Finding the perfect gift for the auto DIYer in your life can be a challenge. This holiday season, Tinker is here to help you find thoughtful and practical tools that cater to their passion. Whether a seasoned professional or weekend DIYer, they will be thankful for a great tool that will make their work more efficient and enjoyable.
This holiday gift guide covers a wide variety of essential tools and safety gear that any tinkerer would love to unwrap. From handy gadgets to safety must-haves, discover the best gifts to keep their engines running smoothly, many for less than $50.
Eye protection is necessary whether your DIYer is under or above the vehicle, and especially if they’re dealing with fluids. Make sure to buy glasses that meet the ANSI Z87 standard for optimal safety and protection like Mechanix Wear's Vision Type-X Safety Glasses. Pairs like these can save your DIYer’s vision for $14 or less.
Nitrile gloves protect hands from solvents, oils and other harmful liquids, and unlike latex gloves, they’re durable enough to do real work. Nitrile Gloves are available in different thicknesses to
suit your DIYer’s specific needs, and you can snag 100 or more for under $15 HERE.
If you can’t see, you can’t tinker. A good LED headlamp always shines the light exactly where your DIYer will need it – right where your DIYer is looking. Choose a light powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for the best run time like the BIAT 2PCS Rechargeable Headlamp that can last up to 8 hours! But if you’re worried about the downtime to charge, don’t hesitate to opt for a lamp with replaceable batteries.
These devices provide enough power to jump start a car and they’re small enough to store in the trunk. They vary dramatically in size, output, features and price. Some have a built-in air compressor and others are as small as a can of soda like the NOCO Boost Plus GB40 1000A UltraSafe Car Battery Jump Starter (only weighs 2.5 pounds!). Just be sure that the one you buy has enough power to jump the vehicle your DIYer is most likely to be working on. Prices range from $40 to $350.
Diagnosis is the first step in troubleshooting problems. In modern vehicles, this usually requires a tool that can interact with the car’s electronic control unit. An OBD II scanner will point any DIYer in the right direction by singling out bad sensors, solenoids and other electrical problems. Every car sold in the U.S. since 1996 can interact with these scanners, and they cost as little as
$20, with pro units costing between $500 and $1,000. One of our favorites is the Autel AL519 OBD2 Scanner!
A good professional car detail can cost hundreds of dollars. But a DIYer can get professional results at home with the right tools and products. We recommend a car detail kit like Meguiar's Car Cleaning Kit that includes a foam wash soap, cleaner wax, detailer and more for the exterior and interior of the vehicle. Some even include polishes and wax. Detail kit prices range from $20 to $300.
Any DIYer’s garage should have an air compressor. They’re useful for filling tires and cleaning out hard-to-reach areas, while a powerful unit with a larger tank can also run air tools. Compressors come in many sizes, shapes and outputs to fit any space and power needs. Many feature a built-in handle and wheels to increase mobility. Smaller portable units powered by a standard 120-volt wall outlet with a one- to three-gallon tank are the most affordable, ranging from $50 to $350 like the Airmoto Tire Inflator Portable Air Compressor. The largest, most powerful stationary units can cost as much as $2,500.
No workspace is complete without a wet/dry shop vacuum. These suckers are great for cleaning both the car and the workspace. Most are reversible, too, so your DIYer can use them to blow
off their bench and blow out the garage. Battery-powered units aren’t as powerful as corded vacs, and size matters. Small one- to three-gallon vacs will fill quickly. Six- to 16-gallon units are the best mix of capacity and portability like this Stanley 4 Horsepower. Prices range from $50 to $350.
A torque wrench is a perfect stocking stuffer for a DIYer. There are several styles of torque wrenches available. You can cover most DIY car work with two: one 3/8th-inch drive to handle the smaller stuff and a 1/2-inch drive for higher-torque tasks. Click-type torque wrenches are by far the most common type in a typical automotive shop. Prices range from $20 to $200. Dial- type torque wrenches require the user to watch the needle sweep the face of a dial while torquing, which can be tricky in certain situations. A decent one is about $250. Digital or electronic torque wrenches display a live torque reading, and sound a tone, display lights and/or vibrate when the target torque is achieved. This type needs batteries, of course. Prices range between $50 and $1,000.
The three most common types of car lifts are two-post, four-post and scissor lifts, which are by far the most affordable. A basic scissor lift might set you back around $1,000, while a more robust two-post or four-post lift can range from $2,000 to $4,000 and higher. A two- or four-post lift is best if your DIYer has the space, but scissor lifts or portable lifts raise a car high enough to make basic maintenance much easier and many are designed to be portable, adding to their practicality.