DO IT
ESSENTIAL TOOLKIT
THE POWER SEVEN
THESE MUST-HAVE WORKSHOP WONDERS
WILL SHIFT YOUR DIY INTO HIGH GEAR
Words GUN ARVIDSSEN
3
D
iscover how simple
and fun it can be to
assemble furniture,
perform basic home
maintenance or put
together carpentry projects when
you harness the power of these seven
essential DIY tools. You won’t just be
avoiding blisters from sawing piles of
timber by hand or hacking away at
old grout – these workshop helpers
will give you the ability to tackle more
ambitious tasks than ever before.
1 Cordless drill
Invaluable for both creating holes
and driving screws, a cordless drill
is a tool you’ll wonder how you lived
without. Andrew Murray at Ozito says,
“A two-speed gearbox allows more
control, as the first gear gives you a
slower RPM [revolutions per minute]
and delivers more torque [rotational
force] as you drive screws. The
second gear has higher RPM,
allowing you to drill holes in harder
materials such as steel.”
Why you need it: Using a hex bit,
it helps you put flatpack furniture
together at lightning speed!
Photography Getty Images. Some photographs
feature products from suppliers other than Bunnings.
2 Jigsaw
Compact and versatile, a jigsaw can
swiftly cut through timber, plywood,
melamine and other materials. Its
narrow blade tackles curves and
complicated shapes, but it’s great for
straight lines, too. A base plate can
also be tilted to make bevelled cuts.
Pendulum action, a feature of many
jigsaws, makes the end of the blade
tip back and forth as well as going
up and down, resulting in a more
aggressive cutting action. However,
for the neatest cuts – or when working
with brittle materials such as acrylic
– it’s best to keep pendulum action off.
Why you need it: Amazing at cutting
curves in sheet materials.
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3 Angle grinder
This is an unsung hero when it comes
to DIY tasks around the home. While
it’s well known for cutting and grinding
metal and masonry – for example,
when you need to trim a steel bracket
for an awkward custom fit – its high
revs make it brilliant for a variety of
other applications. With a stripping
disc attached, it can remove moss or
paint, while a diamond multi blade is
suitable for everything from masonry,
stainless steel and reinforced concrete
to timber with nails in it. For safety,
always disconnect the power plug or
remove the battery before changing
the wheel on an angle grinder.
Why you need it: Slices through
metal like butter.
1 Ozito ‘PXC’ 18V 13mm brushless hammer
drill kit, $169, I/N: 0299322 (accessories not
shown). 2 Bosch ‘GST 18 V-LI B’ 18V 23mm jigsaw
with accessory set, $305/skin only (battery and
charger sold separately), I/N: 0111172. 3 Ryobi
‘ONE+’ 18V 115mm R18AG4115-0 angle grinder,
$147/skin only (battery and charger sold
separately), I/N: 0226548. 4 Makita 320W corded
multi function tool, $274, I/N: 0244679. 5 Dremel
‘8220-1/28’ 10.8V lithium-ion cordless rotary tool,
$222, I/N: 6280071. 6 Ryobi ‘ONE+’ 18V palm
sander kit, $169, I/N: 0249430 (accessories
not shown). 7 Ozito 185mm circular saw, $59,
I/N: 0314984. Some products are not available
at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.
Keep in mind…
When using power tools, always wear the
recommended safety gear and always follow the
manufacturer’s instructions for set-up and use.
n If using a drill or circular saw to cut timber,
work in a well-ventilated area.
n
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