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to balance a pen on my nose. As well as Paris, we chat with fellow young chippy Christian Gray about his love for surfing and DJing.
Speaking of the ocean, our fishing contributor Tim O’Reilly gives us the best tips on fishing around one of Australia’s greatest treasures: the Great Barrier Reef.
experienced team. There is, however, nothing more satisfying than finishing up on a project and looking over a complete and secure frame. Bremick has been a regular sight in our toolboxes during this phase of the build, with Aussie tradies going through box after box in their time.
In this issue we not only go over Bremick’s extensive range of products, but we also test out its connectors and post supports with tradie Heath.
What do you do when you’re not on the tools? Hit the pub? Chill at the beach? Young carpenter Paris Hardwick spends his leisure time travelling across Australia to compete in the Superbike Championships. His dedication both on and off the tools makes me realise how much free time I’ve spent trying
Whether you’re on the boat or at the worksite, it’s important to keep your peepers protected. We spoke with Ugly Fish Eyewear co-founder Faraz Darabi about the impact the Aussie-grown business has had on our eyes.
And in case you hadn’t had your fill of bikes, we also have a feature on HarleyDavidson’s latest Breakout model, which is as badass as it is elegant.
So break open this latest edition of The Tradie: What Tradies Want during those early pitch-black rises, frosty mornings and grim hangovers. We reckon it will do just the trick.•
the meat of 2023.
As shapers of COLORBOND® steel we’re inspired to make the products that help you build better. Across the exciting spectrum of residential architecture, the aesthetics, performance and versatility of LYSAGHT® steel roofing and walling profiles inspire and give form to exceptional designs. Whether it’s contemporary or traditional in nature, you can trust that LYSAGHT® products, in a myriad of materials, finishes and colours, offer you endless possibilities to bring your inspiration to life. And with over 100 years of helping shape Australian architecture, we’ll be there to support your inspiration for building bolder, smarter and more sustainably beautiful homes now, and into the future.
Most of us suck at dancing. The Tradie will settle for bopping its head up and down to the doof doof of the club in an attempt to vibe with potential partners.
Some people take it more seriously, like breakdancer B-Girl Swami here who’s posing for the 2023 Red Bull BC One final which has been announced for Paris later in 2023. Across the year, hundreds of breakdancers will compete for a chance to be one of 32 (16 boys, 16 girls) facing off in Paris.
This ain’t no TikTok dance, with a quick Google showing these people don’t mess around, and individual dancers as well as teams are treated like celebrities.
Despite breakdancing really being a thing for Americans in the late 1980s, ’90s, and ’00s, it’s now more common in South America and absolutely massive in Europe (according to the competitor sheet). Imagine getting challenged to a dance-off from one of these people?
It’s something you hope never happens to you because jumping up and down and pumping your fist to the beat only looks good if hundreds of other people around you are doing it too. •
You can take ‘the dog ate my homework’ and stuff it. This takes the all-time bizarre pet-drama cake.
Let’s take ourselves to the deep south of America –Mississippi to be exact – and a normal family we’ll call ‘the Colonels’ for anonymity’s sake.
The Colonels have a pet rooster named HeiHei (it’s Saturday!). One day, one of the Colonels’ kids was fooling around with the rooster, who unsurprisingly snapped and scratched her. Well, too bad for HeiHei, because Mrs Colonel don’t mess around it seems. She boffed poor HeiHei and served his remains as nuggets to the daughter for dinner!
What is this? Hillbilly Game of Thrones?! This farmhouse mobster move has to be one of the crazier methods of punishment for a misbehaving pet.
Say a prayer for HeiHei, who was most likely protecting himself from a pesky toddler, to then deal with some ranch-style corporal punishment AND THEN be fed to his attacker. “Mama don’t play when it comes to her babies,” Mother Colonel posted on Facebook, along with her grinning daughter dipping HeiHei into what looks like ranch sauce (fitting).•
Hot tip: pay your tradies.
One now world-famous Melbourne tiler had to take drastic action earlier this year. After not being paid for a job after 12 months(!), Simon McPherson took matters into his own hands and climbed atop his work and started tossing tiles off the roof.
A video which made the rounds on social media shows Simon lobbing tiles and yelling, “You’ve had 12 months. Make sure no tilers touch this one, boys.”
Pay disputes are an all-too-familiar concept for many tradies unfortunately, but few seem to go this far. This is the kind of thing many dream of doing when caught on
a bad day. We’re sure there’s nothing more stress-relieving than launching tiles off a roof and hearing the smash as they hit the pavement.
Simon told reporters his handywork – so to speak – was legal as it was a clause in his company’s contract that until payment had been received in full, the tiles were his property.
According to reports, the contractor intended to pay up eventually, which they did – before more tiles mysteriously flew off roofs.
Let this be a cautionary tale to all tradies to make sure contracts include some kind of repossession clause for unpaid work. It’s a foolproof way of making sure you’re paid what you’re owed. •
Picture this: you’re at the game and you’ve had a few. It’s time to make that long migration to the trough for a leak. So begins the fun pilgrimage around the concourse in search of a toilet with a line shorter than the length of the field. Even when you get in there, it’s a battlefield for a cubicle which may as well be the subject for a new horror movie. Well, the Los Angeles Clippers are trying to change that. At the team’s media launch for the stadium, owner and ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer rallied support for his
favourite part of his new venue: the toilets. “Toilets!” he yelled. “1160 toilets and urinals! Three times the NBA average number of toilets. We do not want people waiting in line. We want them to get back to their damn seats at the end of the half, before the game.” It’s this kind of passion for loo logistics we hope to see in many of our world leaders. Imagine how much we could accomplish as a society if our prime ministers and presidents just solved lines to the toilet. We’d be living in a dunny utopia. •
We’ve all sent or replied to the wrong email, sent a text to the wrong person, or accidentally leaked parts of the sacred group chat. Well St Kilda Football Club took that to the next level in the lead-up to the AFL season. The team accidentally uploaded its coach’s box audio to a dropbox shared by all AFL clubs. Whoops. Incoming coach Ross Lyon was immediately on damage control, hosting a team meeting while chief executive Simon Lethlean faced media to explain the blunder. Like any of us chumps, he pointed to the IT department as the root of the accident. Haven’t we all? “I swear, IT must’ve been searching Onlyfans on my laptop!” is a sentence many pleaded to HR we reckon. So now, AFL clubs can get a sneak peek at the Saints’ winning ways, ha! It wouldn’t be as funny if it were any other team. The Saints can’t catch a break! Nathan Buckley (and many other pundits) has already honoured them with the wooden spoon this season. Here’s hoping all the bad luck and negative energy will fuel them to be competitive out of spite. Just like every other season from the last decade *scoffs*.•
Going off the cord conundrum again here, with a solution to all your portable chopping needs. Well, probably more very minor trimming than chopping with this six-inch mini cordless chainsaw. The test images here are the real eyebrow-raiser of the item though. Do they really expect us to believe it carved its way through that tree because it’s being held up next to it? For about $57 we’d be astonished if it could cut a cake, much less a tree. We know there are similar products offered by reputable brands, but they all sit around at least the $200 mark. This might just be the Happy Meal toy equivalent.
