Who we are
We're Matt and Joel Brennan, brothers from Gippsland in Victoria. Matt's the older one. He spent about a year planning the build before the slab went down, and he still has the spreadsheet. Joel did the bits that involved the nail gun, plus a couple of the bits that involved the first-aid kit.
Matt runs Makita for the everyday gear and has added Milwaukee for the heavy end, and will explain both for as long as you let him. Joel's shed is full of Ryobi and he regrets none of it. Neither of us has talked the other around in ten years of trying, which is roughly how this website happened.
The build
A few years back Matt bought a block and decided to owner-build rather than pay someone else to have all the fun. Joel thought that was a terrible idea and said so, then turned up every weekend anyway. Licensed trades did the work the law reserves for licensed trades. We did a lot of the rest — framing, cladding, decking, fit-off, painting, a retaining wall that Joel still brings up at Christmas.
It took about two and a half years of weekends. By the end the shed had more tools than the house had furniture, and we'd bought, returned, replaced and worn out enough gear to have opinions about most of what's on the shelf at a hardware store.
Why we started this
Every time someone we know buys a house, the messages start. Which drill. Whether the cheap one is fine. Whether brushless is worth it. We figured we'd write it all down once and do it properly. That's Toolnerd — the thing we wish we'd had standing in the tool aisle, trying to work out if the budget one was a bargain or a mistake.
What you'll find here
Reviews cover one tool at a time — scored out of 5, specs translated into plain English, and a straight answer on who it suits. Versus pieces put two or three options head to head. Guides are for the background stuff — how to choose a circular saw, what brushless means — written for someone who's never owned the tool.
Everything is written for Australia. Australian prices, Australian warranty terms, gear you can actually buy here.
How we score
Out of 5, against what the tool is for and what it costs. A budget impact driver gets judged as a budget impact driver, not held up next to a trade unit at four times the price. The scores come from doing the homework — manuals, spec sheets, what the warranty actually covers, what batteries cost once the kit deal wears off.
How we make money
When you buy through a link here, the retailer pays us a small commission. It doesn't change the price you pay, and it doesn't change the scores. When the cheap one is the right call, we say so.
Matt Brennan
The planner. Specs, platforms and buying guides. Makita LXT, plus Milwaukee M18 for the heavy gear.
Joel Brennan
The doer. Hands-on reviews, budget gear and lessons learned. Ryobi One+ devotee.