OK, here it is -- the week before Christmas and you still have no idea what to give the do-it-yourselfer in the house. Or, the kids want to give something useful, but that $1,200 custom tool station is a little outside their budget. Never fear -- even in the lastminute holiday rush, a few useful little items are available that a DIY-er will love.

. Make it portable. Atool belt or bag will stop those repeat trips to the garage for little items. Many are available for as little as $25 and are fairly lightweight but durable.

. Quick rethreads. A tapping tool is a handheld item with a screwdriver grip that quickly forms new threads in stripped screw holes. Instead of rigging up the power drill, just grab the tapping tool, place the rightsized bit on, and repair the hole with a few short twists.

. Easy picture hanging. An electronic stud sensor and a laser leveler make hanging pictures, shelves and other walls items fast and easy. If your DIY'er doesn't have these, get them. The sensor and leveler can be bought separately for less than $20 apiece, and combination units are also available for $40 and up.

. Focus on safety. Put together a gift basket, or have the kids create a group of gifts, that protect the DIY'er while working. A set of dust masks, safety goggles, a full filter mask, heavy-duty work gloves, a firstaid kit and a fire extinguisher are all important items to have nearby when doing any home-improvement work.

. Let the DIY'er decide. Not sure what they need? Purchase a gift certificate, take

him or her on a shopping trip (especially during the after- Christmas sales), or just ask.

No matter what you decide upon, your DIY'er will appreciate the thoughtfulness of any gift, no matter how small or how many he already has. After all, keeping two of everything on hand is just good sense!

HOME TIP: To keep tools from rusting inside metal toolboxes, place a charcoal briquette in the bottom of the box to absorb moisture.

Send questions or homerepair

tips to homeguru2000@hotmail.com, or write This Is a Hammer, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL32853-6475.

(c) 2006 King Features Synd., Inc.