By low priced I mean $20, $30, or maybe $50. I've scored big with a few but you can't keep giving those every year. One of the most popular gifts I've given are the little head-light flashlights. The newer LED types with 3 triple A batts are great as you can carry one in your pant pocket w/o discomfort and they are comfy on the head. I used the older double A types for years, and while way useful are a good bit heaver and larger than the LED type. This Princeton model is about my favorite these days. About $23. Compact and easy to use. Most every plumber I know has one like it in their pocket at all times:



A few years ago, I got a wild idea and gave these respirators to my three sisters (& hubbies) and my mother also. About $25 with filters IIRC. Welders use them, it's how I first encountered them but they are deluxe for most needs, way better than the paper variety. Perhaps not for commercial painting as the filters are not large, but they do have charcoal and will filter out solvent fumes and are much lighter and more compact than the larger painter style:

http://www.envirosafetyproducts.com/3m-6000-series-half-facepiece-welding-respirator-assembly.html



Got good reviews, I hope they weren't just being kind.

For my ricer builder nephew I got a large collection of drill bits last year. About 30 or 40 of the smallest sizes with quantities going down as the sizes got bigger.

One gift I've about worn out is some sort of high quality shampoo or liquid soap. You can rest assured that it will get used at the very least.

This issue bedevils me as I sort of wince when I get a $30+ or so gift that I just know I don't need or want. I don't want to spend large on stuff that my friends and family will react to similarly.

So help me out here, I'm a tad dull witted and am running out of ideas.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Some of my dad's friends would tell you that a nickle bag is the perfect gift.

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Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.

Can't have enough of those headlamps. Folding utility knives are pretty nice too.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

These were a big hit last year. Amazon.com : Ultralight Backpacking Canister Camp Stove Burner with Piezo Ignition 3.9oz : Sports & Outdoors

They work quite well.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Best hand cleaner I have ever used

THE SCRUBBER Sure Clean

Makes a great gift.

That looks good. Should you use it with the lowboy propane can they offer with it? I mean, will it fit any propane cannister? They sell one at Home Depot and elsewhere that is not quite as low and stable as they one they suggest to go with it, but moreso than the long skinny type often used with blow-torches.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

You must use the lightweight propane/butane mix with that stove. There are short and tall versions of the fuel. You can buy the fuel at Walmart. Standard propane bottles won't work.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Petzl headlight

This is the one I like. One of the best tools in the shop. As already stated make good X mas gifts.

__________________
Jim

Petzl was the only brand I used in the double A days. That one is sorta spendy but the rechargeable thing could be attractive. I routinely carry 4 or 5 triple A batts in my left pocket, put spent batteries for recycling in my right.

__________________
1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Although it causes me pain to even think about the fact that we are discussing gift giving already, my number one fan favorite is a gift card to whatever well reviewed resturaunt i can find in the recipients area, based on what resturaunts have cards available to buy.

Resturaunt, or ice cream place. Cant go wrong with food.

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

Cool ideas
! I want a headlight!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

In the late 90s I gave this toy to my nephews when they were about 10 and 7. It's referred to as a Gyro Ring Toy. Found it at some science toys store. There's also a version with larger colored plastic rings with an inner steel or brass part contacting the larger ring, that one is also still available. I got them one of each. They went nuts for it. Odd phenomenon, when you get the small rings spinning fast enough, they shimmy slowly down the ring as you turn it, making it vibrate.



Gyro Ring - High Performance Version - Science Bob Store

May not sound like much but I showed it to the guys at work just before Christmas and they all got a kick out of it. Takes a bit of practice to get the brass washer/ring things to spin fast enough for the phenomenon to take off, so once my nephews got it down, they showed it to all their friends who couldn't make it work w/o coaching from the nephews which made them into temporary big shots. And I, of course, was briefly a big shot with my nephews until they could get it working. In fact, I almost didn't even consider buying it at the store as I couldn't get it to do anything just from the packaging instructions. One of the employees demonstrated it for me.

This vid shows how to start it. He first tries squeezing it with the thumb and sort of popping them in a spinning motion. That's the best way I found, looks more cool than the second way he did it, where you try to fan them rapidly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP86woa8Ue0

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

REI has a good selection. You can try the different headlamps out on display models. I gather there's one near Indianapolis. Trivia note, I worked at the original REI in Seattle, or rather the warehouse 2 blocks away. This in '75.

__________________
1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

2 pack 14 LED Headlight Headlamp Flashlight Torch Light + Free AAA Batteries - - Amazon.com

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I have some of those and some other budget models. I like the higher priced models for various features - better buttons and easier adjustment - but I keep the cheapies under my front seat, a couple of them, because I hate to be without one when I really need it. For the occasional user, the lower priced models will be plenty good.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K