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Is your Dad a gearhead? Does he like tinkering with cars – the family car or something that he’s restoring? Is your household occasionally interrupted by Mom’s angry cries as she prepares to head out, only to discover that Dad’s taken the car apart again? If so, you’ve got a "Mechanic Dad" on your hands. A Mechanic Dad is great. He’s definitely going to fix things – hopefully. So, why not make his interest even more engaging? In this article, we’ve compiled a great list of the top gifts for mechanics. These are perfect for Dad’s Birthday, Father’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or just as a random gift - because who doesn’t love random gifts? You can also talk to the JEGS team for further ideas. As passionate gearheads, they are mechanics and some are Dads, too!
Unique & Practical Gifts
Flashlights
Every self-respecting auto mechanic needs a flashlight. And no, we don’t mean one of those rickety, rusty affairs that need to be given a swift knock to weakly stutter into life. You can choose from a variety of flashlights, from the traditional hand-held ones to multi-purpose lights that offer narrow beams or whole-garage lighting choices.
We’d recommend choosing something rechargeable because you don’t need to fuss about battery replacements. Alternatively, you can choose a headlamp, which frees up Dad’s hands for those trickier jobs. Because let’s be honest, which Dad wouldn’t love a headlamp? This is probably the best gift for a mechanic dad.
A Bluetooth Speaker
Some people work better when their jam is pumping. Suddenly, our brain kicks into overdrive, and we’ve got the solution to a nagging problem. Perhaps your dad is the same. Maybe he’s at his best when listening to some music. So why not help him take the music into the garage with a suitable Bluetooth speaker?
A Mini Fridge
Let’s face it, Dad’s going to need something cool and refreshing to drink when working on the car. So rather than have him traipsing into the house, tracking dirt and grease all over the carpet, give him a minifridge in the garage. He’ll be happy, and so will you.
Interior Detailing Gear
OK, perhaps your dad isn’t quite cut out for mechanical work. Maybe when he tried to replace something under the hood, the car was out of action for six weeks and needed a tow to the dealership in the end. In that case, don’t despair if Dad still insists on tinkering with the car. You can steer him towards interior detailing. This is an area where he doesn’t have to mess around with mechanicals and electronics but can still make a valuable and crucial contribution towards the family car.
We’ve got a wide range of interior detailing gear, from cleaning products to sponges and terry cloths. This is perfect if Dad’s a stickler to keep the interior clean. We’ve also got all those fine brushes and specialist tools for air vents and hard-to-reach areas.
Best Car Restoration Tools
Tool Kits
If your dad is even a basic home DIY tinkerer, chances are, he’s got some tools lying around. Typical home tools include a selection of screwdrivers, hammers, and wrenches, But these won’t cut it for auto mechanics. Why not gift Dad with a dedicated automotive toolkit? Something with everything required for all vehicular repairs, including that pesky, easily-lost-in-the-bowels-of-the-engine-bay 10mm socket?
Depending on garage space and necessity, you can pick a hand-carry toolkit or something a bit chunkier on wheels with several drawers and over a hundred items.
Want to go a bit further? You can consider some pneumatic air tools and perhaps an air compressor to run them with. But bear in mind that we take no responsibility for what Dad may do with his new tools.
OBD Scanners
Most reasonably modern vehicles are computerized to such a great degree that a simple diagnostic scan can reveal any issues within the vehicle’s myriad systems. Typically, diagnostic scans are the preserve of dealer workshops and specialist garages, but you can also buy home-use OBD scanners. These hand-held devices are fantastic for mechanic Dad, as he can delve deep into the car’s electronic systems and ferret out issues. Depending on the chosen device, Dad can also avail himself of maintenance reminders and schedules, real-time performance and engine health data, and even engage in a spot of coding. Thankfully, most tools with coding functionality offer easy ways to roll back changes if things don’t turn out hunky-dory.
Personal Protection and Care
Let’s face it: mechanic Dad may not be too concerned about PPE. But did you know that working around vehicles is quite dangerous? They are full of high-temperature, high-pressure, heavy components that can easily cause injury. That’s why it’s recommended for mechanics to wear items such as proper clothing, gloves, and safety goggles / glasses when engaging in most auto repair jobs.
Everything For the Discerning Dad at JEGS
No matter if your dad is a seasoned professional or just venturing into the world of auto repairs and maintenance, we’ve got everything for everyone. Check out JEGS.com and start shopping. You can even talk to our team for suggestions. They’ll be able to recommend the most appealing items that even the fussiest gearhead Dads will love. And we need not remind you that you’re backed by comprehensive warranties and our unmatched customer service where applicable.
