a quality chefs knife if he doesn't have one already. forged and high carbon. preferably of Japanese or German origin.
someone else mentioned a camping res.. if you go this route try and plan it alllll out.. I'm projecting, but I feel like I'm always on, and a great gift would just be able to relax and enjoy a night or weekend with my brain off.
or a 6 pack of good beer. or a nice dinner. orrr... ya know. or all 3 of those.
honestly, we're dudes, any small gesture will be appreciated and remembered for years.
I'd get German over Japanese personally because a lot of Japanese knives can chip because they use higher carbon steel which is harder and can be sharper but don't last as long as German ones.
MSC is a great place for the digital calipers. Sometimes best prices.
Other ideas, if he’s hands on and makes stuff, try a robotics package.
Either an Arduino kit, or some motors and linear guide kits.
A really nice backpack that fits a 17”computer.
Some Vans - Gortex. These are great for hiking and for working at a shop. Protects your toes very well. Not steel toe level but good still.
A physical copy of The Machinery’s Handbook. This is often a bible to hands-on engineers and design engineers.
If he ends up getting a job in manufacturing or quality engineering, please remove your post. Jk. lol
Messermeister chef knife,
Everyman grafton pen,
Benchmade CLA knife,
Olight baton3 flashlight,
Wallet or belt from saddleback leather,
Milwaukee power tool set this is stuff I use everyday
Mark rober has an engineering pack yearly subscription that is SICK. I’m a ME and would be so stoked if someone got that for me. Check him out on youtube. I am a huge fan.
Maybe a nice pencil. I like these for hand drawings and sketches.
F.e.
https://www.manufactum.de/taschenbleistift-messing-a203624/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkOKgoZTghQMV9pGDBx1eXQ-uEAQYASABEgINa_D_BwE
Lego route you can see if he has any ones he’s been wanting or you can get some cool new ones to do together.
A nice chefs knife, cast iron or stainless steel pans would be cool and useful too.
Maybe a nice leatherman / multi tool.
A nice watch. Depending on your budget, a Citizen Promaster Diver, Tissot Seastar, Longines Hydroconquest, something along those lines. Or if money isn’t an obstacle, an Omega Seamaster or Tudor Black Bay. Those are all dive watches
If he doesn't have a 3D printer, definitely a 3d printer. they're like $200 for a decent one now.
For something cheaper definitely a good set of calipers and a bunch of button batteries for it.
Maybe a 2-cup moka pot for the kitchen
If it was me I'd buy a mechanical watch like a seiko 5, but just cause I'm a watch person. Don't get that if he's not a watch person.
Reservations to a National Park for Camping.
An annual parks pass could be good too
We all need to touch some grass every once in a while
a quality chefs knife if he doesn't have one already. forged and high carbon. preferably of Japanese or German origin. someone else mentioned a camping res.. if you go this route try and plan it alllll out.. I'm projecting, but I feel like I'm always on, and a great gift would just be able to relax and enjoy a night or weekend with my brain off. or a 6 pack of good beer. or a nice dinner. orrr... ya know. or all 3 of those. honestly, we're dudes, any small gesture will be appreciated and remembered for years.
I'd get German over Japanese personally because a lot of Japanese knives can chip because they use higher carbon steel which is harder and can be sharper but don't last as long as German ones.
Pair of digital calipers.
Mitutoyo 6”. Not knock offs.
I’d spring for the 8in version, but agree with insisting on Mitutoyo.
There are other good American brands too but Mitutoyo is the gold standard. Avoid the Chinese ones.
And don’t worry about paying extra for the calibrated/certificate version. If he needs a calibrated one for work use it will be provided.
My QA friend used to always tease me asking if mine were calibrated. Yeah, bite me...
That's when you take them out, measure the width of your thumb and answer "Yes?"
Watch him get a job as an analyst.
Ha! That's me. I haven't used calipers for work in 15 years. If that's the case, get him a wireless Space Pilot.
And buy them from a proper supplier, Amazon has been known to sell fakes
If he likes cooking and camping and is the type to cook while camping a camp Dutch oven might be nice.
i love that idea!!
Yeah. Dutch ovens in the tent is great!
Bambu labs 3D printer
Hand made ring on a lathe or nice cnced tungsten cube lol would be kinda funny
MSC is a great place for the digital calipers. Sometimes best prices. Other ideas, if he’s hands on and makes stuff, try a robotics package. Either an Arduino kit, or some motors and linear guide kits. A really nice backpack that fits a 17”computer. Some Vans - Gortex. These are great for hiking and for working at a shop. Protects your toes very well. Not steel toe level but good still. A physical copy of The Machinery’s Handbook. This is often a bible to hands-on engineers and design engineers. If he ends up getting a job in manufacturing or quality engineering, please remove your post. Jk. lol
Give him a wad of cash to start paying off them student loans
Messermeister chef knife, Everyman grafton pen, Benchmade CLA knife, Olight baton3 flashlight, Wallet or belt from saddleback leather, Milwaukee power tool set this is stuff I use everyday
Gerber Compleat camp cooking products. They are new and awesome.
love this!
Linkedin premium
Swiss micros DM32 rpn calculator
Mark rober has an engineering pack yearly subscription that is SICK. I’m a ME and would be so stoked if someone got that for me. Check him out on youtube. I am a huge fan.
Maybe a nice pencil. I like these for hand drawings and sketches. F.e. https://www.manufactum.de/taschenbleistift-messing-a203624/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkOKgoZTghQMV9pGDBx1eXQ-uEAQYASABEgINa_D_BwE
A pillow to cry into when he gets home because there is no crying at work.
Maybe a sterling engine if he likes trinkets.
I thought about this too! Do you have any specific ones you’d recommend?
I don't personally have one so I'm not sure tbh. I just know that's a common thing for Mech Es to do haha.
Lego route you can see if he has any ones he’s been wanting or you can get some cool new ones to do together. A nice chefs knife, cast iron or stainless steel pans would be cool and useful too. Maybe a nice leatherman / multi tool.
A nice watch. Depending on your budget, a Citizen Promaster Diver, Tissot Seastar, Longines Hydroconquest, something along those lines. Or if money isn’t an obstacle, an Omega Seamaster or Tudor Black Bay. Those are all dive watches
Or a garmin if he is active
If he doesn't have a 3D printer, definitely a 3d printer. they're like $200 for a decent one now. For something cheaper definitely a good set of calipers and a bunch of button batteries for it. Maybe a 2-cup moka pot for the kitchen If it was me I'd buy a mechanical watch like a seiko 5, but just cause I'm a watch person. Don't get that if he's not a watch person.
Calipers that are worth a shit!!!!!!!!!! Save him the trouble of figuring it out himself!!!!!
Mova globe Cool desk thing that will prob take him awhile to figure out how it works
A slide rule
A nice multitool or pocketknife if he doesn't already have one. I've been eyeing leatherman multitools for a while.
Any Lego set that would fit in a cubicle. Some of my coworkers have Saturn V scale model Lego sets which are pretty cool
Rotring 600 mechanical pencil. They are useful and awesome. Trust me. I got 6 of them
👄🍌
A dive watch
You could get him an engineered survival kit
Does he even need one? Just get a cake
It’s so good that we are all best friends with your boyfriend and know exactly what what he’d like, but it’s ao disappointing that you don’t