Costs in Australia

I noticed a few aussie mates on this site, and had a few questions.

I have a job opportunity in Western Australia, and may be moving from the States soon. My question is, should I bring my tools with me? I understand that Australia is 220V, but my table saw and band saw can be wired as such.

My routers and hand tools are all 110 and I will have to run some sort of converter. What is the cost of hand power tools in Aus compared to the US? Should I have my stuff shipped over? (The company may pay for this) or buy 220 tools when I get there?

I'll be there on at least a 4 year work visa.

Will

I wouldn't want to be the one to tell if your tools are worth bringing with you or not but I can offer this web site for you to see prices of replacement items. http://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Woodworking
Hope this site helps you decide.

I understand that Australia is 220V, but my table saw and band saw can be wired as such. ....Will

We are 240 volts if that will make a difference. If you are going to be working in a workshop you can obtain a "step down" transformer that will convert 240V to 110V and I guess that would be an easy fix. If you are going to be working on a variety of construction sites however I think that solution would become unwieldy and you would be better off with 240V tools.

What is the cost of hand power tools in Aus compared to the US?

Probably 1/4 to 1/3 more (mostly due to a smaller market - things are cheap in USA because there are so many more buyers) ... but considering the wages being paid in the mining sector here, I don't think you'll be worried about a few hundred bucks. :grin:

Yes, we're 240v in Western Australia. Are you planning to use these tools on construction or mining sites? If yes then all power tools on WA sites must be tagged (safety checked every 3 months) by a licensed electrician prior to arriving on site. That's everything that's mains powered, including battery chargers, radios etc. I don't know if 110v would be acceptable but if I see the electrician on site tomorrow I'll ask.
I remember that UK sites used (and maybe still do) 110v with step-down transformers. The UK is also 240v generally. But I've never seen 110v set-ups here.
Maybe you could buy a whole stack of Festo tools and pass them onto me when you're done in WA! No point taking them back to the US.

If they are " only " shed tools and don't need to be deadly accurate I'd be leaving them at home and buying cheapies from Bunnings.

The quality is getting better even if there is a gap between them and the top shelf and the replacement warranty would just about see you out until you went home.

Just a thought.

I remember that UK sites used (and maybe still do) 110v with step-down transformers.

Yep 110v on site here in the UK. I would think it is the same in Austraila, but I don't know for sure.

I've never had a job with a company saying "We'll pay for moving anything you own half round the world and then back someday." Wow. I know of one USMC officer stationed here in Sydney area; his 'gear' was moved out from Wisconsin - his Aussie RHD built-in-aussie 1964 4wd was registered there too after he purchased it here. Then he moved with his gear to a posting in Hawaii. A coupla years later he and the same gear was moved back to Melbourne in Aussie. The vehicle had its own shipping container. The vehicle in US dollars was perhaps worth US$3000 bare.

Some jobs are special.

Depends where in WA you think you'll end up...it's a huge place

Perth might be the only place to get a good choice of tools. the big mine sites/contractors may supply working tools..
the tools you buy will be a tax deduction each year,, better to buy tools than pay the Gov tax, nes pa?...
Builders over here buy a lot of tools and gear just before tax time to write them off the years income.

bring your Tele/s ...a bunch of strings and fill the case with some Levis and flash western shirts,caps, place name T's, stickers,etc, they don't have to be new... to swap/trade or give away to some of your outback workmates/indigenous crew... good ice breakers with the mob... trade for art pieces maybe... or for colder beers than the ones you have...


for work...your favourite work boots/socks, steel cap,lace up,calf length,, and good tool belt maybe.. a harness even..
your lucky zircon encrusted tweezers, some zippos ... a small magnifying glass...

foil....

You guys are assuming I'm going for mining ... well ... you're right. I'll be residing in Kalgoorlie, so maybe If I bought tools down there, I could pick them up while in Perth. They will be giving me a relocation package, so I will bring what I can. I love my routers and sanders and such, but might have to just bite the bullet and get the cheaper quality.

I am leaving my CNC router here, I guess, and am storing at a friends house. I'm currently training him how to use it. Lucky guy, I guess. I think it's just too heavy to move half way around the world.