If, like us, you value the life of your pooch more than that of some people you know (especially the mate who never buys a round), then you’ll love this. Why keep yourself dry with an umbrella when you can create a mini portable dog shelter and keep your doggo safe from the rain? People might give you weird looks and think you’re carrying a broken umbrella, but they can stick it! Fido is dry and that’s all that matters. Just don’t own a dog bigger than a staffy…using the dog umbrella with a lab or German shepherd would be just silly. You can score one of these for anywhere between $30-$50.
It’s been at least (checks notes) one month since we’ve seen a Shrek-related meme, so it makes sense that this absurd artifact should appear now. Introducing the Shrek toothpaste pooper! Haven’t you always wanted to brush your teeth with the s*** of the great green ogre? All we can imagine when seeing this product is various excrement-related Mike Myers quotes (of which there are many) from his other hits. There’s even a version where he’s facing you if you wanted to really scare away any potential partners from sleeping over.
You can pick up these beauties for about
The Tradie ponders why some choose the path of most resistance when dealing with neighbours.
It must be nice to have good neighbours. The ones you barely see, hear or leave a little nice platter of food out for you, like some kind of savoury Easter Bunny.
But that’s all a pipedream, right? Nice neighbours are a figment of the imagination,
disputes we see on nightly television. Those ‘neighbours gone crazy’ stories we saw Tracy Grimshaw warn us about where disputes go over the edge. Some over as little as a tree erring too far over one’s fence, or a dog defecating on a neighbour’s pride-and-joy lawn. Isn’t there a way we can all just get along? What happened to the Australian dream? Why can’t we live next to the Kerrigans from The Castle? It might sound a little too hippy to think we can all just get along, but surely people have this general understanding that our neighbours shouldn’t be our biggest problem.
And yet, the world is full of the Mr Heckleses and DJ Khaleds.
↓ Sometimes we think our neighbour’s living on a deserted island the way he carries on.
Part no: HI-BL
12V Superscope soldering irons operate directly off a car or truck battery, making it ideal for automotive applications. It also uses the same spare parts as SS irons with the exception of flex lead 6 metres with battery clips.
Part no: HI
12V Superscope soldering irons operate directly off a car or truck battery, making it ideal for automotive applications. It also uses the same spare parts as SS irons with the exception of flex lead 6 metres with battery clips.
Part no: SK-3000
The Scope Maxima Series Soldering Kit is designed to cover a wide range of soldering situations from 25W to 100W.
Contents:
• SP-100 - 100W soldering gun & spare tip
• MH25 - 25W soldering iron
• Helping hands with alligator clips and cast iron base for stability
• Solder sucker
• Probe with fine point and slotted end
• Solder tube containing 1 metre of 1.0mm core solder Spare tips available separately
Strong, effective, and safe, Bremick, the national leader in industrial, construction and petrochemical fasteners, is at the forefront of securing timber, steel and concrete structures. Odds are, if you’ve worked on a building site, you’ve opened up a few Bremick boxes.
Bremick has been a mainstay in Aussie hardware for almost 60 years, providing tradies with the right fasteners, connectors, supports and more for the job. The name is synonymous with quality and assurance, supported by technical expertise and documentation. This makes Bremick a go-to for tradies, however continued innovation also keeps it framed ahead of the competition.
for when other bracing products can’t get the job done. Tensioners can be tensioned by hand via the wing nut or hex bolt with an impact driver.
Bremick Marketing Manager Mark Camilleri said the tensioners were well on board with the modern and efficient tradie who favours impact drivers.
“If they can use their impact drivers rather than hand threading the wing nut, that’s where the trade’s heading,” he said.
↑ For about 60 years, Bremick has been with the tradie for many of their timber-based projects.
Bremick’s Strap Brace and Tensioners are designed to handle any roof, wall, ceiling and floor application. These bad boys are pre-punched and suitable for a wide range of tasks, saving time and money, especially when bracing hundreds of metres of timber or steel framing. They’re perfect
Bremick’s Hoop Iron is another helpful product, designed for bonding masonry and general nonstructural applications.
Both systems have a genuine galvanised coating which keeps them well-protected from corrosion.
Bremick’s extensive range of connectors and tie downs boast several special features which will have you covered no matter what the project. The range includes the Cyclone Strap, Joist Strap, Internal Wall Bracket and a huge range of ties and grips to suit all needs. These galvanised products are simple and quick to install, with many featuring pre-drilled holes for nail or screw fixing as well as preformed teeth for hassle-free installation. Both are wellplaced and designed to avoid splitting the timber when installed correctly.
This is further aided by Bremick’s special Tap-In feature.
“This feature holds the connector in place while it’s being nailed or screwed into position, freeing up
a hand for greater control and safety,” Mark said.
Bremick Multi grips and Triple grips are available in both galvanised and marine-grade 316 stainless steel, which makes them ideal for seaside and external application.
Peace of mind for tradies when framing is vital. Of course, when assembling any structure, you want to know it is square and will stay upright. Bremick understands this and ensures all its products are aligned with relevant building codes and practices, including the National Construction Code (NCC). Bremick’s connectors and supports are tested through the National Association of Testing
products are pushed to their limits to ensure they not only meet the industry standard, but exceed it.
See below Bremick’s product list and relevant compliance:
Bracing systems – AS1684 and NCC compliant
Connectors and tie downs – AS1684 compliant
Joist hangers – AS1684 and AS1720 compliant
Post supports – AS1684 and AS1720 compliant
Brackets and fixes – AS1684 compliant
Nail plates – AS1684 and AS1720 compliant
Available in standard flange, split and heavyduty configurations, Bremick’s selection of joist hangers showcases many of the company’s strengths, including the heavier gauge steel used in construction of the fittings.
“That makes it a much stronger and rigid connection point,” Mark said, “because the actual product is made from 1.2mm thick steel, as opposed to the 1mm steel used by most competitors.”
As well as being solid and well made, these simple-to-install joist hangers are kind on the tradie’s wallet as well, invaluable for connecting timber at right angles. They come in a wide range of widths (35-50mm) and lengths (90-220mm) and are suitable for all sorts of applications from roof frames and decks, as well as gazebos and pergolas. The range of joist hangers are available in galvanised and marine grade 316 stainless steel.
When it comes to innovation on post supports, Bremick sports cutting-edge designs to give tradies confidence they’re
↑ Bremick’s bolt down support range eliminates the build up of water around the base.
↓ Bremick’s joist hangers are thicker than other brands, making for added structural integrity.
using the best. This includes a bracket design that prevents the post from sitting in water.
