Last Minute Father’s Day Gifts for the DIY Dad

Every year around Father’s Day, somebody asks me what tool they should buy for the dad who has everything. Most guys reach a point where they already own three flashlights, six tape measures, two ladders, and a garage full of things they’re convinced they’ll need someday. Of course, they can never find any of them when they actually need them.

After nearly 50 years in the remodeling business, I’ve accumulated my fair share of tools, gadgets, and things that seemed like a good idea at the time. Some ended up collecting dust on a shelf. Others have become things I reach for every week.

If you’re still looking for a last-minute Father’s Day gift, here are a few that I think just about any homeowner would appreciate.

1. The Headlamp You Didn’t Know You Needed

Every homeowner eventually finds themselves crawling through an attic, looking behind a furnace, or trying to figure out why the circuit breaker tripped.

A rechargeable headlamp keeps both hands free and puts the light exactly where you need it.

Any home improvement store or on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rechargeable+headlamp

2. A Leatherman Multi-Tool

I’ve always appreciated tools that solve multiple problems.

The Leatherman Wave+ includes pliers, knives, screwdrivers, scissors, wire cutters, and about a dozen other functions that seem unnecessary until the exact moment you need them.

Any home improvement store or on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079MJBP21

3. The Magnetic Wristband

This is one of those products I laughed at when I first saw it.

Then I used one.

When you’re on a ladder installing hardware or making repairs, having screws and drill bits attached to your wrist is surprisingly convenient.

Any home improvement store or on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=magnetic+wristband+for+screws

4. A Flashlight That Actually Works

Every house has a junk drawer flashlight.

It usually has dead batteries.

A good rechargeable flashlight is useful during power outages, home repairs, camping trips, and those mysterious noises that always seem to happen after dark.

Any home improvement store or on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=olight+flashlight 

5. A Portable Jump Starter

This may be the smartest item on the list.

Most people don’t think about a dead battery until they’re stranded in a parking lot.

A portable jump starter can get you back on the road in minutes without waiting for help.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015TKUPIC 

6. The Tape Measure That Won’t Stay Lost

I’ve probably owned hundreds of tape measures over the years.

I couldn’t tell you where most of them went.

A quality Stanley FatMax remains one of the most useful tools any homeowner can own.

Any home improvement store or Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stanley+fatmax+tape+measure 

The truth is, none of these gifts are particularly flashy. They’re practical, useful, and they’ll still be getting used long after Father’s Day has come and gone. That’s probably why they make good gifts in the first place. Most dads don’t need another gadget that’ll end up in the back of a drawer. Give them something that helps them tackle a project, solve a problem, or make life a little easier, and it’ll earn a permanent spot in the toolbox.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.