5 Best Gifts for Mechanical Engineers and Engineering Students 2017...

5 Best Gifts for Mechanical Engineers and Engineering Students 2017 Welcome to My 2017 Mechanical-Engineering Gift Guide!

I'm an ex-student-now-graduate who survived college studying mechanical engineering!

When it comes to buying gifts for engineering students or graduates, most people go for either lame T-shirts or boring machinery books or guides. C'mon, people! We love clothes, and we love practical experiments, but not every time--and we don't always want something with gears on it. And if t-shirts and books are the last-minute gifts you feel you must resort to, then we'd like to get a really cool one.

This article basically reflects my gift wish list. I studied mechanical engineering in college, and these gift ideas come from the heart.

What Should I Get a Mechanical Engineering Student or Graduate?

Below, I have explained what kind of gifts students like me want and what they don't like. I've also provided some examples for you to choose from.

Don't get me wrong--an iPad is surely an awesome gift, but wood watches for men at what cost? You can give a much more frugal and overall better gift by putting a little thought into the gift and by considering what the person you're getting it for really likes. Below you will find gifts organized into the following categories: Unique and funny Technical and geeky Cool and humorous Must-read books Other miscellany items A Math Clock When I first saw this clock, I knew that same instant that I had to buy it. And with such a good name (Sheldon Cooper clock), I felt the math nerd inside me getting really excited.

It's been hanging on my bedroom wall for almost two years now, and apart from the very judgy, geek-shaming looks from some of my cousins, it has received ultra-great reviews from my peers and friends.

If you believe me, a mechanical pencil is a very thoughtful gift for an engineer. I started using one my very first semester and have been using it even after graduating. I will probably use it for life-there isn't a single day I don't use a mechanical pencil.

Tip: Choose 0.5 mm for the size. It's the standard size for many engineering drawings.

Another useful stationery supply for an engineering student would be a package of drawing supplies, such as: A3 papers, drafter, T-scale, divider, compass, French curve, and all things that person draw.

A vernier caliper (or a scale) is an instrument that is used to determine the most accurate unaided measurement. For a mechanical engineering major, it is one of the must-have devices because there will be at least one event in a day where such type of measurement is necessary for the field work.

I recommend this digital vernier caliper. Be it for school projects, office works or even DIY projects at home, a vernier caliper is a mechanical engineer's best friend.

If they already have a vernier caliper, a micrometer is another useful engineering gift.

The use of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles have increased tremendously in the recent years.

With engineering students learning to build these flying "robots" as their school projects from the first semester itself, they are quite fascinated by the idea of these quadcopters.

Apart from usual surveillance and recreational purposes like travel logs, documentaries and wooden watch for men drone selfies, quadcopters are being used in several fields like: Bridge and Structural surveillance to gather close-up pictures of any structural flaws Transport supplies Testing of aircrafts etc.

One can rest assured that these small quadcopters are gifts that never fail to impress a mechanical engineer.

May the "force" be with you, get it?

Leave it to a mechanical engineering student to find out what the quote means.

Get it here: The Force T-shirt In addition to the "mass times acceleration" design, they have also got the "dm/dv" design which basically means the same for "force". These are so clever and cool designs for a shirt.

Perfect for: Star Wars fans or just Science nerds in general.

Get it here: I'm Good With Maths Engineer Mug Because being good at being an engineer does not grant superpowers at everything--especially if you already had problems with remembering spellings.

We like Unique Books!

Let's face it--a family does not consider his children an engineer unless he repairs some of the broken stuff at the home. One of the biggest regrets of the early days of my engineering college is not reading this book: Sneaky Uses of Everyday Things.

Cy Tymony's book has sold millions of copies and has become a handy handbook for everyday makers, fixers and engineers. It brings out the creative side of you--a very useful trait in a mechanical engineer.

Get it here: Sneaky Uses of Everyday Things The book is a practical and easy-to-use guide that helps one transform everyday common objects from A all the way up to Z. The book is a foundation to brainstorm creative ways to use ordinary things to provide a meaningful output. These quick and convenient outcomes help build an "engineering" and technical base--which can be a prototype for something larger and more valuable in engineering projects.

Creativity and the ability to think outside the box is one of the greatest qualities of a mechanical engineer and engineering student.

This book is followed by its sagas: (1) Sneakier Uses of Everyday Things and (2) Sneakiest Uses of Everyday Things A gift card of any kind is surely a nice little addition for mechanical engineering students to buy whatever they want--be it their favorite chips or another cool geeky stuff. At least you won't be nervous thinking whether he likes your present or not.