Christmas gifts from a woodworker...um help?

[nacluth]

I know you all are going (or will be going) through the anxiety of gift giving soon. In an attempt to possibly save a little cash this year, I would like to try to make some gifts this year. Unfortunately, it takes a little too long to build a bunch of guitars. Could you help me with a nifty wooden gift or two? It could be guitar related or just something that can be made in a woodworking shop (no lathe work).

My number one right now is a custom napkin holder (yawn), but my wife assures me people will like it. I thought I would throw it out there to see if the AGF braintrust has something. Bonus if I could then sell some to cover costs - (some kick backs for you wink wink). Anyway just throw out anything. I've looked at the wooden gift stuff on etsy and still haven't got a winner.

Thanks for any ideas. If I pick your idea, I will definitely send you one.

[Long Jon]

Nice little pick boxes for guitarists, sliding lid, a la Bluechip.

General purpose little boxes for everyone else.


Thanks in advance. Tou can inscribe "Long Jon" on mine.

[ericcsong]

coasters

[Riverwolf]

Simple wooden guitar stand.
Tabletop small box for tuner, capo and picks.
Stand for sheet music, full or tabletop.
Rolling Stones tongue logo.

[architype]

Maple cutting boards. I did this one year about 25 yrs ago and everyone I gave one to is still using theirs.
I made them 12" wide and 16" long and 1.75" thick. I ripped several 1"x4"x12' maple boards in half and glued them up with the 3/4" thickness facing up. I had a slab that was 12" wide X 1.75" thick and 12' long.
I plained each surface and sanded lightly.
Then I cross cut them into 16" lengths to make 9 cutting boards, and routed a 45 degree champher around the perimeter of the top
Then bought rubber feet w/ stainless steel screws and put 4 feet on each board.
I rubbed them down with mineral oil a few coats and that was it.
It took 1 day in the shop not counting glue drying time.

[nacluth]

Thanks for the good ideas so far

[Fretboard Phil]

If I had a woodworking friend, I'd ask him to make me one of those little stands to put under my guitar neck when I was restringing it.

[Coastman]

Originally Posted by architype

Maple cutting boards. I did this one year about 25 yrs ago and everyone I gave one to is still using theirs.
I made them 12" wide and 16" long and 1.75" thick. I ripped several 1"x4"x12' maple boards in half and glued them up with the 3/4" thickness facing up. I had a slab that was 12" wide X 1.75" thick and 12' long.
I plained each surface and sanded lightly.
Then I cross cut them into 16" lengths to make 9 cutting boards, and routed a 45 degree champher around the perimeter of the top
Then bought rubber feet w/ stainless steel screws and put 4 feet on each board.
I rubbed them down with mineral oil a few coats and that was it.
It took 1 day in the shop not counting glue drying time.

1) +1 on the cutting board, but make it in the shape of a guitar body - acoustic shape and electric shape.

2) Also, along the same lines, a simple wooden serving tray.

3) Perhaps a little more involved, but a wall clock in the shape of a guitar (in a "mini" size). The actual clock mechanisms are readily available and inexpensive.
I thought of doing a more elaborate guitar clock like this when I visited the Martin luthier store in Nazareth this past June. They were selling "seconds" and "defective" guitar bodies, tops, necks, etc. I thought about buying a few (they were really quite inexpensive) and turning them into wall clocks, albeit quite large wall clocks as it would have been full size OM or Dread bodies!

4) As others have mentioned, small boxes of different sizes to serve a variety of purposes: pick and/or capo box, pencil holder, recipe box, note pad holder, small jewelry box, etc.

And I'm sure you'd find ready buyers on the forum for anything you come up with - providing it is guitar related! 🎸

[Brucebubs]

I agree with the box suggestion for picks and capo.
I also like the neck rest idea above, maybe incorporate 6 or 12 holes to store the bridge pins when you do a string change.

[nacluth]

Wow. We're getting some good ideas.

[CoolerKing]

iPhone stands with a cone in the bottom for power-free amplification...

[dorable]

If you're needing ideas for some younger recipients pop-guns are fairly simple. If you are up to something more intricate there's a variety of wooden puzzles out there.

[buddyhu]

Originally Posted by matthewpartrick

iPhone stands with a cone in the bottom for power-free amplification...

Yeah! Great and novel idea.

Also like the cutting board idea. A nice wooden cutting board is like gold. Boxes are pretty and useful, but they are kind of tired: much cooler in the 70's. Guitar stands are super for those who play.

[Kitchen Guitars]

Originally Posted by matthewpartrick

iPhone stands with a cone in the bottom for power-free amplification...

Making 4 of those this year!

[Kitchen Guitars]

There are many nice knife blanks from kitchen to hunting to gentlemans pocket knives on eBay. I made many as gifts.