Carpenter Tools Australia — a practical guide for Australian trades from the team at Power Tools Direct Australia.
Framing and finish carpentry tools in buying order, plus why Australian hardwood changes what you should spend on blades and fixings.
Carpenter Tools Australia: In this guide
- Two different jobs under one name
- Hand tools
- Cordless power tools, in buying order
- Australian hardwood changes the calculus
- Setting out and layout
Two different jobs under one name
Framing carpentry and finish carpentry demand different tools and different tolerances. Framing rewards speed and power; finishing rewards accuracy and clean cuts. Most Australian carpenters do both, often on the same job.
Hand tools
- Hammer — a 20–24 oz framing hammer, plus a lighter finish hammer. See hammers and demolition tools
- Tape measures — 8 m for general work, 5 m for fit-out
- Combination square and framing square — the squares do the thinking
- Sliding bevel for transferring angles
- Spirit levels — 600 mm, 1200 mm and a torpedo
- Chisels — a sharp set of four, and something to sharpen them with
- Block plane — the fastest way to fit a door or ease an edge
- Utility knife, pencils, chalk line, string line
- Nail punch set and a cat’s paw
Cordless power tools, in buying order
- Combi drill and impact driver twin kit — the best value entry
- Circular saw — 184 mm brushless for framing
- Mitre saw — 216 mm slider covers almost all trim
- Nail guns — framing gun and a 16-gauge finish gun
- Recip saw — demolition and awkward cuts
- Multi tool — the problem solver
- Router or trimmer — hinges, edges, joinery
- Random orbit sander — finishing
A sharp chisel and a well-tuned block plane will fix problems that no amount of cordless power can. Learn to sharpen early.
Australian hardwood changes the calculus
Seasoned hardwood is unforgiving. Blades blunt faster, nailers struggle, screws snap, and pre-drilling becomes routine rather than optional.
Buy blades and bits accordingly — quality TCT blades and impact-rated fixings are not extravagance here, they are the minimum for the material.
Setting out and layout
A cross line laser pays for itself the first time you set out a room alone. A quality chalk line and a decent string line still earn their place for long runs.
Stair gauges, a good rafter square and a set of trammel points cost very little and turn awkward jobs into straightforward ones.
Carrying it
Most carpenters run a belt for framing and a tote or bag for fit-out, with the heavy tools in the vehicle. See ute and van setup.
Building a carpentry kit?
Saws, nailers, levels and hand tools — free delivery on orders over $1,000.
The bottom line
Framing and finish carpentry tools in buying order, plus why Australian hardwood changes what you should spend on blades and fixings. Everything we sell is genuine Australian stock with full manufacturer warranty, dispatched same day on orders placed before 1pm AEST from our Sydney warehouse. Standard delivery is $15.99, express is $32.55, and delivery is free on orders over $1,000.
Not sure which option suits your work? Talk to our team — we are tradies too. You can also browse the full power tool range, read the FAQs, or set up a trade account for ongoing pricing.
Frequently asked questions
What should a carpenter buy after the drill and impact driver?
A circular saw. It unlocks framing and sheet work and is the tool you will reach for daily.
Do I need both a framing and a finish nailer?
If you do both types of work, yes. A framing gun cannot do trim and a brad nailer cannot hold structure.
Is a track saw worth it for a carpenter?
If you break down sheet goods regularly, absolutely. For pure framing, a standard circular saw is better.
Keep reading
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