“That base plate lifts the post off the concrete and above water so it doesn’t absorb moisture,” Mark added.
Bremick’s use of thicker steel again shows, with many of the supports boasting extra thickness in critical areas to ensure superior strength.
“Generally speaking, we have opted for additional thickness in several post support designs where it warrants it,” Mark said.
Bremick’s supports are also hotdipped galvanised to ensure peak protection against corrosion with a range of marine-grade 316 stainless steel in popular designs.
Bremick’s ranges of nail plates, brackets and fixes, as well as nails, screws and fasteners round off the company’s drive for innovative design. They’re simple but incredibly effective, and the company’s easy-to-install and well-engineered design focus has been incorporated with a range of 3.15mm thick timber connector nails for additional strength and 12g self-drilling connector screws for use with impact drivers, while the nail plates and various fixes sport the straightforward Tap-In design with anti-splitting protection.
Whatever fastener you need, Bremick has with a massive catalogue complementary to its other products, including a plethora of screws with unique points to avoid timber splitting and facilitate faster and easier installation.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Bremick offers tonnes of in-depth guides on application and the benefits of its products as well. You can find more
As far as a solid work/life balance goes, Paris Hardwick is very much pushing the limits.
The 19-year-old thrill-seeker will be working as a carpenter one day, then racing motorbikes with the pros the next. The Tradie talks to him about both of his emerging careers.
↗ 2023 will be Paris’ first full year competing in the ASBK.
↓ Paris and Neil Hardwick are a dynamic father/son duo both on the track and on the tools.
Paris is based in Sydney and has been on a bike for longer than he can remember. This is thanks to his father Neil, who raced in the Australian Superbike Championships (ASBK).
Paris was tearing up dirt tracks since he was three years old and moved quickly into road bikes once he hit 16.
He sped through 300cc and 600cc bikes and has made short work of 1000cc so far.
“As soon as I got to 1000, I wanted to start racing so I’ve been doing club rounds for about eight months,” Paris said.
“I’ve podiumed in every one of those so far.”
His success had him thrust into the ASBK limelight much like his old man.
Paris’ first outings in the top-tier Aussie motorbike competition came in the form of the bucket list-worthy Phillip Island, and the newer The Bend Motorpark in South Australia which closed out the 2022 season in November.
“Phillip Island was really good, we didn’t come last and didn’t get (over) lapped, so I’m pretty happy with that,” Paris joked.
“My best was a 16th. I’ve ridden that track a few times, so I had a lot of confidence there.
“I struggled to keep up the pace at The Bend, I made a PB but [I] haven’t been good enough… yet.”
While other teams in the ASBK come with a sizeable pit crew and big-name sponsors, Paris’ team consists of his dad and family friend Graham.
It’s a good thing the three get along, because they spend days on the road driving the bike and equipment from Sydney to wherever the next race may be.
“They’ve been pretty handy to have, I wouldn’t be able to do it without them,” Paris added.
When he’s not speeding around Australia, Paris is working for his dad having recently completed his carpentry apprenticeship at TAFE.
“Some days there’s heaps of labour, like carrying a bunch of stuff around. Other days it’s a lot of good carpentry work like skirting and doors,” he said.
Similar to his passion for biking, Paris has been around the tools since he was kid.
“If I wasn’t doing it, I don’t know what I’d be doing,” he said.
“At the moment, I’ve gotta stay with the carpentry but hopefully I can progress in the motorbikes a bit more full time and eventually go somewhere with it. If that doesn’t go somewhere, I can always go back to carpentry.”
Paris will race a full season of ASBK this year with the BC Performance Racing team, and has already had a great outing in round one at Phillip Island. •
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LOCATION Barrier Reef
Once the domain of salty sea dogs who could line up two points on the horizon, fishing ‘the paddock’ has become commonplace. It’s the domain of trailer boats with electric motors, fancy plotters and sounders telling fisherman all manner of detail about the fish life below. Fishing this open ground between the inner and outer reefs on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is perhaps the best way to put a feed in the esky and utilise modern technology. In this feature, let’s look at some of the techniques used to cover a broad range of species that might be encountered.
The first thing to appreciate with each type of fishing scenario mentioned is finding bait and life. Understanding tides and direction of current flow are crucial in aggregating sea creatures. In almost all circumstances, fish will congregate around other fish. Life attracts life, and predatory fish are willing to complete the circle of life in close proximity to their prey.
Successful fishers will appreciate that finding life on the sounder does not always lead to record catches. Many factors combine to produce excellent fishing, and those who understand moon phases, bite times, water temperatures, weather changes and subtle clues in the their environment will be at a distinct advantage. Being able to adapt your fishing techniques to what is working on the day separates seafood eaters from fuel burners.
Bottom-dwelling, midwater and pelagic species coexist in what can seem like a lifeless expanse of water. Yet underneath is a seething mass of life, playing out at 30m or 40m down. Up on the shoals and down in the holes, the fish will be where you find them.
Let’s look at the fishiest areas likely to be encountered out in the paddock of the Great Barrier Reef. →
This is a term used to describe hard-bottom areas or pockets of shallow water in an otherwise featureless paddock. Like all forms of structure, shoals become aggregation points for baitfish and predators. These areas act like sponges for nutrients and a place where currents lift food through the water column. The more isolated the shoal, generally the more life it will attract from a wider area.
The food chain starts with the filter feeders like damsel fish, banana fish, fusiliers and a range of schooling baitfish. Squid, garfish, schools of herring, anchovies and pilchards top up the edible list for a host of predatory fish. This congregation of bait attracts roving pelagic species such as mackerel, trevally and tuna, as well as more sedentary fish such as coral trout, fingermark, nannygai and emperor species.
It always pays to be ready when fishing shoal areas. Baitfish moving around brings predators up to the surface periodically. A floating bait or live bait tossed out the back while drifting can be very effective. It can be surprising to see what comes sneaking under a drifting boat. Mackerel, GTs and sharks are just some of them. Shoals will normally fish best on their leading edge. Basically, where current is pushing against bottom structure, try to fish the leading edge or pressure edge as this area tends to congregate baitfish with predators patrolling the surrounds. A tide or current shift may re-locate the bite to another part of the shoal.
Some of the most productive fishing comes when a random lump appears on the sounder, in the middle of nowhere, covered in life. Lumps tend to be rocks and broken up shoals on an otherwise flat bottom. They can be as tiny as a blip on the sounder or huge bommie-style coral clumps chasing sunlight from the depths.
Lumps nearly always contain life of some sort. Baitfish presence is almost guaranteed on any lump inside the Great Barrier Reef. The biomass can be astounding, but it doesn’t always translate into fish being hooked. Having spot-lock on many of the modern electric motors is a godsend for those trying to fish lumps. Anchoring without the rope or chain is so good!
