Crafting Christmas Joy: Unique DIY Gift Ideas Using the 80/20 T-Slot Building System
Crafting Christmas Joy: Unique DIY Gift Ideas Using the 80/20 T-Slot Building System
As the holiday season approaches, the quest for the perfect Christmas gifts is underway. This year, why not think outside the big-box store and consider these DIY designs and kits from 80/20? Our extruded aluminum profiles and components—known for their strength and adaptability—open up a world of creative possibilities for unique and thoughtful presents.
Customized Tech Accessories
For the tech enthusiast on your list, consider personalized tech accessories made from 80/20’s T-slot profiles and accessories. This could include entertainment centers, mobile workstations, or even 3D printer frames. These items are not only practical, but also showcase a commitment to quality and innovation.
This sleek and modern entertainment cabinet is an attractive way for your favorite technophiles to house and integrate their HDTV, audio components, media players, and/or gaming consoles while providing easy access and full functionality. Like all 80/20 builds, it’s strong and durable, with adjustable leveling feet and customized tiers that can be changed out to accommodate equipment changes.
For the computer user on the go, sometimes lugging a laptop from place to place won’t hack it. The mobile workstation is a simple, yet elegant solution that provides a drawer (with adequate airflow) for a laptop, along with an easily accessible monitor mount and shelving for battery backup. With durable locking casters and full ergonomic positioning, this mobile workstation lets your favorite computer enthusiasts take their desktop setup anywhere they need.
3D printers have made the move to mainstream usage over the last decade. If there’s a builder, hobbyist, or other home user on your list who’s currently using a 3D printer to produce custom toys, trinkets, accouterments, and tools, this 3D printer frame will make an ideal gift. It’s durable and sturdy, while being completely customizable. Modular construction makes it easy to modify and adjustable feet keep it level on any surface.
Customizable Shelves and Storage Units
Imagine gifting a loved one a set of stylish and highly functional shelves or storage units built from 80/20 aluminum extrusions. These can be customized to fit any space, making them perfect for organizing an office, a garage, or even a living room. The sleek and modern design adds a touch of sophistication to any environment.
This durable and stylish cabinet can be outfitted with all kinds of customizable options, like adjustable shelving, locking casters, and even an on-demand lighted workstation. It’s the perfect gift for anyone looking for a way to organize a garage or workshop.
This worktable includes a rugged HDPE work surface that can be extended out to 7 feet or folded down to save floor space. It also features customizable hooks and built-in shelving to store tools and supplies, as well as lockable swivel casters and extension legs that make it a snap to relocate and set up shop where it’s needed.
The glide rack is an ultra-versatile slide-and-hide-away gadget that allows for quick storage with easy access to hanging clothes, sewing/quilting materials, whiteboards, or even tools! This rack is thin and lightweight for easy sliding and storage, yet strong and durable enough to handle most materials.
If you have someone on your Christmas list who’s looking for a way to organize their cluttered garage, this combo cabinet may be just the ticket. The idea is simple—customizable shelves in the cabinet provide ample storage for equipment and supplies while hooks on the pegboard door allow convenient access to hanging tools.
Using 80/20’s black anodized profiles and stylish phenolic resin panels, you can craft a sleek and modern bookshelf perfectly tailored for any space and any taste. This custom bookshelf is the epitome of adjustable, with shelves that can be added, removed, raised, or lowered to suit the storage needs of your gift recipient.
This workstation-on-wheels is perfect for scrapbookers, jewelry makers, model builders, quilters, knitters, needlecrafters, or any other artistic hobbyists on your Christmas list. Think of it as a mobile folding worktable on a smaller and more manageable scale, with plenty of customizable options for storage bins, hanging tool boards, and shelves.
DIY Project Kits
Encourage the creative spirit in your friends and family by gifting them a DIY project kit made from 80/20 extruded aluminum profiles and accessories. All of our Xtreme DIY projects include plans, bills of materials, and design files in a number of popular formats, so you could easily put together a project kit for anything from backyard games to living room furniture. However, there are a couple of 80/20 DIY project kits that truly stand out from the rest.
To be fair, most of the 80/20 Xtreme DIY projects on our site are intended to serve a practical function. However, the racing simulator rig is just fun! This kit comes with everything your favorite DIYer needs to build an adjustable frame that’ll accommodate a car seat, along with just about any steering wheel and foot pedal configuration to emulate the cockpit of a Formula 1 racer. An optional monitor stand will let builders integrate their monitor or television onto the build, while an add-on keyboard arm provides quick computer access.
For the young builders on your list, 80/20’s Be-An-Engineer Kit provides a variety of extruded aluminum T-slot profiles, along with the fastening options and hand tools they need to build a table, a barrier guard, a T-slot easel, a roller door, or a workstation! While the Be-An-Engineer Kit provides detailed instructions for these projects, it also gives aspiring DIYers the opportunity to design and build their own designs.
Outdoor Furniture
Take the holiday celebrations outside with durable and weather-resistant outdoor furniture and accessories made from 80/20 aluminum. From stylish patio bars to functional picnic tables, these pieces not only withstand the elements but also add a touch of modern design to any backyard or garden.
The perfect gift for anyone who does a lot of backyard entertaining, this customizable patio bar is easy to keep clean and durable enough to withstand the elements. Its modular units can be easily added or rearranged to create the perfect layout for any patio.
The durable design of this grill stand means it will stand up to rain, snow, and blazing summer sun. The closed-face profile makes cleaning up splatters and messes a breeze. You can even incorporate detachable shelves, hooks, and locking casters for a perfectly tailored gift for any pitmaster or outdoor grillardin.
This lightweight garden box is durable enough to protect fragile seedlings and starters from critters and the elements while making sure they get plenty of sunlight. As with just about all of our 80/20 designs, it is completely customizable to fit the preferences and space requirements of your favorite gardener.
This eye-catching picnic table is the perfect gift for friends and family members who enjoy hosting outdoor gatherings and cookouts. The durable T-slot aluminum profiles are corrosion-resistant, which means they’ll weather the elements without degrading, warping, or fading. You can choose from a variety of colors and appearances, and even include a built-in bin for storing beverages.
Build the Perfect Christmas Gift with 80/20 Extruded Aluminum T-Slots
This Christmas, consider stepping away from traditional gifts and embrace the versatility of 80/20’s extruded aluminum building system. Whether it’s attractive shelving, durable outdoor furniture, or an awesome DIY project kit, these unique and thoughtful presents are sure to bring joy and a touch of modern elegance to the lives of your loved ones. Embrace the spirit of innovation and make this holiday season truly special with gifts that showcase the beauty and functionality of 80/20 T-slot profiles and accessories.
Looking for more Christmas gift ideas? Check out our list from last year or browse through our Xtreme DIY Projects for more inspiration.