The best plumbing gifts for a DIYer are the tools that turn a call to a plumber into a Saturday job: a telescoping basin wrench for faucet swaps, a PEX cutter and cinch tool for repairs, a set of groove-joint pliers, and a toilet auger for the clog a plunger cannot clear.
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Our pick: the RIDGID 2017 telescoping basin wrench, the top pick in our basin wrench guide. Check the RIDGID 2017 on Amazon
A licensed Georgia plumber picked these eleven tools from Plumbing Picks’ own tool guides, and each links to the full guide it came from. Read the notes after the list before you buy a PEX tool; the right one depends on the fittings already in their house.
The Gifts at a Glance
| Gift | Best for |
|---|---|
| iCrimp PEX cinch clamp tool | PEX projects |
| IWISS PEX cutter | Square PEX cuts |
| RIDGID 101 close-quarters cutter | Copper in tight spots |
| RIDGID 2017 telescoping basin wrench | Faucet swaps |
| WORKPRO 3-piece plier set | A first set of pliers |
| Crescent 12-inch adjustable wrench | Hex nuts and chrome |
| DURATECH aluminum pipe wrench set | Every pipe wrench size |
| RIDGID K-3 toilet auger + Korky plunger | Toilet clogs a plunger cannot clear |
| RIDGID POWER SPIN+ drain cleaner | Sink and tub clogs |
| Oatey solder and flux kit | Learning to solder copper |
| Danco Moen cartridge puller | Moen shower owners |
Every gift above was sold or shipped by Amazon, new and in stock, when we checked on September 23, 2026. Specs come from each Amazon listing.
1. iCrimp PEX Cinch Clamp Tool Kit (3/8″–1″)
cinches stainless PEX clamps from any maker, 3/8″ to 1″ · also removes clamps (all per the listing)
One cinch tool covers every size from 3/8 to 1 inch, and the listing says it also removes clamps when a joint has to be redone. It is the top pick in our PEX crimp tool guide.
Our full guide: PEX crimp and cinch tools
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2. IWISS iCrimp PEX Tubing Cutter (1/8″–1″)
cuts PEX tubing 1/8″ to 1″ · not for PVC (all per the listing)
A square PEX cut is the first step to a joint that does not leak, and a scissor cutter does it in one squeeze. Note the listing: PEX only, not PVC.
Our full guide: PEX cutters, hand and cordless
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3. RIDGID 101 Close-Quarters Tubing Cutter
cuts 1/4″ to 1-1/8″ · hard and soft copper, aluminum and brass · made for tight spaces (all per the listing)
Copper under a sink or between joists rarely leaves room for a full-size cutter; this one is built for tight spaces, per the listing. It is the copper pick in our pipe cutter guide.
Our full guide: Pipe cutters for copper, PEX and PVC
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4. RIDGID 2017 Telescoping Basin Wrench with LED
telescopes from 10 to 17 inches · built-in LED light · made in the USA (all per the listing)
The nuts that hold a faucet on sit behind the sink bowl where no other wrench reaches. This one telescopes to 17 inches and carries its own light, per the listing, which is why it tops our basin wrench guide.
Our full guide: Basin wrenches for faucet swaps
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5. WORKPRO 3-Piece Groove-Joint Plier Set (8, 10 and 12 in.)
8-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch straight-jaw groove-joint pliers (per the listing)
Three sizes, 8 to 12 inches, cover small drain fittings up to a trap slip nut, and it is the set our pliers guide recommends to cover small to large. A good first set for someone building a plumbing kit.
Our full guide: Channel lock pliers and adjustable wrenches
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6. Crescent 12-Inch Adjustable Wrench (AC212VS)
12-inch adjustable wrench · SAE and metric scale etched on the jaw · hex jaw design to reduce slipping (all per the listing)
Smooth jaws grip the flats of a nut without chewing it up, which pliers cannot promise on chrome. Our pliers guide pairs a 12-inch adjustable with 12-inch pliers as the core of a home kit.
Our full guide: Will channel locks scratch chrome?
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7. DURATECH 3-Piece Aluminum Pipe Wrench Set (10, 14 and 18 in.)
10-inch, 14-inch and 18-inch aluminum straight pipe wrenches · nearly 40% lighter than steel wrenches of the same size (all per the listing)
Three pipe wrench sizes in one box cover a hose bib, a water heater nipple and a stuck cleanout plug. It is the set our pipe wrench guide suggests for anyone who wants every size.
