There are two things that any good tradie relies on. Their expertise and their tools. Expertise is something you are going to have to pursue yourself, but good tools, that is something we can help you with. There are a few important rules when it comes to picking the right hand-tools for the job and for the most part they are no-brainers. Here are five simple pieces of advice for picking the right hand-tools for the job and five fantastic brands that you should look out for.
Pick hand-tools that will last, you'll thank yourself
Some tools you are going to need over and over again, so prepare early and pick ones that are going to last as long as possible. We don't mean splurge on buying a whole toolbox with a bunch of bits and ends that you are never going to use. We mean think about what tools you are going to use every day and make sure you have a solid set. For example, if you're a tradie you're probably going to need a screwdriver, so pick a set that will last. Your best bet is looking to established brands with some serious reputation. One of the best is Wiha, a German brand with a long list of tools in their repertoire, best known for their excellent insulated screwdrivers that last for years and never fail to impress.
Choose hand-tools that will make your life easy
Tools that won't break are great but tools that make your job easier are even better. For this you are going to have to look at some of the more innovative brands on the list, brands that have made it their business to look at common problems and design tools to solve them. One such brand is Wera, a company that focuses on practical innovations that make a real difference to your work.
The perfect example of this is their Zyklop ratchet which is designed to work with a super low return angle, offer quick changeovers between ratchet heads and support rapid twisting through a rotation-symmetric structure. This all means that they've taken a look at regular tools and thought hard about how to make them easier to use and how to make your job as simple as possible.
Comfort is just as important as durability
Many tradies start off not really caring about their health and safety but after years on-site realise that their hands and health are their most important asset. This is why finding tools that are comfortable and designed ergonomically are vital to your long-term success.
Few brands do this as well as Bahco, which has been designing ergonomic tools as early as the 80s to prevent repetitive strain injury. Their range of ERGO tools follows a scientific 11-point program to ensure that they are built with ease-of-use and comfort in mind.
High safety standards pay for themselves
Some tools can do some serious damage if they aren't built with safety in mind, and while you can spend years using dangerous tools and get away with it, eventually an accident will take you out of the running if you're not careful. Repetitive jobs like wire stripping can often cause us to forget what we are doing, which is when we make mistakes. Brands like Jokari put the safety of the user first by focusing on innovations like safe locking switches, automatic blade protection and protective insulation.
If you need accuracy, then you need the best
Sometimes your tools need to offer you a high level of accuracy to let you do your job well, particularly in fields such as electronics or mechanics. A good example of this is an accurate torque wrench for anyone who works with mechanics or vehicles. And for this, it always pays off to buy something of quality. Norbar is an excellent choice for anyone looking to buy the perfect torque wrench. Built to strict quality standards, offering excellent accuracy and recalibration services, it is an investment well worth making.
