1. Go to a good woodworking store. If they sell anything that can
   be used in any room but the garage, basement, or shop, it's probably not
   a woodworking store. If you can't picture your SO walking in the door
   and going "Whoa!", it's probably not a woodworking store. If you walk
   in the door and can't smell sawdust, it definitely isn't a woodworking
   store. If most of the people working in the store are over 40 years
   old, it's probably an OK store. If there's a poster of the guy from New
   Yankee Workshop, American Woodshop, or the Woodwright's Shop, (you know
   those shows because he's never missed an episode), it's DEFINITELY a
   woodworking store. Check his bedside table. There are probably enough
   catalogs sitting there that it's causing the earth to wobble in
   rotation. See if you can find one of those stores.
   
   
2. Watch New Yankee Workshop on PBS. If Norm uses it, most
   woodworkers will want (need) at least 2. What ever it is, you might get
   several sizes.
   
   
3. If it's not in one of the primary colors (the 8 color box of
   Crayons), you can probably ignore it. Don't even consider anything in
   "designer" colors.
   
   
4. If it looks like it makes a lot of noise, buy it.
   
   
5. If you look at the picture on the box and can immediately think
   of 50 different ways to cause serious bodily damage, buy it. He's
   probably been wishing for one for years, whatever it is.
   
   
6. Remember the catalogs in rule 1? Look for the pages that are
   wrinkled. They've been drooled on and something (probably everything)
   on those pages is wanted enough that he's probably thinking of a way
   they can sneak it into the house without you finding out. If he unwraps
   something from those pages on Christmas, he'll probably cry.
   
   
7. Electric or hand tools. Sneak into the garage, basement, or
   shop. Don't touch anything. He knows where every speck of dust is and
   if anything is disturbed, he won't be able to function for a week. Look
   at the electrical outlets. If most of outlets are occupied, go for
   "tailed" tools - those are the ones that plug into the wall. If all are
   occupied, try to find cordless tools. If all the outlets are dusty, buy
   hand tools, especially something really sharp. Now carefully retrace
   your steps back out.
   
   
8. As for rule 7, if all the outlets are occupied with battery
   chargers for cordless tools, how about a gift certificate for an
   electrician. You can never have too much power. (Guys, a BIG grunt
   here!)
   
   
9. If "some assembly is required", buy it, but first check to see
   what tools are required to do the job. You may have to buy some of
   those too!
   
   
10. It doesn't matter if he already has one of whatever you get.
    Chances are, he probably needs another one or wants a bigger one or a
    longer one.
    
    
11. Don't shop at Sears for woodworking tools, his friends will
    point and make fun of him. Sears is OK for tools he can use on his truck.
    
    
12. While you're in his shop, look at the calendar on the wall. If
    the girl in the picture is holding tools, he'd like the big one. The
    tool, that is.
    
    
13. If you can remember your father having "a tool just like that",
    it's OK. Great tools stay around quite a while and it will be a good
    way for your father and his son-in-law to "bond".
    
    
14. If the box says "As seen on TV!", apply the Sears rule (rule
    11). Even if it's useless, it can be used as a BFH or as a wheel chock.
    
    
15. On second thought, forget rule 14. If you see something where
    rule 14 applies, it's not a woodworking store.
    
    
16. If there's a picture on the box of anything but the tool, don't
    buy it. If it needs that much explanation, it's not a woodworking tool.
    The best tools have boxes with only words on it or, better yet, nothing
    but a shipping label so that the clerk has to open the box to verify
    what's in it.
    
    
17. Clamps. A woodworker can never have too many clamps and
    usually has too few. And don't worry about what kind of clamp. If you
    can squeeze something together with it, it will work. Also, see rule 2.
    
    
18. If it says Bosch, Milwaukee or Porter Cable it's OK by me. If
    it says Makita, Dewalt or ....... I can live with it. If it says Sears,
    Skil, Black & Decker, or Mastercraft, while I'd still use it, don't ask
    me next year how it is because I've probably killed it.
    
    
19. Anything from the Lee Valley or Garret Wade catalogue is fine.
    
    
20. Veritas, Lie Neilsen, Clifton are good brands.
    
    
21. Never buy anything that says "Made in China", it will end up in
    the garbage in short order.
    
    
22. If it weighs more than you and has more horsepower than you
    have children, it's probably acceptable.
    
    
23. If the salesman asks "would you like a spare set of blades for
    that?", the answer is "yes".
    
    
24. If batteries are not included, neither should the tool.