Hand Tools

Hand Tools buying guide

Veldkraft lists 1 315 hand tools, priced from R0 to R17 081, from brands including Jonnesway, Kaufmann X Outdoor, Gedore Red, Positec. Orders are delivered to all nine provinces and to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini.

Start with the tools you use weekly

Buy hand tools for the jobs you do every week first, then add specialist tools as the work demands. On a farm or in a workshop that means the spanner and socket sizes on your machinery, an adjustable wrench, files and a brick bolster. This range covers Gedore Red combination spanners and half-inch drive sockets, Kaufmann X Outdoor wrenches, Afile files, Aftool bolsters and Mitco rivet guns, plus cordless and corded power tools.

Get spanner and socket sizes right

Measure the fasteners on your equipment before buying single spanners or sockets. Metric sizes such as 14mm, 17mm, 18mm, 24mm and 28mm are listed individually, so you can fill gaps in an existing set. Combination spanners have an open end and a ring end of the same size. Half-inch drive sockets suit larger nuts and higher torque. Bi-hex (12-point) types engage at more angles, while 6-point types grip worn or tight nuts better.

Cordless or corded power tools?

Choose cordless when you work away from a plug point and corded when you need continuous power at a bench. The range includes 18V brushless cordless tools, such as impact drills, SDS Plus rotary hammers and random orbit sanders, and mains-powered tools such as a 230mm angle grinder, palm sander and oscillating tool. Brushless motors generally run cooler and do more work per charge. Bare tool listings come without a battery or charger, so check battery voltage and fit first.

Match the power tool to the material

Pick the tool for the material and the cut. An angle grinder cuts and grinds steel and masonry with the correct disc; a 230mm grinder makes deeper cuts but is heavy, so use both hands. An SDS Plus rotary hammer drills concrete and brick far more easily than a standard drill. Random orbit sanders remove material quickly with a smooth finish, palm sanders suit light finishing, and oscillating tools make plunge cuts in tight spots.

Files, rivet guns and specialist tools

Keep a few specialist tools for maintenance jobs that come up often. Engineering files, such as a three-square second-cut file, deburr metal and touch up saw teeth. A hand rivet gun joins sheet metal where you cannot reach the back, which helps on gutters, ducting and trailer panels. A brick bolster splits bricks and cuts chases in masonry. A digital hand tally counter keeps count of livestock, bags or bales as they pass.

Look after tools and stay safe

Store tools clean and dry, and oil bare steel before long storage to stop rust. Keep lithium-ion batteries partly charged and out of direct sun and hot vehicles. Replace sockets and spanners that slip, as they round off fasteners and skin knuckles. Wear eye protection when grinding, drilling masonry or striking a bolster, and hearing protection on long grinding jobs. Keep guards on grinders and remove the battery or plug before changing discs or bits.

Hand Tools: common questions

Which hand tools should a farm workshop have?

A practical starter kit covers combination spanners and half-inch drive sockets in the metric sizes on your tractors and bakkies, an adjustable wrench, a couple of engineering files, a rivet gun and a brick bolster. Add a cordless impact drill and an angle grinder for most maintenance and building jobs, then buy single sizes as gaps appear.

What is the difference between 6-point and 12-point sockets?

A 6-point socket grips the flats of a nut and is less likely to round off a tight or worn fastener, so it suits high-torque work. A 12-point, or bi-hex, socket engages at twice as many angles, which helps in tight spaces where you can only swing the wrench a short way. Keep both for general farm and vehicle work.

What does bare tool mean on a power tool listing?

Bare tool, or tool only, means the listing includes the tool itself without a battery or charger. It suits buyers who already own batteries from the same platform and voltage. Check that your battery matches the tool's voltage and system before ordering, or buy a compatible battery pack separately.

Is a brushless drill worth it?

For regular use, usually yes. Brushless motors have no carbon brushes to wear out, generally run cooler and get more work from each charge than brushed motors. They suit frequent drilling, driving and hammer work. For occasional light jobs around the house, a brushed tool may be enough.

How much do hand tools cost in South Africa?

Veldkraft lists 1 315 hand tools priced from R0 to R17 081. Single sockets, files and small items sit at the low end. Price rises with size and drive, and for power tools with motor type, voltage and whether a battery and charger are included; brushless kits with batteries cost more than bare tools.

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