Giving up my tools is starting to feel like giving up my 1st born.

To throw one more variable out there, the States runs at 60Hz and Aus at 50Hz, so any of your rotating tools will opperate at a lower speed.

My feeling is buy tools there, particularly if you are going for 4 years. Tools are one of the easiest things to re-sell when you are done, and the last thing you want to be dealing with when trying to pack out is more stuff. I have abandoned cars overseas to avoid the hassle.

I have taken stuff with me around the world and in the end it is more of a pain to deal with converters/transformers. If you are interesed there are plenty of websites that sell electronic goods in the US for use overseas and they ususlly have transformers as well.

Good luck and Go Pies!!

You will be able to buy tools in Kalgoorlie.

Hope you like the heat!

my yankee next door neighbour constantly kicks himself for not bringing all his stuff down. transformers are cheap mate, but you'll be on the 'mining' wage so you'll be right anyway. good on ya. hope you like beer and flys haha.

good quality battery drills are handy around the place... heavy duty ones..

a lot of guys use them now onsite so there's no leads draped everywhere... drilling, screwing, saw attachments..
mates do whole roofs.. hardwood battens and iron with DeWalt 18V drills and a few spare batteries..
they would burn makitas out...

chisels, screwdrivers, wrenches don't need power... you might need to tinker with your car or do home improvements... they don't take up too much space either..

a good fluke meter to run power checks..

no point buying everything new.... play it by ear and only get what you need and what you can't borrow from work, etc...
240V power tools aren't that expensive here for the basic level brands...

You will be able to buy tools in Kalgoorlie.

Hope you like the heat!

There are plenty of tools in Kalgoorlie. There's also working equipment.

If this is just making guitar stuff, then just get it here, and off load it before you leave.

Yes, plenty to buy in Kal - but all at mining prices, as are the prices of rent and food etc. Not a problem for someone on relocation packages, I'd assume. There's two economies in this country, one for those in mining and one for those not.

Guess which one is running a Maloo supercharged V8 Ute in lolly green.

Didn't see the electrician on site today as hoped but spoke to a couple of guys with mine site experience and was told it's 240volt tools only and I stress again they must be tagged prior to arriving on site. The guys on the gate will cut the plugs off all untagged tools, even brand new ones with receipts to prove they are new! I'd heard this before. PM me with a list before you come to Perth and I'll do some research. I'm a carpenter so I'm in the tool shops regularly. I'll give you the contact details of the electrician who tagged my tools. After that you'll have 3 months to make friends with the guys out in Kal. A carton of beer is good currency for later taggings.
4 years, eh? I'm in the 29th year of a 2 year visit!
Cheers, Ken

Drubbing, just went online and priced a Holden Maloo. WOW!!

I just need tools to continue my guitar building obsession, so I guess I'll just buy there. If tools are like anything else in Western Australia, they should hold their value for re-sell.

Drubbing, just went online and priced a Holden Maloo. WOW!!

I just need tools to continue my guitar building obsession, so I guess I'll just buy there. If tools are like anything else in Western Australia, they should hold their value for re-sell.

If you're here for 4 years, it probably easiest. Maloo's come in vomit carrot orange too, and are very popular.

Other pluses are:
You'll find out Budweiser really is the crappiest beer on the planet.
No one here drinks Foster's. For the same reason. Like Bud, we just flog it overseas to the poor saps that think we all drink it.

But if a chick invites you to a "hotel" for a drink, it's not what you think. Although in Kal it probably is. But neither will be free.

I love watching the V8 Utes racing. It's like a cross between a demolition derby and a race.

1xrZluAuMuQ

You guys are assuming I'm going for mining ...

It was a very safe assumption. Have you been over here to check out Kalgoorlie or will you be coming "blind"? I wouldn't choose to live there for four years, whatever they were paying me. Maybe as a single guy but not with school-age kids.

Goonie, yes they flew me over for the on site interview and I spent 2 days in Kalgoorlie. No kids, no wife. I've survived longer than 4 years in smaller remote mining towns.