The Apprentice Hub

Section

Tools & gear

What to buy, what to skip, and what to ask your boss for first. Budget, good and premium picks for every list.

First-year electrical apprentice tool list

Start with a basic insulated hand tool kit: screwdrivers, side cutters, pliers, wire strippers, a tape measure, a torch and steel-cap boots. Hold off on multimeters and testers until your employer tells you to buy one, and remember your boss must supply PPE free of charge under WHS law. Keep every receipt: tools are tax deductible, and WA apprentices can claim up to $1,000 back through the Construction Training Fund.

First-year plumbing apprentice tool list

A first year plumbing apprentice needs a basic hand tool kit: tape measure, hacksaw, PVC cutters, multigrips, pipe wrenches, levels, files, screwdrivers and a hammer, plus the right PPE. Before you spend big, know two things: the Plumbing Award says your employer must reimburse you or pay a weekly tool allowance (currently $22.96, built into apprentice rates as a percentage) if they require you to supply tools, and required PPE on site is the employer's responsibility under WHS law. State rebates like WA's $2,000 Apprentice Tool Allowance can cover most of the rest.

First-year carpentry apprentice tool list

A first year carpentry apprentice needs a core hand tool kit covering measuring, marking, cutting and fixing: tape measure, pencil and chalk line, speed square, hammer, chisels, handsaw, utility knife and a nail bag that fits. Before any of that matters you need a white card, the legal construction induction that lets you set foot on site. Budget roughly $400 to $800 for the starter kit, keep every receipt, and check your state's tool rebate scheme before you spend a cent of your own.

Best work boots for apprentices

Buy boots certified to AS 2210.3 (the Australian safety footwear standard), in the class your trade needs, and get the fit right before you worry about brand. Before you spend a cent, check your award: under the Building and Construction On-site Award your employer must reimburse steel-cap boots when you start and replace them every 6 months, and if you do buy your own they are tax deductible.

Best tool bags for apprentices

Match the bag to your trade and your sites, not the shelf display: chippies live out of a belt and just need a transport bag, sparkies want a backpack or closed bag for ladder work, and plumbers need an open tote that copes with wet, filthy gear. Buy tough and simple for year one, keep the receipt, and check your state's tool rebate before you spend a cent of your own.

Milwaukee vs Makita vs DeWalt for apprentices

There is no single best brand out of Milwaukee, Makita and DeWalt: all three are genuine trade grade. For an apprentice the real decisions are whether you even need a cordless platform yet (most bosses supply power tools early on), which battery platform your crew already runs, and how you pay for it, because state tool rebates, award allowances and tax deductions can cover a big slice of a kit.

What tools NOT to buy yet

Hold off on test instruments, big cordless combo kits, ladders and specialty gear until you know what your employer supplies and what your trade actually expects. The list is different for every trade: a first year carpenter usually does need a solid hand tool kit early, a mechanic builds a kit gradually over four years, and an electrical apprentice should not be buying test gear at all yet. Ask before you spend, because a lot of it is supplied, covered by an allowance, or claimable.

How much should you budget for tools?

If you're directly employed in residential or small-business work, budget roughly $1,500 to $4,000 across your first year, spread out rather than spent in week one. On a commercial EBA site or through a Group Training Organisation you'll often spend far less, because the employer or GTO supplies most gear beyond basic hand tools. Whatever you spend, keep every receipt from day one: most of it comes back through allowances, state rebates and tax deductions.

First-year HVAC and refrigeration apprentice tool list

In year one you mainly need good PPE, a solid set of hand tools, and a few pipework tools like a tube cutter and flaring set. The boss usually supplies the expensive gear (vacuum pump, gauges, recovery machine, brazing kit) while you build your own kit slowly. If you supply your own tools you get the full tool allowance under the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award, and the tools you buy can be claimed back at tax time.

First-year automotive apprentice tool list

In year one you buy the everyday hand tools you use daily: sockets and spanners in metric, screwdrivers, pliers, a few key specialty bits, and good PPE. Your employer supplies the big gear like the hoist, air tools and diagnostic scanner. Start with a solid mid-range kit, keep every receipt, and build up as you go.

First-year welding and fabrication apprentice tool list

In year one you buy your own PPE and hand tools, not machines. A decent auto-darkening helmet, welding gloves and jacket, safety boots, a tape measure, squares, markers, clamps, a chipping hammer and wire brush, and an angle grinder will cover you. The shop supplies the welders, gas and consumables, so do not rush out and buy a welder of your own.