Our full guide: Pipe wrenches worth owning
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8. RIDGID K-3 Toilet Auger with Korky BeehiveMAX Plunger (Bundle)
3-foot toilet auger with bulb head · vinyl guard to protect the porcelain · bundled with a Korky BeehiveMAX plunger (all per the listing)
When the plunger cannot clear it, a closet auger reaches into the toilet’s trap and the listing’s vinyl guard helps protect the porcelain. This bundle adds the plunger too. We are not linking it right now: when we checked on September 29, 2026, the bundle listing had no new units in stock. Our toilet auger guide now links RIDGID’s 6-foot K-6DH instead.
Our full guide: Toilet augers for stubborn clogs
9. RIDGID POWER SPIN+ Drain Cleaner
for drain lines 3/4″ to 1-1/2″ · drill-powered, up to 500 RPM · AUTOFEED trigger (all per the listing)
Sink and tub drains are 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inches, right in this snake’s range, and it can run on the drill they already own. It is a pick in our homeowner drain snake guide.
Our full guide: Drain snakes for homeowners
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10. Oatey Plumbing Solder Kit (Solder and Flux)
1/4 lb solder and 1.7 oz flux · meets ASTM B32 and the Safe Drinking Water Act · made for potable water lines (all per the listing)
For someone learning to sweat copper, this puts solder and flux made for drinking-water lines in one box, per the listing. Pair it with a torch from our plumbing torch guide; the kit does not include one.
Our full guide: Plumbing torches for soldering copper
Not linked: Oatey solder kit — on 10/3/2026 the Amazon listing was sold by a third-party seller, not by Amazon or the maker. We re-check listings every week.
11. Danco Cartridge Puller for Moen 1200, 1222 and 1225
removes Moen Posi-Temp tub and shower cartridges in the 1200, 1222 and 1225 series (per the listing)
A Moen shower cartridge that has sat for years can be nearly impossible to pull by hand. For a DIYer with a Moen shower, this is the tool that gets a stuck cartridge out; our shower cartridge guide walks through the rest.
Our full guide: Shower valve cartridge replacement
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#ad Buying for a shop? Amazon Business (opens in a new tab) accounts are free to create, with business-only prices and bulk quantity discounts.
I send an occasional note when a new guide goes up — repairs worth doing yourself, and the parts that actually last. No spam, no course funnel; written by a licensed Georgia plumber.
Match the Gift to Their House
- PEX tools only fit one connection type. A cinch tool makes stainless-clamp joints; a copper-ring crimper and an expansion tool make different ones. If their house already has PEX, find out which connection it uses first; our guide to PEX crimp vs clamp shows how to tell.
- Soldering means open flame. If you buy the solder kit, a flame protector pad from our plumber gift list belongs with it.
- Gas and electrical are not DIY gifts. Nothing here is for gas lines or wiring. Those jobs belong to a licensed pro.
FAQ
What plumbing tools make good gifts for a DIYer?
A telescoping basin wrench, a set of groove-joint pliers, a PEX cutter and cinch tool, and a toilet auger cover the jobs a DIYer runs into most: faucet swaps, PEX repairs and clogs. All of them are picks in our own tool guides.
Should I buy a PEX crimp tool or a cinch tool as a gift?
Buy the one that matches the fittings in their house. A cinch tool uses stainless clamps and covers 3/8 to 1 inch with one tool, per the iCrimp listing; a copper-ring crimper uses rings and usually needs a jaw for each size. If you cannot find out, the cinch tool is the more flexible choice.
Is a drain snake a good gift?
Yes, for someone who deals with slow sinks and tubs. A drill-powered snake like the RIDGID POWER SPIN+ handles 3/4-inch to 1-1/2-inch drains, per its listing. For toilets, give a closet auger instead; a sink snake can scratch the bowl.
Why Trust Plumbing Picks
Plumbing Picks is written by a Journeyman Plumber — State of Georgia Licence #JP507711 — and the license is verifiable through the Georgia Secretary of State’s license verification portal. Nobody pays to be included here and no manufacturer sponsors the site. Every gift on this page is a product one of our own buying guides already recommends, and each one was sold or shipped by Amazon, new and in stock, when we checked on September 23, 2026. Product details come from the Amazon listing or the maker, not from hands-on testing. Stock changes, so check the listing before you order. Where a link goes to Amazon we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. More on who writes this and how we pick.
Bottom Line
For a DIYer who swaps their own faucets, the RIDGID 2017 basin wrench and the WORKPRO plier set are the safest gifts. For someone working with PEX, the iCrimp cinch tool and IWISS cutter, once you know their fittings. For the family plumber, a closet auger from our toilet auger guide.