Anchoring can be particularly challenging, especially when a little current is involved. In days past, those skilled at anchoring held a distinct advantage when fishing isolated lumps; miss the spot and you miss the fish. A bump similar to a lump might indicate a patch of high ground in otherwise deeper water. It can be worth traversing these bumps looking for baitfish holding on the rise.
It is easy to take too much from a single lump or bump that’s fishing well. It pays to catch a couple and move on, rather than fish it to death. One lump might have a scattering of coral trout or a school of fusiliers being circled by barracuda. The next lump might have something else completely. This is what makes the Great Barrier Reef so special – the sheer
↓ Drifting around holes can be hit or miss, but you might get lucky and nab a 92cm Red Bass like Phil here.
diversity of species that exist from south to north and east to west.
Ridges might run off old lines of reef or form where harder substrate has remained, leaving a steep drop-off to the seabed below. These areas can be identified by contour lines on a chart or shadows on bathymetry. They hold fish; sometimes up on top of the ridge, sometimes on the edge and sometimes on the fall.
When current is pushing against a ridge, finding that point where fish will happy sit in front on the pressure edge is crucial. Too far one way or the other and efforts can be futile. In deeper waters, these ridges act to mix waters together, creating marine life, stimulating food chains and attracting predators. Many a marlin has been captured around ridges and canyons where they use oceanic currents to guide their journey to plentiful baitfish.
Referring to holes in the huge expanse of the Great Barrier Reef lagoon (inside the outer reef) is basically referencing gutters, deep spots and depressions. It is hard to define what a hole might be in such an expanse as the Great Barrier Reef. Perhaps any areas between 30m-80m of water which are substantially deeper than the surrounds might constitute a hole.
Produced by circulating currents scouring out the seabed, these holes form most of
the way up the Queensland coastline. Within the Great Barrier Reef lagoon, these depressions contain life and growth to varying degrees. When trying to find fish in these holes, move around until you find decent life on the sounder and drop a bait, jig or vibe and just see what happens.
Especially during the months of warmer weather (November to March), these holes can be particularly productive as fish settle into pockets of cooler, deeper water. Their feeding patterns may become a little erratic and a change of tide or current can suddenly trigger a bite.
↑ Bait gathering around shoals can attract hungry pelagic fish like this massive 50kg GT.
↓ Jigs used on paddock dwellers can nab you a lucky double catch.
Life also hangs on the upward slope out of the holes, often dependent on the way tide and current are moving across it. Drifting these areas can be barren, but it can also be a surprise packet of different fish, including emperor, sweetlip, nannygai, trevally, red bass, trout and chinaman fish. It can also mean sharks!
Wonky holes are outwellings of fresh water running underground before pouring out into the sea.
Rivers, creeks and streams from the mainland leak freshwater through a porous membrane of earth. These in turn still find their way to mix with salt water.
These holes create their own ecosystem and will usually have a buildup of life around them. Quite a few anglers seek out wonkies to target fish such as red emperor, nannygai, spangled emperor and cod. The methods to find these holes in the first place are a science understood by the committed depthsounder enthusiast. Plenty of on-line assistance exists to bring new recruits into the game regarding location and identification of wonky holes.
Dropping down baits, jigs and vibes in the area surrounding a wonky can be super productive. Don’t be surprised to find schooling fish a little distance away from the wonky itself. Quite often the dominant fish in the vicinity will find their way into the action. If the fish are biting, care must be
taken not to take too much from these spots as the biomass is constrained to a very small area.
Metal jigs and vibes are two of the most productive forms of presenting artificial lures to fish holding at depth. Jigs these days might be divided into slow pitch or flutter jigs which sink and rise in a haphazard, fluttering motion, and knife jigs which have a more direct sinking motion. There is normally either one or two assist hooks designed to secure fish snapping at the fishshaped metal. They can be stimulated with a touch of bait like squid tentacles or thin-sliced strip bait.
Soft plastics with heavier jig-heads can be fished to a range of depths usually dictated by the amount of current and wind. Working these plastics in a hopping motion in the bottom five metres of water before winding them fast through the water column can be hugely productive for a range of species. A straight flick-tail plastic between 75mm and 150mm long and some awesome squid and prawn imitations can entice a broad range of fish encountered at depth. Octo-jigs and sinkers rigged with a skirt can be equally effective, especially when ‘tarted up’ with a little bait or scent.
Many vibes have entered the market and are taking more than their share of fish when worked in an erratic manner up off the bottom. The sideways wobbling action produces an intense bite response
↓ Wonkies are one of the best spots to nab red emperor, nannygai, spangled emperor or cod.
from fish used to chasing prey fleeing upwards. They also get smacked when fluttering through the water column on the way down. Fingermark and coral trout are two tasty targets for this technique, but a myriad of other species from midwater cobra to top-water mackerel will have a crack.
Fresh baits and live bait are perhaps the best known and most widely utilised when targeting fish at depth. Fussier fish find it hard to resist a well-presented strip bait and larger predatory fish attack live baits with absolute gusto. This style of fishing self-perpetuates. Landed fish can be re-used as bait or live bait to target bigger fish down below.
When baitfish schools are located on the sounder hanging midwater or near the surface, trolling lures, skirted baits or swim baits are a brilliant way to entice hunting fish into striking. It can also be an effective way to cover likely areas as speed and troll depth are altered until a pattern of success emerges. Speeds of between 4.5-7 knots are generally used and varied for best results.
Plenty of smaller marlin and sailfish are taken in this way, with Spanish and other mackerel species adding to the tally. It can be a lucky dip when trolling and plenty of slow days on the water are saved in this manner when the bottom dwellers aren’t playing ball.
FISHING MAGIC
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the wonders of the fishing world. Yet it is this area within the reef lagoon and out of sight of the colourful reef tops and cobalt blues of the outer reef that actually hold the lion’s share of tasty fish accessible to fisherman. Next time the weather flattens out, plan your attack into the paddock and go searching for new spots to try. You just might be blown away by the fishing on offer and the joy of discovering fishing spots for yourself. •
BRAND Harley-Davidson®
There’s no better feeling like rocking up to somewhere – whether it’s at the worksite or a social gathering – on a Harley-Davidson®. The iconic motorcycle brand is back and ready to meet all your urban exploring needs with the 2023 Breakout.
THE BEAST WITHIN
It’s taken 10 years of perfecting for Harley to present Aussies with the newest Breakout, and boy does it show.
Performance is at the top of any modern biker’s shopping list, and end-to-end performance is what you get. It comes out-of-the-box with a Milwaukee-Eight® 117 V-Twin engine, which sports improved torque and displacement with precision oil/air cooling.
Harley-Davidson’s Motorcycle Management Vice-President Luke Mansfield said a 117 powertrain was the natural go-to for the new Breakout.
“When we’re thinking about motors and bikes, we’re trying to match the character of the motor to the bike,” he said. “When we went to refresh Breakout, there was really no choice but the 117 – that was the natural fit because it gives the performance for the customer who’s after a muscular motorcycle.
