Retirement gift ideas for an Engineer

[Richiew]

Couldn't think of anything worse than a clock tbh.

 

[optima21]

I once made a crystal radio for someone as a retirement present. he was a toolmaker and showed me how to use a lathe (I worked in the company's offices). the base of the radio was made from a part produce by the last press tool he made before he retired.

 

[frank horton]

a tough one is that....
not a retirement presant but a close friend who died of cancer gave me a few bits before he died.....
my treasured one is a leather handled Estwing....

 

[Morrisman]

if he wanted a fancy penknife he probably already has one at his age

I hate surprise gifts. Last Xmas I received an Apple watch off my daughter, £250+, a nice gesture.... except I never wear a watch, haven’t done for years.

But I wear it whenever she is home.

 

[bourbon]

Dave Allen The Clock - YouTube

 

[My Old Landy]

All I got was a Draper 25-50mm micrometer....... to be fair I am a miserable git so I don't suppose many put in for it

 

[Parm]

I've seen a pair of cast bronze testicles given to a retiring urologist.

Now I want to know who they took the mould from?

 

[James1979]

Now I want to know who they took the mould from?

 

[RichardM]

I got cash and a Waterstones voucher. I would say I've spent it on what I wanted, but it just saved the misses from going to the bank in reality .

 

[badabec]

I've seen a pair of cast bronze testicles given to a retiring urologist.

Good job he wasn't a gynaecologist.

 

[badabec]

Now I'm retired I never wear a watch.
Amazon vouchers or good old cash.

 

[Stueeee]

Supply of overalls , gloves , fasteners and other workshop buffet items for the length of retirement

Surely if he knew he was going, he'd have that sorted already My overalls and gloves wore out out a while ago, but I still have a lot of fasteners and some useful engineering plastics in stock.

Any recognition is nice though. for my day job, I worked for the same company for 41 years, started as an apprentice, left as a fairly senior manager - the company changed names and ownership a few times in that period- my leaving ceremony when I retired was my boss ringing me up on my last day, to tell me that the following Monday a courier would be coming to my house to collect my company ID card and laptop.

Thankfully I had worked out some time before my early retirement that company loyalty is very much unidirectional, so had long since stopped mistaking my job for my life. As an amusing sequel to leaving, Six months after leaving, I was called up by a recruitment consultant, saying that they had a vacancy for blah blah blah, which although they couldn't reveal their client was quite obviously my old job. I turned him down flat even though the pay was quite a lot more than I had been getting.

Made me feel quite gratified that they'd belatedly learned that when someone with a lifetime's experience in a particular field says something dreamt up by a hotshot recent graduate can't be done in the way suggested, it's because it isn't going to work rather than being negative for its own sake.

 

[My Old Landy]

Surely if he knew he was going, he'd have that sorted already My overalls and gloves wore out out a while ago, but I still have a lot of fasteners and some useful engineering plastics in stock.

Any recognition is nice though. for my day job, I worked for the same company for 41 years, started as an apprentice, left as a fairly senior manager - the company changed names and ownership a few times in that period- my leaving ceremony when I retired was my boss ringing me up on my last day, to tell me that the following Monday a courier would be coming to my house to collect my company ID card and laptop.

Thankfully I had worked out some time before my early retirement that company loyalty is very much unidirectional, so had long since stopped mistaking my job for my life. As an amusing sequel to leaving, Six months after leaving, I was called up by a recruitment consultant, saying that they had a vacancy for blah blah blah, which although they couldn't reveal their client was quite obviously my old job. I turned him down flat even though the pay was quite a lot more than I had been getting.

Made me feel quite gratified that they'd belatedly learned that when someone with a lifetime's experience in a particular field says something dreamt up by a hotshot recent graduate can't be done in the way suggested, it's because it isn't going to work rather than being negative for its own sake.

Since I retired I have had four approaches from the management to see if I will go back as a 'consultant' to which the answer is no. I have also had ex colleagues contacting me asking if I would help them with aspects of the projects. I am glad to be out of it as I have planned for this for 40 years!!

 

[Arc Tourist]

Consider checking with your local Snap-On tool provider and ask about one of the micro tool chests. They are about the size of a desk top jewellery box and would be great for containing personal items. I would like one myself.

Edit: Noticed there are a couple of examples on ebay. One of them is item # 1441 3409 0338

 

[12345678910]

Cash the wife doesn't know about is always welcome.

Make a card out of sheet stainless- scan signatures and laser it out...or whatever you can do with the equipment you have.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Maybe @BirdmanJohn would custom make something to your order? I got one of his kingfishers as a 70th birthday gift for a friend and it's beautiful.

 

[chris y]

Sorry top take so long to get back on and reply.

Thats more response than I expected, and mostly helpful. Theres too much to reply individually, but some of those thoughts have got me thinking. I wish I'd planned earlier to have time to make something related to the product hes worked on.

He doesn't do Engineering outside of work so something practical that way isnt going to be good. His main hobby is gym and bodybuilding, he was a body builder decades ago.

Thanks again.

 

[Roger Williams]

Season ticket to the lap dancing club....

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Season ticket to the lap dancing club....

They don't want to kill the chap....

 

[chris y]

Season ticket to the lap dancing club....

I think he'd like that.......I'll investigate the local ones at the weekend to check which is best