First-year painting apprentice tool list

In year one you only need a modest personal kit: a few good brushes, roller gear, cutting-in and prep tools, a couple of scrapers and filling knives, a tape measure, a utility knife and your PPE. Expect to spend a few hundred dollars building it up over the first months, not thousands. The big and expensive gear (ladders, scaffold, spray rigs, compressors and most consumables) is the employer's job to supply.

First-year bricklaying apprentice tool list

In year one you need a small, personal hand-tool kit: a brick trowel, a pointing trowel, spirit levels, a brick hammer and bolster with a club hammer, line and pins with line blocks, a jointer, a tape, a brush and a tough tool bag, plus your own PPE. Your boss supplies the big gear (mixer, saw, scaffold, barrows). Buy mid-range to start, keep every receipt, and claim your tools at tax time.

The best tool brands in Australia for tradies

For daily trade work, buy into one premium 18V platform and stick with it: Milwaukee M18 for sparkies, plumbers and mechanics, Makita LXT or DeWalt XR for carpenters and general building. The smartest move is to match whatever battery system your workplace or crew already uses. For home and weekend jobs, Ozito PXC or Ryobi ONE+ from Bunnings do the job for a fraction of the price.

Best cordless drill for apprentices and tradies

For most apprentices, a brushless 18V drill from Milwaukee (M18), Makita (LXT) or DeWalt (XR) is the safe buy, and the smartest move is to match whatever battery platform your boss and crew already run so you can share batteries and chargers on site. If it is your own money and light use, an Ozito PXC or Ryobi ONE+ from Bunnings does the job for a fraction of the price with a strong warranty.

Best impact driver for tradies

For most tradies, a mid-range 18V brushless impact driver on the battery platform your site already runs is the smart buy: Makita's DTD153 or DeWalt's Atomic (DCF840) hit the sweet spot on price, size and grunt. If you flog it all day and want the extra torque and drive modes, step up to a Milwaukee M18 FUEL or Makita's 4-stage DTD172. Match the battery brand first, then pick the tool.

Best cordless combo kits for apprentices

For most apprentices, a brushless 18V drill and impact driver kit on a major trade platform (Milwaukee M18, Makita LXT, or DeWalt XR) is the smart buy, but match whatever battery brand your crew already runs so you can share chargers and batteries. If you are watching every dollar or the tools are just for home and light work, Ozito PXC from Bunnings does the job for a fraction of the money.

Is Ozito any good? An honest look for tradies

Ozito is genuinely good value for what it is: a budget DIY and homeowner brand, not a trade brand. For jobs around your own house, second-string tools you use now and then, or gear you would rather not cry over if it walks off a site, it is hard to beat for the money. For daily earning-your-living work, spend the money on Milwaukee, Makita, DeWalt or Bosch and match whatever battery platform your crew already runs.

Best work pants for tradies

For most tradies the FXD WP-3 stretch work pant is the safe bet: tough cotton canvas with proper stretch, reinforced pockets and knee panels, and a fit that lasts. If you want a cargo with padded knee pockets, look at the Bisley Flex and Move range. Chasing summer comfort, go the KingGee Workcool. Buy on fit and fabric weight, not on price alone, and always check the current price before you commit.

Best hi-vis workwear for tradies

For most tradies the sweet spot is a two-tone, taped, day/night work shirt from Bisley, Hard Yakka Koolgear or KingGee Workcool: vented cotton, UPF50+, and compliant with AS/NZS 4602.1. Spend the money on a shirt that breathes and fits, and keep a cheap day/night vest in the ute for site inductions and quick jobs. Only pay for taped hi-vis if your site actually requires it.

Best tool belts and rigs for tradies

For most tradies, a modular rig beats a cheap fixed belt: a padded belt with proper suspenders and pouches you can move or swap. If you want buy-once-cry-once and you are on the tools all day, an Australian-made Buckaroo leather setup is hard to beat. If you want lightweight and modular, look at Diamondback (nylon) or a ToughBuilt ClipTech set from Bunnings. Spend on the belt and back support first, not the number of pockets.