“People are very fixated on displacement. There’s lots of different ways to work with various displacements and add loads of different character.”
A 18.9L fuel tank will keep you enjoying the road for longer and has a low-profile console shape to lengthen the bike. Airflow has been heavily improved via the Breakout’s high-performance camshaft and Heavy Breather air intake. While the Heavy Breather’s exposed filter is forwardfacing and allows for strong mid-range torque, it more importantly gives off a ripper hot-rod vibe. →
Wanting to just ride around the streets looking like a boss? Now you can, right from the get-go, thanks to the 2023 Breakout coming standard with cruise control and using Harley’s Softail® chassis, which gives the rider the classic look of a hardtail, but reduces the weight without any added stiffness to the riding experience.
While the Breakout is the urban rider’s ultimate companion, there’s nothing stopping you from bulking it up for a weekend getaway or tour.
“This is a bike that thrives in pro urban riding,” Luke said. “But I will say, in terms of customisation, that we see a lot of riders fitting windscreens, racks and luggage.
“You can easily tour on one of these, especially with the 117. It’s got very long legs, so if you get this bike on the highway doing long distance, you’ve got the five-gallon tank, you’ve got the 117 powertrain – this is going to do well on longer journeys.
“I think a lot of customers are looking for a bike
to ride around with their friends, then when the opportunity comes up for those longer journeys, this is a great bike for that – it’s very versatile in that respect.”
So don’t be afraid to unleash this machine on a nice open highway.
The 2023 Breakout comes with plenty of style upgrades that make it stand out from other more pedestrian motorcycles. It comes with a polished stainless-steel handlebar with a riser that’s 19mm taller than the previous incarnation. This allows for easier handling of the Breakout with improved reach to controls.
Its 26-spoke cast-aluminium wheels look absolutely sick, with a gloss-black finish and machine detailing. That chrome finish extends to rear-fender supports, side covers, muffler shields, turn signals, mirrors and Heavy Breather, with Harley going all out on the shine-factor. This was something Luke said Aussie Breakout diehards were yearning for. He added that when it came to
designing the new Breakout, it was the Aussie rider who was foremost in Harley’s mind.
“As one of the most popular motorcycles in the Australian market, this cruiser is designed to rule the street with style, ease and power – we can’t wait to see riders embrace all the Breakout® has to offer,” Harley-Davidson ANZ Managing Director Nigel Keough said.
It’s no secret: we as a nation love customising a Harley. Whether it’s a minor paintjob or a full-blown workover to make it your own, customising has been a major plus for Harley
↑ From the get-go, Harley’s new Breakout comes in four colours, including a striking Baja orange.
↓ It’s taken Harley 10 years to put all its marquee features into one bike, but the 2023 Breakout is worth the wait.
owners. From release, however, the Breakout comes in four classic, yet fresh, looks: vivid black, Baja orange, black denim and atlas silver metallic. Along with all its new features, Luke said users should be pretty pleased with the Breakout from the get-go.
“It’s a bike for people who like to stand out, and I think those are the same people who like to customise,” he said. “We don’t push that, but I think our customers pull it, which is fantastic, and you never know which model is going to light up people’s imagination.” •
• Engine torque – 3500rpm
ower – 102HP/76kW @ 5020rpm
uel economy – 5.6L/100km (42mpg)
ttery – sealed, maintenance-free, absorbed glass mat (AGM) battery, 12v, 17.5Ah, 330 CCA at 0°F
uges – 2.14-inch-viewable-area LCD display featuring speedometer, gear, odometer, fuel level, clock, trip meter, fuel range and technicolour indication
You can drive away with the (vivid black) or $38,360 (other colours) from an authorised Harley-Davidson dealership. For more information, visit harley-davidson.com/au/en/motorcycles/breakout.
Aussie-grown for Aussie conditions, Ugly Fish Eyewear’s iconic logo can be seen on worksites nationwide. The company celebrated its 20th anniversary last month, commemorating two decades of determination and hard yakka that built it into a true blue brand.
…BUT THE SHIRT ON HIS BACK
Ugly Fish founder Manuch Darabi migrated to Australia from Iran in 1989. With a fast-grown passion for Australia’s outdoor obsession – and just $500 to his name –Manuch decided to hit up local markets around southern NSW and sell sunglasses.
He and son Faraz Darabi teamed up, realising there was a need in the Aussie market for high quality glasses for outdoor work and play.
“When Manuch and I launched Ugly Fish, we were two people just trying to make ends meet,” Faraz said. “Our goals were simple. We dreamed of being able to have my dad own a house, or be able to spend time together on weekends instead of having to work seven days a week. “We just wanted to achieve a ‘normal’ Aussie lifestyle. It took many years to achieve, but now we can have that lifestyle.”
The duo started out selling from the garage at the family home in Wollongong in 2003. Rocking the hand-drawn Ugly Fish logo (designed on the kitchen table), unbreakable frames as well as anti-fog and salt resistant polycarbonate polarised lenses, the glasses gained traction.
Faraz said the customers try Ugly Fish sunnies,
← Ugly Fish’s lifestyle range has the outdoor lovers in mind.
↑ Ugly Fish’s certified Safety glasses range is ideal for tradies.
have a great experience and come back for more. “It still makes our day when we meet customers at expos and hear they’ve been wearing Uglys for two decades,” he added. “They come back for the same style again and again!”
Family has always been at the heart of Ugly Fish, with Manuch’s partner Fariba and Faraz’s partner Maree also joining the team.
“Despite our growth, Ugly Fish is genuinely a family business,” Faraz said. “My dad and I have always worked really well together. “Thankfully, we’re both capable of keeping any personal and business issues separate, and not mixing the two.
“In family business, it’s easy to fall into a trap of being so focused on the business that you can’t connect personally out of work. I think we’ve done a great job managing this. When we spend time together on weekends, it’s not about work.”
Whether you’re on the tools out at sea, Ugly Fish has your peepers covered. Its glasses are split into seven main categories: Safety, Motorbike, Lifestyle, Kids, Ladies, Optical and Blue Light Blockers.
Ugly Fish’s certified Safety range have tradies’ backs, offering protection against dust and glare as well as projectiles while also being comfortable to wear.
“The brand is also a great fit with the active Aussie lifestyle,” Faraz added. “Our customers want to get out and get dirty – on the job site, camping, fishing or on a motorbike – and our sunglasses and safety glasses help them do that.”
Ugly Fish is for the tradie who’s working hard Monday-to-Friday before kicking back with their mates on the weekend, and not on the runway of a fashion show. That’s why the Darabi’s ongoing mission has been to make sure ‘everyone’s ugly’, so to speak.
“We’ve always focused on function and comfort over fashion,” Faraz said.
