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An image of two tradies, one in in a navy shirt and cap with a tool belt over his shoulder and looking to the left,  and the other one in yellow hi-vis with a tool belt around his waist and looking to camera
 
New year, new tools! A sparky and carpenter-joiner share the brands and best power tool combo kits that are top of their back-to-work essentials list for 2025.
 

Paul Fleischer, electrician from Sunshine Coast, Qld

After living and working in most states and territories over his 25-year career, electrician Paul Fleischer set up his business, J&P Electrical, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast eight years ago. He does everything from commercial work to installing power points, usually with a DeWALT power tool in his hand.

“When I first started my apprenticeship, everyone in my company used a different brand,” Paul says. “I went to a store, but there was none of that brand. The guy recommended DeWALT gear, so I bought the big kit. Within, I reckon, six weeks, everyone in the company (there were six of us) went out and bought DeWALT stuff because their batteries were taking three hours to charge where mine were only taking an hour at that time. It changed all of their approach to the business – it was a massive turnaround. I still use the brand a lot to this day.”

We asked Paul to run us through his must-have DeWALT power tool kit and share his best tips for using them on the jobsite.

Tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (work bootssafety glassesglovesear muffs and a mask, for example) and follow Safe Work Australia best practices when on a work or building site.

A close-up image of a man wearing a navy blue polo shirt and glasses uses a DeWALT drill to do some unfinished wiring work

The Kit

DeWALT 18V/54V 5.0Ah/6.0Ah DCZ407P1T1-XE XR Mixed Voltage 4 Piece Combo Kit

The specs

DCD1007 18V Brushless 3 Speed Hammer Drill Driver features an all-metal transmission
DCF860 3 Speed Impact Driver delivers 282Nm of torque in a 123mm compact body
DCF892 18V XR Impact Wrench with Detent Pin Anvil features 812Nm of fastening torque and 1084Nm of maximum breakaway torque in a 175mm-long body
DCG418 54V 125mm Angle Grinder delivers corded equivalent power with a no-load speed of 9000 rpm to deliver ultimate performance
Dimensions: 340mm (width), 280mm (height), 565mm (length)
Weight: 14.5kg (total)

Why this tool is on my essentials list

“The DeWALT Power Tool Combo Kit is an all-rounder that has me covered in most situations. There are step drills now, so we can drill some holes with the impact driver, but you still need a drill with a chuck to fit most hole saws and for cutting downlights or drilling through things.”

What it’s good for

“The drill function is great for drilling holes through timber or into switchboards. I use the impact driver when we’re feeding off power points and switches and screwing in light fittings.” 

Handy tips

“I like the fact that they’ve got the clips on them that are on your tool belt, so you can wear a tool belt and house both drills. And there’s a magnet on the side of the impact driver. If you need a second drill bit, like a roof screw, in another size, you can use the magnet to hold your roof screw as a backup. It saves you going back down the ladder.” 

An image of an electrician wearing a blue polo shirt and shorts, glasses and a navy baseball cap uses a DeWALT multitool to carry out electrical work on a wall socket

The specs

The Quick-Change™ accessory system allows you to change blades quickly and easily, and with the universal accessory adaptor, it’s compatible with most oscillating tool accessories
The DUAL-GRIP™ variable speed trigger provides ultimate speed and application control
Bright LED light illuminates dark work surfaces for accurate cutting
Universal Accessory Adapter for use with most oscillating tool accessory brands
Dimensions: 155mm (width), 80mm (height), 310mm (length)
Weight: 1.68kg

Why this tool is on my essentials list

“I’m probably showing my age, but it’s come on the market in the last 10 years and really taken over. It’s helpful in a lot of different situations and it’s quite safe to use.”

What it’s good for

“If someone in an architecturally designed house has a wall that’s not made of plaster, you can’t use a standard plaster saw to cut your points out. In these situations, the DeWALT Multi Tool makes a nice clean cut. It’s also a useful power tool when I’m cutting through big conduits in a civil situation, like in a trench where you can’t get a saw in and it’s too big for a set of other tools. The DeWALT Multi Tool is something we can use to cut the conduit – sometimes it’s the only tool you can use in those situations.”

Handy tip

“When you see it in the picture, the blade is facing forward, but it’s a universal blade so you can swing it 90 degrees either way to get into those harder to reach spots.”

