Hi, we are looking at shipping both hand tools and power tools. Hand tools are things such as hammers, screw drivers, pliers - basically all the standard stuff. Power tools are chop saw, sanders, drills etc. We are wondering as to what will get through AQIS and the standard of clean that is acceptable? We are cleaning what we can with Jayes Liquid and also considering a final spray of Virkon but is this overkill. Some of the tools are well used and bashed about a bit. We are reluctant to just throw useful things away.

Thanks,
Brian and Jane

We (well OH) brought over 3 full toolboxes, including one on wheels, power drills etc with no problems. They accept that they will be bashed about a bit - what they don't want is raw wood still on the saws or dirt sticking to other tools. SO they were clean but but not pristine.

Don't dump them - it will cost you a fair bit to replace them!

Agree with above. Keep them, just spend a bit of time cleaning them and making them look nice.

Charlie

Just brush off loose rust and rubbish, give them a spray with WD40 and wrap in paper - that's all that needs doing, both from your point of view for keeping them in best nick in the container and for AQIS.

All your hand tools, spanners, socket sets etc. come up gleaming & shiny when you run them through a full cycle in the dishwasher Just don't get caught by the O/H
I then just sprayed with a light coat of WD replaced them in the boxes & they arrived as pristine as they left

We brought all the power tools - we cleaned them all up & bagged them (in our minds it helped that then customs would see we'd cleaned them. If any of the hand tools had rust on them we gave them away.... although I have a feeling that was my o/h being cunning to buy new here LOL

Hi there,

My partner is a UK plumber and we are shortly emigrating to Sydney. We are currently researching the best way to get his tools over - can you recommend a company?

Many thanks!

and all your belongings as well? Try Anglo Pacific.

No, we are only sending his tools over. We have decided to start from scratch with everything else. Is there a company that specialises in that kind of package?

Thanks!

Any removal company can arrange for our tools to be sent over, what you have to decide is wether to Air freight them [Expensive] or wait for them to come by sea .................mm

Just bear in mind that Aus uses imperial pipe sizes.......... I bought a 40 foot container over 6 years ago part full of plumbing fittings (still got it)and pipe bender etc. but was a complete waste of time as I can't get the formers or guides out here for my bender - so get them before leaving (1/2" & 3/4"), my pipeslice cutters don't fit a thing
All waste pipes are solvent welded here too
Don't forget, Gas bottles CANNOT be shipped whether empty or full
Power tools especially battery tools are dearer here so replace your batteries before coming over or buy new before shipping.
Building sites here use 240V AC via an RCD, not 120V via the transformer - so don't bother with that either because you won't be allowed to use it

Agree with this, hubby is a builder and we had lots and lots and lots of boxes of tools; they were all opened and checked by quarantine but all passed and they weren't spotless but were free of dirt etc, he cleaned them all in jeyes and they were all packed, sealed into boxes. Came over in our container.

They checked every box of tools and the two bikes; no problems.

rust doesn't seem to worry AQIS it's soil and timber.

I cleaned all soil off anything and cement just in case! All power tool boxes were vac'd out espescially sanders, power plane etc so no saw dust in there.

Hand tools just dusted off for sawdust.

All sailed through last time but taking loads more when send container later this year so hope same happens.

Tools look very pricey from what I've seen on websites, saw a Stanley tools "apprentice kit" online for about $600 and when I priced up the same bunch of handtools on screwfix it came to £180 and alot of those were better quality fat max stuff as they didn't have the cheaper stanley stuff!!!

Strange how A$ is so strong so imports should be cheaper yet they sell at a very high premium! If I had a million dollars or so I'd set up Screwfix AU!!!