Are you a tradie? It can be a challenging, dirty gig, depending on your field of expertise. But if you love working with your hands, fixing problems, troubleshooting, and creating things, then it can truly be a dream job. Add the fact that many tradies are also self-employed, running their own business and employing other qualified tradespeople and even apprentices, then the appeal of working in trades grows tenfold. For those of us with entrepreneurial drives, this beats a 9-5 office job any day of the week.
But there naturally has to be a fair amount of set-up when establishing your own business as a tradesperson. Part of being a successful tradie means ensuring you’ve got the right tool for the job – with every job. Sometimes, it also pays to invest in the latest industry technology, just to ensure that you can deliver the same standards as your local competitors.
All enterprising tradespeople should keep a well-stocked toolbox or ensure that your work vehicle has all the equipment required for the particular task – from plumbing to carpentry to wiring and appliance repair.
This helpful article is going to look at the year ahead and advise on the top equipment and supplies to update in 2024. Continue reading to learn what equipment and supplies you should be looking to update this year as a tradesperson.
A Torque Wrench Set
Depending on your trade, you’ll definitely need to update your torque wrench sets in 2024.
A torque wrench comes in a variety of different sizes and lengths and is typically used for a straightforward action: tightening or loosening nuts and bolts. A plumber would use wrenches on a regular basis, as would an automotive mechanic, fitter, or tradie working on oil rigs or with massive machinery.
Depending on the size of your bolt or nut to loosen or tighten, you will most likely need to own a few different wrench sets to ensure you have the correct wrench for each job. When it comes to length, the longer the wrench arm, the more torque you’ll have for the task.
Power Drills and Impact Drivers
The next tradie essential tool to update is a power drill. The batteries in power drills tend to wear out over time, which is why it’s recommended that you update your drill every few years. You might also opt for a corded drill, as well, providing that the job sites you’re working on have mains power. And while you’re securing a new drill, you may even look to invest in some more drill bits as well.
Similarly, impact drivers experience a similar rate of wear and tear to power drills. So why not treat yourself to a new impact driver as well? This tool will quickly and efficiently install screws into the holes made by your power drill. An impact driver will save you time and won’t wear you out like manual screwing will, so invest in a new one now.
A New Tape Measure or a Laser Measure
Don’t sleep on the humble tape measure as a tradie tool essential. A tape measure will allow you to measure the distance between two points, which is precisely what you need for all trade work. If you do a lot of measurements and quotes for your customers, to save time and effort, you might consider investing in a laser measure, which will provide pinpoint accuracy in half the time it will take you to measure by hand – or even less.
Investing in one of these new-fangled measures isn’t entirely necessary though, so if you don’t think you could benefit from the extra streamlined measurements process, then stick with your trusty tape measure. Just be sure to inspect it to make sure that none of the numbers and markings are fading. A measure that can’t measure effectively is guaranteed to be of no use to you, so you might as well update it now as well.
For the Carpenter – Update Your Saws
If you’re a carpenter, you need a trusty set of saws. Ideally, you’d want power saws as they save money and time, but if you make fine furniture or work restoring antiques, then a hand saw may be preferable for precision and control. From framing houses to mounting doors, a new saw set should be on your list of tool updates for this year.
If you’re not sure where to start with securing a new saw or set of saws, then we strongly recommend heading to your local hardware store. Saws are rarely something you’d want to buy online, as it’s better to be able to feel the weight of these tools for yourself – especially if you’re working in carpentry and will be using your new saw on a daily basis.
A New Toolbox
Every tradesperson needs a toolbox. Depending on the type of work you do, this might be a portable toolbox that you can take onto job sites, or it might be an aftermarket addition to your ute, van or truck. It needs to hold all your tools, be lockable for security, and be sturdy enough to survive an accidental drop or bump on the job site.
If your toolbox is worn out, faded or otherwise looking a bit sorry for itself, then be sure to invest in a brand-new one in 2024 to start the year out right.
A Spirit Level
No trade worth their salt would be seen dead on the job without an accurate spirit level. This essential tool allows you to determine if something is level – and is a must-have tool for all framing, cabinet making, home repairs and all construction work. A laser level is an upgrade that is high-tech and worth the investment if you’re fair dinkum about your line of work.
A Multimeter
If you provide any electrical or mechanical work, then you will absolutely need to invest in a new multimeter to improve your output in 2024. These nifty electrical devices are a must-have for all tradespeople that can expect to work with electrical currents or powerpoints in their working environments.
And contrary to popular belief, multimeters can actually be used for a wide variety of jobs across a range of trades. For instance, electricians can use multimeters to conduct electrical safety tests on residential, commercial, or industrial properties. Mechanics can also use multimeters to perform myriad tasks, ranging from checking the voltage of car batteries, to repairing gauge clusters in vehicles.
And there you have it – the top tradie essentials that you should strongly consider upgrading in 2024. Whether you add all of these to your hardware store shopping list or just one or two, rest assured that you will be setting yourself up for success this calendar year.
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