“We design products to really work, not just as this season’s ‘look’. →
changed our sales model to suit the environment,”
↓ You’ll have peace of mind with Ugly Fish’s Safety glasses, which are dust and fog resistant and shatter-proof.
what it holds for the company, with a shift towards sustainability given their passion for the outdoors. sustainable and recycled materials to reduce our
continue to break ground, with Ugly Fish recently launching a range of women’s
From the garage in Wollongong to 20 years down the road, the Darabis have accomplished much in their time with
brings a sense of security,” Faraz said.
“To me, it means that the brand is resilient, and it can succeed whatever happens. We’ve gone through so many
You can find out more about Ugly Fish Eyewear and its offerings at uglyfisheyewear.com
Christian Gray is one of many Aussie apprentices just emerging from their COVID-extended studies, but the chippy is as excited as ever to be taking his first steps into the industry.
The 20-year-old just wrapped up nearly five years at TAFE, undertaking his apprenticeship in carpentry.
“I’ve always been a hands-on learner, and I didn’t want to be stuck in an office,” Christian said.
Much like others in TAFE, his course experienced delays due to COVID, but now he’s finished and roaming worksites in Sydney as a fully qualified carpenter.
Christian said each year at TAFE was varied in what it taught, with his first year mainly covering the basic dos and don’ts on the worksite as well as safety procedures and regulations.
“As it got towards the end of the course, I definitely picked up a lot of things on building a house from the ground up, as well as a lot of other things I’d have no idea about three or four years ago,” he said.
“I can see how far TAFE has taken me in terms of the knowledge of building.”
So far into his young career on the tools, Christian isn’t regretting a thing, and encouraged anyone thinking of following a similar path to do so.
“Just rip in and do it, if you don’t like it, you don’t like it,” he said.
“But it’s definitely something I enjoy and I’ll keep doing. They’re handy skills to have under your belt, you can travel the world with these sorts of skills.”
Based in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Christian does work for Waterview Constructions.
Every morning he’s up at 6am and out the door 30 minutes later.
Christian said his hours are usually 7am-3pm working on various projects such as a recent demo job at Whale Beach.
“We’re starting from scratch pretty much, so I’ll be here for a while,” he said.
“We like to be all hands on deck with jobs, but we tend to have finishing touches on other jobs so we could be splitting guys up in two per job site.”
For Christian and his crew, their go-to tools are from Makita, ranging from rattlers to circular and
reciprocal saws.
“My favourite tool would be the hammer drill. I love busting up tiles and having a bit of demo fun,” he said.
“We all use Makita which makes it easier for us all to exchange chargers and batteries.”
When he’s not demolishing debris, Christian’s demolishing the dancefloor with his DJing, or hitting the waves on his surfboard at Narrabeen Beach.
He said in his neck of the woods, tradies and water sports go hand-in-hand with plenty of his co-workers hitting the surf, or fishing from the rocks.
“We finish at 3pm, and with daylight savings I’ve pretty much got a whole afternoon to muck around in the water,” Christian said.
Like watching the sunset at the beach, Christian is eyeing a bright future as a carpenter, possibly going out on his own at some point down the road.
“I haven’t thought too much about it, but eventually I want to go out and be my own boss,” he said.
“But for now, I’m happy working for the company I do for as long as I can, and get more experience under my belt.”•
A rise in demand for commercial projects has seen Albury-Wodonga’s 23 Carpentry not only grow its business but also its fleet of Isuzu trucks. Offering a range of services from traditional timber work to modern composite and metal facades, 23 Carpentry prides itself on having an eye for modern design and attention to detail. The company’s work includes striking wooden fit-outs on council buildings and cladding on Wodonga Library, through to a stylish re-cladding of the Bendigo TAFE and the Wodonga Justice Centre.
The company currently has a large team of carpenters and apprentices, headed by father-and-son duo Paul and Chris Seaton. A builder and carpenter by trade, Chris handles the overall operations and contract management. He brought in his father, Paul, to assist with managing the workload after the business really started to take off in recent years. A bricklayer for more than 50 years, Paul oversees the driving and delivery team that transport materials to site. →
The fleet of Isuzu trucks includes a new NQR 87190 AMT Tipper, the latest and largest addition to the trusted line-up of Isuzu NLR Tippers.
As well as carpentry, the Seatons also carry out pool renovations, with the NLR nimble enough to navigate tight spots under residential garage doors.
While constructing and putting the finishing touches on buildings is obviously their stock in trade, it’s also evident Paul and Chris are driving enthusiasts.
Paul said his own father did some racing under the number 23 back in the 1950s, while his brother drove in Auscar (Australian Stock Car Auto Racing) in the ’80s. To keep the tradition alive, Chris had a stint racing in Europe, also under the number 23. There’s nothing like keeping a good thing going. It certainly seems to be a lucky number for the Seatons.
“With my son Chris expanding the business, we purchased an all-terrain scissor lift and a Bobcat which we needed to get around,” Paul explained. “We already had a range of Isuzu NLR Tippers which are very convenient for the staff to drive on a car licence, but we needed something specifically to transport machinery and materials to job locations.
“The NQR Tipper ticks all the boxes – it’s able to carry the load we needed and comes with a 3.8m tray, so we can use it for delivery and forklift material on and off.
“The reversing camera is indispensable to our operation, and the interior lighting is like a stadium. We couldn’t be happier with those extra features.”
Under the cab, the NQR 87-190 AMT Tipper is fitted with Isuzu’s 4HK1-TCC four-cylinder turbocharged engine, featuring power of 140kW (190PS) at 2600rpm and max torque of 513Nm at 1600 - 2600rpm.
With a healthy 8700 kilogram GVM, and sixspeed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT), the NQR AMT Tipper provides operational flexibility.
This is doubled down with a considerable 12,200kg gross combined mass (GCM) and industry-
“In terms of drivability, it has good visibility and an unbelievably tight turning circle – there’s none of that going back-and-forth again to negotiate an exit turn,” Paul said.
“The convenience of being able to pick up pallet loads of cladding, and also attach something like a splitter behind to cut wood and load what we need, is just great.”
Paul is also pleased the NQR’s fuel efficiency
↑ The NQR 87-190 AMT Tipper boasts Isuzu’s 4HK1-TCC four-cylinder turbocharged engine, with 140kW (190PS) at 2600rpm.
← Carpentry’s work ranges from striking fit-outs and various re-cladding projects to pool renovations.
confident the investment represents good value based on the purchase price they settled on with Richard Peneros at dealership Blacklocks Isuzu.
Chris and Paul’s decision to invest in a fleet that has payload to spare and can efficiently manage building supplies – including waste – has proven to be a major plus for the business.
Their unique reputation for end-to-end service and a focus on preserving customer relationships in the region has proven a winning combination. The 23 Carpentry company stays up-to-date with the latest technology in tools and material, in line with its commitment to clients in providing the best service, quality and value.
