10 must-have tools for farmers

If you’ve been in the farming game for a while, no doubt you’ve accumulated a shed-load of tools, some of which might be a bit dated and old.

Or you might be at the other end of the spectrum where you’re still finding your feet in the industry and trying to acquire some tools of the trade, but not quite sure what to look for.

Regardless of your circumstances, it is important to have a set of modern, updated tools that are ideally multi-purpose where possible so you’re not cluttering your shed.

We spoke to Bunnings’ current Head of Marketing & Merchandise for New Zealand and former Tools Category Manager for Australia, Cameron Rist, for his top 10 suggestions.

"Cargo cases are great for farmers who may leave their tools outdoors and want to protect them from extreme weather conditions," Rist says.

"They can also be used to store farm food."

Look for features such as high strength, recessed locks, UV stabilisation and – if you plan on using more than one case – interlocking ribs for secure stacking.

Also consider decent weather seals for dust and/or water and look out for material that is chemical and oil resistant like polyethylene plastic.

Pictured: Pelican 1240 x 620 x 450mm grey cargo case, Price: $419, available at Bunnings and other selected hardware stores.

Farmers were among the first to recognise the potential of drones, and they are now being used for a multitude of tasks from scoping out large paddocks and managing livestock to crop monitoring, irrigation mapping and even spraying. Some users are even herding sheep using drones outfitted with a speaker that barks like a dog!

Whatever the application, we're hearing stories from farmers of drones paying for themselves 10 to 20 times over.

The DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone pictured here is a popular model that has a 20MP Hasselblad camera for crisp photos and 4K video capture. It can fly at speeds of up to 80km/h for 31 minutes and has low-noise propellers so you won't spook your livestock too much.

Pictured: DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone, Price: $2499, available at Camera Warehouse and other selected electronics stores.

Rist says a heavy-duty impact wrench makes it easy to tighten or remove bolts on your tractor or other agricultural machinery.

Simply put, an impact wrench is a socket wrench power tool that stores energy and releases it all in short-burst concussive blows (impacts) against the output shaft. Combined with high torque, it delivers unparalleled power and puts a lot more force on the bolt or nut that you are trying to tighten or loosen.

For farm use, you might want to go for a battery-powered model – most are 18V these days – with a built-in work light and a fastening torque of at least 200Nm.

Pictured: Makita LXT 18V impact wrench – skin only, Price: $189, available at Bunnings and other selected hardware stores.

"This is an easy and cost-effective way to remove steel posts from the ground for re-use," Rist says.

Post lifters are simple tools, consisting of an upright and a long lever with a gripping jaw. To operate them, you simply raise the handle, place the jaw around the post and lever the handle downward to lift the post. Then repeat the process until the post is extracted.

For big jobs like road signs or metal structures, you can also buy powered heavy-duty lifters from companies like Atlas Copco.

Pictured: Star Picket Post Lifter, Price: $134.95, available at RSEA Safety.

A post driver is one of those tools that is simple in design and easy to use but is incredibly versatile.

As the name suggests, it drives steel posts into the ground. You simply position the post, place the driver over it and drive the post into the ground by raising the driver and hammering it down.

To reduce strain, look for a post driver with a balanced head and handles.

Pictured: Whites 60cm Blue Fencing Accessory Post Driver, Price: $79.98, available at Bunnings.

First, make sure the cleaner you are picking is indeed high pressure or has enough pressure to do the job you want to do.

Rist recommends a model like the Karcher 3400psi High Pressure Petrol Cleaner as it has "extremely high pressure to clean away strong residue build-up on heavy machinery."

Based on a rugged steel frame and featuring on-board detergent storage, the unit uses a Honda GC 190 motor to deliver a mighty 3400psi of pressure.

Not bad when you compare it to the 1600psi of entry-level 'high-pressure' models.

Pictured: Karcher 3400psi high-pressure petrol cleaner, Price: $999, available at Bunnings and other selected hardware stores.

"Air compressors are easy to use and handy for a variety of tasks such as inflating tyres and operating low-volume air tools like staplers, nailers and more," Rist says.

In the interest of health and safety, you should consider a silent model, but what is considered 'silent'?

As an example, the pictured AEG 60L 3.0HP silent air compressor has a maximum pressure of 145psi and a free air delivery rate of 240L/min with a noise level of 71.89dB – about the same as a vacuum cleaner. That's four times quieter than the company's 2.85HP 50L V-Twin model, which has the same maximum pressure and a lower delivery rate of 200L/min.

Pictured: AEG 60L 3.0HP silent air compressor, Price: $849, available at Bunnings

A cordless drill is admittedly one of those tools you will have and keep for the rest of your life, especially if you get a really good one, because of how versatile it is.

With a cordless drill you can drill holes; saw large holes; drive screws and other fasteners; mix paint; grind metal; remove rust and more. Some slightly unconventional uses or ‘hacks’ include twisting wires, re-spooling cables, scrubbing, driving a rotisserie ... you name it.

For the farm, look for the more-powerful 18V models. Also consider brushless models, which are more compact, have better run times and generate less heat. Choosing a kit with multiple tools (such as the pictured Makita hammer drill and impact driver combo), spare batteries and a variety of bits can save you money in the long run.

Pictured: Makita 18V 3.0Ah 2-Piece Cordless Brushless Combo Kit, Price: $349, available at TradeTools.

As a farmer, you're bound to have a variety of hand and powered saws in the shed. But for sheer power and speed, you should consider adding a cordless reciprocating saw to your arsenal.

These saws are beasts, best suited to rough work and are able to cut through just about anything – even timber embedded with nails. They're also able to be used in tight spaces where other saws can't be used.

Some uses of the cordless reciprocating saw include cutting tree branches and firewood, cutting PVC piping and trimming concrete. The tool is widely used in the construction space as much as in the ag sector.

Pictured: Makita LXT 18V brushless cordless reciprocating saw – skin only, Price: $349, available at Bunnings and other selected hardware stores.

If you find yourself fumbling through boxes of hex keys, spanners and sockets every time you need to do some maintenance on your machine, do yourself a favour and get a professional socket set that places everything you need at your fingertips.

Sets such as this Kincrome 165 piece set has any size socket you need, both in metric and imperial sizing, to tackle any job you can imagine.

Look for durable, chrome-plated and corrosion-resistant components housed in a sturdy case.

Pictured: Kincrome 165 Piece 1/4" 3/8" 1/2" Drive Metric and Imperial Socket Set, Price: $319, avaialble from Bunnings and other selected hardware stores.