Best knee pads for tradies

For most tradies a mid-range gel-and-foam pad does the job: the Milwaukee Performance or the ToughBuilt GelFit Stabilizer are both safe buys. If you spend all day down on your knees (tilers, floorers, sparkies crawling ceilings), skip the strap-on pads and go for a wedge-style pad like the Fento 200 Pro. For full-day flooring where the pad is basically part of your kit, the ProKnee AP16 is the one worth the money.

Best work socks for tradies

For most tradies, a bamboo work sock is the go: it wicks sweat, fights odour, and keeps your feet dry in a hot boot far better than cotton. Grab a multipack from Tradie, Hard Yakka or Bisley for value, or step up to FXD, Blundstone or Steel Blue bamboo if you flog your socks. Cold or wet work is the one case where Australian made merino wool wins.

Best safety sunglasses for tradies

Buy safety sunglasses that carry both stamps: AS/NZS 1337.1 medium impact for the debris and a proper tinted UV lens for the sun. For most tradies the Bolle Silium+ or Rush+ in smoke is the best value, with UV Wraps from Bunnings as a cheap spare and Ugly Fish as the Aussie premium pick (including bifocal readers if your close-up vision has gone). Only pay extra for polarised if you work in glare and do not spend the day reading screens or laser levels.

Best work lights for tradies

For most tradies the smart buy is a light that runs on the battery platform you already own: a Milwaukee M18 or Makita LXT area light if you are on those tools, plus a good USB-C head torch for hands-free work in tight spots. Ledlenser owns the head torch space in Australia, and Ozito's Power X Change lights are the honest budget pick if you are not on a premium platform. Match the battery first, chase lumens second.

Best work gloves for tradies

For most tradies, a nitrile-dipped knit glove is the everyday pick: cheap enough to run through, grippy in the wet, and lets you feel what you are doing. Force360 Coolflex AGT and Mechanix Wear are safe bets. Step up to a cut-rated glove (cut level D or E, or Milwaukee's Cut 5) when you handle sheet metal, blades, or glass, and keep a pair of leather riggers for rough demo and timber work.

The best gifts for an apprentice or tradie

For most apprentices, spend on the boring stuff they use every day: a good pair of AS 2210 safety boots (Blundstone or Steel Blue) or a solid folding utility knife like the Milwaukee Fastback. If you want to buy a power tool, match the battery brand their workplace already runs (Milwaukee, Makita or DeWalt) rather than picking a brand yourself. Skip novelty "tradie" gift packs.

First-year tiling apprentice tool list

First year tiling apprentices mostly need hand tools: tape, trowels, grout float, buckets, levels, a score and snap cutter, nippers and good knee pads. Your employer supplies the big gear like wet saws and mixers, so do not blow thousands before you start.

First-year plastering apprentice tool list

First year plasterers need hand tools, not machines: a knife, tapes, broadknives, a hawk and trowel, sanding gear and a screw gun will cover most of year one. Expect a few hundred dollars to start, and let the specialist and battery gear come later or from the boss.

First-year cabinet making apprentice tool list

First-year cabinet making apprentices need accurate measuring and marking gear, a starter set of chisels, a cordless drill and impact driver, clamps, and proper PPE (hearing protection, safety glasses, P2 masks). The workshop supplies all the big machinery, so do not blow thousands before you know what your shop actually uses.

First-year diesel mechanic apprentice tool list

First year you need a solid basic hand tool kit: sockets, spanners, screwdrivers, pliers, hammers and a lockable box. The workshop supplies the big and specialist gear. Buy mid range quality, not the cheapest and not the tool truck's finest, and let your kit grow with the work you are actually doing.

First-year auto electrician apprentice tool list

Year one is about a quality digital multimeter, wiring hand tools (strippers, crimpers, side cutters, soldering iron), basic sockets and spanners, and a good light. Ask your employer what they supply before buying anything big, and let the specialist gear wait.

First-year hairdressing apprentice kit list

First year, you need a basic kit: cutting and thinning scissors, combs, sectioning clips, brushes and a dryer, and many salons or TAFEs will tell you exactly what to bring. Complete apprentice kits run roughly $200 to $450, and you do not need premium shears yet.

First-year cookery apprentice knife kit list

You need a small, sharp kit: a chef's knife, paring knife, honing steel, peeler, probe thermometer, a roll to carry them, plus your uniform and non-slip shoes. A solid starter kit costs far less than people think, and the kitchen supplies almost everything else.