“We offer a broad range of supplies and price options and we also like getting involved in the project from the start…we just try and develop a good relationship with everyone we work with, as opposed to the usual, ‘Thanks, see you later’ line,” Chris said.
“Having started off with a ute for the business, we can see the savings in upgrading to a truck fleet.
“We’ve effectively eliminated having to get someone to pick up materials and equipment. We can just take materials and equipment anywhere we want ourselves,” Chris added.
The trucks have been really good for the business and fit perfectly for the tasks of 23 Carpentry.
↑
Paul echoed the sentiment for having the right vehicle for the job plus peace of mind in terms of reliability as 23 Carpentry has a footprint across hundreds of square kilometres, including jobs in both Sydney and Melbourne.
“An old fellow told me years ago when I went to buy my first truck, ‘Stick with Isuzu and you won’t go wrong’.
“We’ve got our fourth truck here now and never had a warranty claim on any of them, even though Isuzu just upped its warranty to six years on the 4x2 N Series models.
“Backing the product…I think that’s one of the reasons why a lot of people like us in business are coming back to Isuzu again and again.” •
Silica and silicosis have found their way into headlines in recent weeks, but for many the battle to ban engineered stone products in Australia has been ongoing for years.
Asbestos of the 2020s
Silica is a common ingredient in engineered stone products, which are a cheaper substitute for kitchen benchtop than marble, for example. Cutting the stone causes dust which – when inhaled – can cause silicosis. Silicosis is an incurable lung disease which, over time, causes inflammation and scarring in lung tissue and can be fatal.
Given tradies commonly work with engineered stone, they are diagnosed with silicosis at a much higher rate than any other profession.
The severity of silicosis among tradies has had the condition labelled as the ‘asbestos of the 2020s’ by many medical and industrial experts.
The CFMEU has been a notably vocal advocate for the outright ban of high silica. It has launched numerous campaigns, including ‘Stop the Killer Stone’ which features the story of Kyle. Kyle cut engineered stone for a living, but now lives with a terminal diagnosis of silicosis.
One in four workers exposed to silica before 2018 have been diagnosed with silicosis, according to the CFMEU.
As awareness of the dangers of silicosis increases, it’s expected for cases to increase. Modelling from Curtain University in 2022 noted that about 10,000 Aussies currently working with silica will develop lung cancer in their lifetimes.
The Federal Government commissioned Safe Work Australia to investigate a potential nationwide ban on high silica engineered stone. Safe Work since opened its public consultation on its report, and closed submissions at the beginning of April.
“We will work closely with WHS regulators and other stakeholders including industry and unions, to implement the options agreed by WHS ministers, including further national awareness and behaviour-change initiatives and regulation of high-risk crystalline silica processes for all materials, including engineered stone, and across all industries,” Safe Work Australia CEO Michelle Baxter said.
It’s expected the Australian safety body will have its decision on whether to implement a ban later in 2023. Should there be a ban, it would take about 12 months to implement.
The CFMEU – on the other hand – has maintained its decision to completely ban engineered stone for union members by June 2024, regardless of the Federal Government’s decision.
Symptoms for silicosis include a persistent cough and/or shortness of breath as well as weakness or tiredness. If you think there’s a possibility you may have silicosis, it’s important to see a GP as soon as possible.
You can find more information about silicosis at svhlunghealth.com.au. You can also find out more about the ‘Stop the Killer Stone’ campaign at stopthiskillerstone.com.au. •
For details on Safe Work Australia’s report on silica, visit safeworkaustralia.gov.au
↗ Both the LUMBERWOLF AND DEMOWOLF are durable and versatile in their application.
↓ The METALWOLF AND MULTIWOLF bring with them 50 per cent longer life than their predecessors.
After a century leading the way with reciprocating saw blades, LENOX is redefining performance levels in the bi-metal category with its revolutionary WAVE EDGE blades. A new-look range, made in the USA with global materials, has been developed for a multitude of applications and is ideal for the tradesperson who demands the highest performance from their blades.
LENOX® METALWOLF™ and MULTIWOLF
WAVE EDGE™ Reciprocating Saw Blades
Designed for metal or multi-purpose cutting applications
The METALWOLF thin-blade design is ideal for making quick cuts through a range of metal types and gauges, while the MULTIWOLF blade is designed for making quick cuts in metal, wood and plastic.
edge and a spring-steel backing helps strengthen the blade, reduce breaks, and delivers up to 50 per cent longer life than the previous generation of LENOX bi-metal reciprocating saw blades.
LENOX® DEMOWOLF™ + LUMBERWOLF™
Reciprocating Saw Blades
Optimised to perform cut after cut
The DEMOWOLF blade has a tall, thick, blade profile designed to add durability and minimise blade breaks to deliver the endurance needed for rigorous demolition applications. The LUMBERWOLF blade thickness and profile are ideal for cutting through dense wood studded with nails.
Both of these blade tips are designed for easy, quick, and clean plunge cutting.
High-speed steel cutting edge and spring-steel backing helps strengthen the blade, reduce breaks, and provides durability for long blade life. •
The LENOX range of reciprocating saw blades comes in a variety of blade sizes available as singles, doubles, packs of five and even packs of 25 (for some applications). To see the full range of LENOX recip blades, visit a Sydney Tools store or sydneytools.com.au.
Most hole saws for wood and metal seem to work fine – until you hit a hardened nail or screw. Then they scream and smoke and grind until their teeth are torn off, and you still only have half a hole.
With its carbide teeth, the EXPERT Tough Material Hole Saw barely slows down when it hits metal – it cuts neatly through and keeps on cutting holes, time and again. The Bosch EXPERT Tough Material Hole Saw is a great allrounder for every tradesman – because half a hole is not even worth half a hole.
• Outstanding lifetime
Carbide Technology fuses a unique formula of carbide, one of the hardest metals on the planet, with power-tool accessories. Individually designed and welded carbide teeth ensure the best cutting performance.
• Deep cut
Advanced slot design for easy plug removal and better view of the starting point (pilot drill). Enables cutting material up to 60mm.
• Easy plug removal
Material plug can be removed easily thanks to the clever, tool-free adapter. For use with the Bosch Power Change Plus keyless arbor: offering accuracy and robustness.
Long Life Cutting Holes in Multi Material
Exceptional durability is built in with Bosch Carbide Technology. Individually ground teeth made from fine, hard Carbide. Patent slot design for better view and plug ejection.•
You can learn more about the Bosch Professional Power Tools and Accessories EXPERT range at bosch-pt.com.au.
These days it’s almost impossible for business owners to keep track of everything by themselves. That fact certainly extends to tradies, who deal with managing labourers, materials and the bevy of logistics that come with them. These factors have become more difficult to handle as the nation (and world) grapples with skills and material shortages across the board.
The Tradie has spoken to a few former tradies and contractors who made the move to Simpro to assist with their own operations. Fast forward a couple of years and they are now key stakeholders within Simpro and are educating other trade services about the capabilities of job management
about half-a-million dollars.
