’t his. He loves them, teaches them and I know they are better because he is in their lives. I always dreamed of finding someone who would love me and help me build a strong family and thankfully he has fulfilled that dream. He has given up everything and given his whole self for our family and he deserves this recognition. He loves Make and he is constantly showing me new interesting articles or projects that he would love to start. I know that he would enjoy this subscription.
Thanks for your time and interest,
Sara
My dad makes makers. I am the youngest of five, and all of us are hackers, crafters, and repairmen thanks to my dad. He helped us build our first birdhouses, breadbaskets, cutting boards, and toolboxes. When my brothers and I were in scouts, he made sure that we did everything ourselves, except maybe use the bandsaw before we were ten. My sister was right there with us, and though she directs her creativity toward fabric and food crafts, she knows her way around power tools and lumber.
My dad can fix anything. I have seen him repair or replace anything in a car, including mufflers and engine blocks. Lots of things break, but nothing is ever replaced; the electric train set my dad built has been in operation for over thirty years. My dad donates a lot of time to service projects, and I have even seen him fix broken lives and hearts.
My dad can work with any medium. Though wood, nails, and screws are his materials of choice, he can mold plastic, bend metal, weave fibers, and harness electricity. He builds toys, patches roofs, hauls drywall, and balances the checkbook.
In the summertime, my dad upgrades the playhouse he built. It is currently two stories tall, has an attached swing set, new roofing, and the trim and paneling are about ready to be painted. Everybody gets to join along, though the next generation of makers is still more fascinated by the destructive powers of tools than the creative powers (they love to use hammers, but get bored when nails are involved).
I don’t know where he finds the time to do it all. Professionally he builds roads and purifies sewer water. He maintains rental property. He acts; he serves in church.
And he makes the best clam chowder in the world.
My dad loves to make and fix things, but being a farmer and working as long as the sun’s up, he has trouble finding the time to do so. A subscription to Make magazine would inspire him to keep working on DIY projects, especially since he can’t quite get the hang of the internet. He would love a subscription!
There are lots of gift ideas for Father’s Day. Its all looks so interesting gift for father. My father always tell me that he do not need any gift from my side because of he needs just love.
top gifts
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