"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
04/10/2019 at 13:29 • Filed to: None
1
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"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
04/10/2019 at 13:29 • Filed to: None | 1
| 14 |
My father’s birthday is coming up and he’s a difficult person to shop for. He’s picky about stuff like clothes, doesn’t really actively pursue any hobbies (golf, fishing, etc.). He has a project trucks but again, hes picky about it and changes his mind a lot on what he wants to do it with it.
He does really like tools, but he has almost everything under the sun. He’s a contractor so he’s covered for stuff like hand tools and power tools. He also has a nice little home garage/shop with a good selection of air tools automotive tools, etc.
One thing that I did get him that he really likes is a borescope that wirelessly connects to his iPad. In that vein, I’ve been thinking about a Walabot (thru the wall imager that connects to the phone), but the reviews seem to be pretty split, and it appears to be Android only and he’s got an iPad (he uses a dumb phone).
The family has, on occasion, chipped in to give him “experiences” which he enjoys. My sister lives in Germany so when he goes to visit her we’ve done stuff like one year we rented him a 911 for a day, and last year we got him a ride-along at the ‘Ring in a McLaren 720S. There’s really nothing like that on my radar at the moment, though.
So what say you, Oppo? Any advice or suggestions?
ETA: Tech gifts are probably not a good idea, unless it’s something really simple. For example, my sister and BIL got him the iPad. He uses it to check e-mail and open web pages. Sometimes he takes pictures with it - half of them are of his thumb . I don’t think he knows what “apps” are or how to download and install them. And this isn’t me being a jerk, he’d tell you the same thing. He’s not the kind of person to get enthralled with tech for the sake of tech - so A rduinos, 3D printers, drones, robots, etc. are probably out.
VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
04/10/2019 at 13:33 |
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Does he have a 3d printer?
E90M3
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
04/10/2019 at 13:35 |
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You could give me something for your fathers birthday, I would appreciate that.
jminer
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
04/10/2019 at 13:38 |
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My father was an engineer and also hard to shop for. My only advice is buy a nice bottle of whiskey (or whatever his choice drink is) and drink it with him. It’ll give you time to sit down and talk about whatever is important to you two.
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Snuze: Needs another Swede
> VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely
04/10/2019 at 13:40 |
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Yes, in the sense that I have one, so he can get me to 3D print things for him. I just got it recently so I’m still getting it set up and learning and trying to get consistent prints, so I’m not quite ready to 3D print him something really cool, but I’d like to be able to do that one day.
I should have mentioned that up top. Tech gifts are not a good idea. He’s a bit of a luddite unless it’s something that’s super easy to use. For example, the iPad, he checks e-mail on it, and browses webpages. Sometimes he takes pictures. That’s literally it . I don’t think he knows what apps are.
TheRealBicycleBuck
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
04/10/2019 at 13:52 |
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A discovery flight might be fun. Toss in a handful of 10mm sockets just for good measure.
OPPOsaurus WRX
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
04/10/2019 at 14:25 |
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I’ve had one of these for a while and never used it, then i did and its so helpfull
Ash78, voting early and often
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
04/10/2019 at 14:26 |
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But drones are fun as hell. For under $30 on Amazon (plus $10-$15 in spare batteries) he could have a blast. And you could buy a second one because the first one will be in a tree by Day 2.
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Snuze: Needs another Swede
> OPPOsaurus WRX
04/10/2019 at 14:57 |
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It’s funny that you suggest that...
After I posted this I resumed googling and amazoning and looking at tools and stuff. I came across the Rockwell JawStand, which is very similar to that HF roller stand . Then I realized they also make the JawHorse, which is a folding saw horse/vise that’s capable of clamping a 4x8 sheet of plywood. THEN I remembered that my neighbor was trying to sell a brand new in the box JawHorse at a yard sale the other weekend for $40.
If he didn’t sell it I think I’m going buy it off him and order a JawStand and give the set to my dad. Since they fold up I think it would be perfect on his service van . Now I can’t wait to get home and find out.
XJDano
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
04/10/2019 at 15:03 |
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When you get there tell him his presents is your presence, tell him happy birthday then give him a hug or and shake.
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VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
04/10/2019 at 15:20 |
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Why shop for him at all? Get him a personal item that aren’t just consumerist goods , or take him out for dinner.
I have a lot of friends who make a lot more money than I do. I don’t typically get them things, I get them experiences, and if I can’t afford that, I treat them nicely for a day with their friends.
If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
04/10/2019 at 15:32 |
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My immediate first thought was “rent him a Corvette for a day” but then I saw the part about Germany.
There's a grass strip near me and some dude offers vintage biplane rides out of it. Maybe look for something similar?
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Snuze: Needs another Swede
> If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
04/10/2019 at 16:01 |
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It’s a good thought, but planes are not for him. But I do like trying to find him experiences like that though. I just haven’t had anything jump out at me that’s affordable and accessible.
AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
04/10/2019 at 16:11 |
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Knipex Cobra pliers. Not many people have them, but they're magical.
Monkey B
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
04/10/2019 at 17:08 |
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if he’s a car guy and has a nice garage you can never go wrong with stuff to put on the walls. Metal signs, crashed race car parts and other cool bits. If not look into something that makes car care for the paint easier, DA polishers, nice towels and some esoteric polishes like Eins zet pol ishes, foam pads and good fluffy microfiber towels. If he has all that stuff maybe he could use a compressor upgrade? California Air Tools has great oil less compressors that are whis per quiet. If he has an old noisy compressor and it works he’d never replace it...but you buy him one that quiet and he’ll use it...because he doesn’t even know how much he hates that old compressor until he doesn’t hear the new one. If you have a Harbour Freight nearby go listen to one of their Fortress air compressors...they are knock-offs of the CAT models but not priced like a knock off since CAT’s prices are reasonable.
Consider gift certificates for paintless dent removal, detailing, paint touch up and interior reconditioning...always things that people don’t even realize they need. In most cases it’s something they didn’t know existed.