But wait, there’s more in Paul’s toolbox …

Full Boar Power Auger 6 Piece Drill Bit Set

“They’re stronger than standard drill bits, so if you hit nails and things, they just keep going and there’s less replacement.”

Makita 18V DVC750LZX1 Brushless Wet/Dry Dust Extractor (Skin Only)

“We put them in all our vans so we can clean up and keep the owners happy at the end of a job.”

DeWALT 30m Laser Measurer

“A great tool for quoting – instead of running a tape measure around jobs, simply push the button and she’s measuring for you.” 

A man wearing a hi-vis long-sleeved top, safety glasses, ear protection and a baseball cap smiles at the camera while holding a Makita drill up to the side of a white cabinet

Nick Monteleone, carpenter-joiner from Canberra, ACT

With a bread and butter set-up in kitchen, bathroom and laundry renovations, NM Carpentry and Joinery owner Nick Monteleone has been on the tools for 15 years, working on predominantly house interiors – and there’s one brand he’s had since the very beginning. “I’ve been using Makita since day one,” he says. He gives us the lowdown on his back-to-work toolbox must-haves, including his favourite power tool combo kit. 

A close-up image of a man wearing a hi-vis long-sleeved shirt, safety glasses and ear protection drills into a piece of wood using a Makita hammer drill

The kit

Makita 18V DLX2455T 2 Piece Brushless Combo Kit

The specs

Kit includes a DHP486Z hammer driver drill, DTD172Z impact driver, rapid charger, 2 x 5.0Ah batteries and carry case
All tools are compatible with the Makita 18V and 2X18V range
The batteries supplied are 5.0ah and compatible with all star compliant Makita tools
The brushless motors allow for longer running times with cooler temperatures
The hard carry case holds the tools and allows for safe transportation
Dimensions: 500mm (width), 370mm (height), 140mm (depth)
Weight: 8.17kg (total)

Why this tool is on my essentials list

“Without the Makita Power Tool Combo Kit, I basically couldn’t do what I do – I use it for everything. My drill and impact driver are the two most important tools that I use every day and I’ve only gone through two impact drivers – the original one I still have and it still works, I just use the updated one now. The brand has never let me down, they’ve always been reliable for me.”

What it’s good for

“When I’m installing kitchens, bathrooms and laundries, I use the drill to drill out plumbing holes and electrical holes. I use the impact driver to screw cabinetry and carcasses together (when I am building kitchens), as well as for screwing down decks and pergolas.”

Handy tip 

“Maintenance is key – if you look after your tools, they’re going to look after you. I am not saying I have babied them, I’ve probably been pretty hard on them, but I try to give them a blowout from time to time and give them a spray with silicone spray. It works really well on my tools.” 

A close-up image of a man’s arms and torso region using a Makita planer

High-powered motor allows maximum 3mm cutting depth
12,000rpm no load speed with Automatic Torque Drive performance
Left or right side chip ejection
Auto-start Wireless System (AWS) for on-demand dust extraction*
Electric brake and foot on base plate protect workpiece from damage
Dimensions: 195mm (width), 200mm (height), 385mm (depth)
Weight: 4.28kg (total)

Why this tool is on my essentials list

“Planers were one of the last tools to switch over to batteries. Once the Makita planer came out, it meant I didn’t have to run a lead for most of my day-to-day cabinetry work. It’s just so much easier.” 

What it’s good for

“I use the Makita planer for everything. In kitchens, I use it when I’m leveling kickboards at the bottom of cabinets, planing in end panels on the sides of cabinetry and smoothing filler panels that butt up against walls. And the same for when I’m doing small pre-sheets in bathrooms and laundries.”  

Handy tip

“The Makita planer has a handy feature where you can change the side where the dust goes out. So instead of it blowing towards your face, you can turn it the other way. Another great feature is the cordless connection that you can use to connect it to the Makita vacuum so it cordlessly turns on once you’re connected to the vacuum.”

But wait, there’s more in Nick’s toolbox…

Makita 18v DSS611Z 165mm Circular Saw (Skin Only)

“It’s lightweight with an ergonomic design – very easy to use.”

IRWIN Retractable Safety Knife

“I use it for everything, from opening up boxes to sharpening my pencil.”

*AWS receiver sold separately.

Now that you’ve got your back to work power tools sorted …

We chat to experts from MYOB, Xero and Tradie Coach on how to set your business up for success in 2025.

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Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.