Category
Hand Tools
Hammers, screwdrivers, pliers — the tools that never need charging.
Head to head
Ratcheting Screwdrivers
The best ratcheting screwdrivers for home DIY in Australia
Three ratcheting screwdrivers that store their bits in the handle and drive screws faster by hand — a 26-bit Milwaukee, a premium Wera and a stubby Bosch.
Socket Sets
The best socket sets for home DIY and car jobs in Australia
Three socket sets ranked for home DIY and the odd car job — an all-round pick, a broad-coverage bulk kit and a compact grab-and-go.
Woodworking Clamps
The best woodworking clamps for DIY glue-ups and holding
A six-pack of bar and spring clamps, one-handed Irwin quick clamps and a twenty-pack of spring clamps — three ways to hold a woodworking glue-up steady.
Screw Extractors
The best screw extractor sets for broken and stripped fasteners
Three easy-out sets that drill out and back a snapped screw or stripped bolt — a cheap all-rounder, a buy-once trade set and the widest spiral spread.
Bolt Extractors
The best bolt extractor sets for rounded and seized bolts
Three bolt extractor sets that bite into stripped, rusted and rounded fasteners — a budget kit, a tight-space set and the pick for most home sheds.
What to look for in hand tools
Buy once, buy decent
Hand tools don't wear out the way power tools do — a good hammer or set of pliers lasts decades. It's the one place where spending a bit more pays off for years.
Handle and grip
A handle that fills your hand and doesn't slip when it's sweaty saves blisters and accidents. Fibreglass and steel handles take more abuse than timber.
The right size
A 16oz claw hammer suits most home jobs; screwdrivers want to match the screw head exactly to avoid chewing it. Wrong-sized tools do more harm than good.
Replaceable blades
On a utility knife, a snap-off or replaceable blade is always sharp and cheap to refresh. A blunt blade slips — that's how people cut themselves.