“We traded for a bit, but eventually we had to basically reinvent ourselves. But all the way we had the Simpro database intact from five years of trading.”
Brian said he’s all too familiar with many of the troubles faced by contractors, including the strains felt by the skills shortage.
“I know how a lot of trades are going, and how they’re about to start feeling. It seems to be a feast for some, but I dare say it’ll turn into a famine before long too,” he said.
His tip for tradies and contractors: understand what you’re good at and what makes you the
losing projects or going bust over material prices going up, which has been highlighted even more now. That’s why having good live-catalogue supply integrations to see the actual cost of materials and locking those in is so important.”
STEPHEN HASSETT
Stephen is no stranger to many of the difficulties the trade industry has faced in recent years. He co-owned a plumbing company prior to joining up with Simpro nine months ago. That meant Stephen – like many – felt the strain COVID had on the industry. While many of the issues faced were out of Stephen’s control, he said having flexible software alleviated some stress.
“When I first started, I went with a different brand of software because of the cost involved, however I started to learn there were limitations in that software,” he said. “Simpro’s software is very customisable. We’ve got everything from recurring jobs through to projects and service-based work.
“To this day, if I don’t think a potential client is going to benefit from Simpro yet, we have no problem in guiding and pointing them in the right direction.”
GARETH MORRIS
Sometimes saying ‘yes’ to every opportunity doesn’t pay off. Gareth found this out the hard way during his time running a security company before joining Simpro 10 years ago.
Gareth’s operation had him overseeing security installations and dealing with many contractors on the east coast, all the way up to Port Douglas.
“[I was] getting quotes from contractors and
working out who was best to deal with. Not just based on price, but the quality of equipment they’d be installing,” he said. “I was making sure the jobs were done on time and that customers were happy. It was a really involved service.”
Running such an extensive business unfortunately had Gareth burning the candle at both ends.
“My biggest problem was I couldn’t say no to people. They’d ask if I do something and I’d say ‘yeah’,” he said.
Much of Gareth’s time spent working involved admin that significantly slowed his operation. It’s there he found software like Simpro’s invaluable in managing the many figures flowing in and out of his business.
“One of the things with running such a diverse business was, I had no idea what parts of it were actually making money for me,” he said. “The business was very profitable, but I couldn’t tell where it came from exactly. As soon as I got my head around Simpro I was like, ‘Wow. I never imagined something like this’.
“I wouldn’t have been working the ridiculous hours I was for starters – I was re-entering things in about three different places. I’d have quotes on Word, then other spreadsheets somewhere else. I always felt like I was two days behind. Simpro would’ve cleared up a lot of those issues.”
As a Builder & Project Manager by trade, Justin Barlow understands first-hand the practical challenges trade and service businesses of all sizes face everyday.
“What started as me utilising my trade to help out a few mates who were short a body or two, on the odd weekend here and there has turned into consistent weekend work and a variety of new projects. The work keeps inflationary pressures at bay for the family, keeps me fit (and sore) and most importantly it keeps me connected to the industry”.
With a commercial background in developing and running teams and budgets across high end residential construction, professional sports, media and digital technology, Justin uses his extensive experience to drive culture, process and continual improvement as a means to achieving results.
Justin is the National Sales Manager for Simpro - the leading end to end field management software for the trades industry. •
↑ Many tradies had to navigate their businesses through the recent difficulties brought on by the pandemic.
↙ Stephen Hassett is a newcomer to Simpro, joining up about nine months ago after co-owning a plumbing outfit.
You can find out more about how Simpro can help your business by visiting Simprogroup.com or calling 1300 139 467.
When to give your business insurance a maintenance check.
Any good tradie knows maintenance is just as important as installation.
Time changes things, and the shiny, new plumbing pipes your business installed a few years ago will eventually leak. But before that leak turns into a stream, and that stream into a boggy swamp in someone’s bathroom, it’s essential to do some minor maintenance.
Your business insurance is no different. It’s likely your business is not the same as it was when you initially took out the cover.
But between everything you do, insurance can often be forgotten. Here are three times to consider giving your business insurance policy a maintenance check.
1. Business circumstances change
New technologies and regulations could make or break your business. Or maybe you have had to adapt your product or service to compete in this new environment. When circumstances change, it’s a good idea to ensure your insurance has you covered.
As the value of your equipment increases, you can update your cover to ensure you have sufficient insurance to cover you if you need to make a claim.
3. Business has grown
As your business develops, your revenue stream may increase, and new employees may be onboarded to help you keep up with the growing demand.
Ensure that when renewing your policy, it reflects the current size of your business.
The bottom line
While your business insurance is not something you have to worry about daily, it’s also not a setand-forget product.
If your circumstances change, your policy might not cover you for the current risks you face. Ensure your policy reflects the current state of your business so if something goes wrong you can be assured you’ll be adequately covered. •
↓ Much like regular maintenance, your cover can always use a tune-up.
2. New business equipment
The equipment or tools your tradie business uses are an essential part of your success. And you will inevitably need more as your business grows.
Increasing cashflow is the dream of many tradies. But like a complete bathroom reno, rarely is it a straightforward task.
Actioning your trading and payment terms can be a solid way of ensuring savings are coming in on a scheduled basis. Not all business changes can be implemented by the average tradie, however, which is why the team at Oracle Accounting & Wealth is on your side. They have a team of experts ready to help you save money and grow your business how you want. Below are some tips on increasing cashflow via terms, as well as when/ how to engage the right professional help.
Terms and conditions apply
When it comes to setting out payment terms for jobs, it’s important to put yourself first. Being too generous when it
comes setting terms for customers can be harmful for your cashflow, especially when co-ordinated with your own expenses. This caution should be doubled when it comes to offering extensions or generous credit terms, and tradies should evaluate the health of the business before agreeing. Your cashflow will benefit greatly from good credit terms from suppliers, but it’s important to remember at some point it needs to be paid in full. When it comes to buying supplies, be mindful that over-buying beyond your budget limits hurts your cashflow as well as leaves you in the lurch when it comes to paying suppliers.
Engage a professional
Establishing a firm basic business foundation can be a crucial step owners can overlook when drawing up cashflow strategies. This doesn’t mean tradies need to start breaking out the books and calculators regularly. Many of the roles, such as bookkeeping and asset management, can be outsourced to a firm such as Oracle Accounting & Wealth. As well as helping with the more complicated aspects of business, Oracle Accounting & Wealth can help train you in the basic principles. This way, you’re well-equipped to face the day-to-day business challenges that come your way.
You can get started right now by downloading Oracle Accounting & Wealth’s business-plan template. •
For the huge number of tradies who have enjoyed Bremick hardware over the decades, a new era of products has arrived: bracing systems, brackets and fixes, nail plates, connectors and tie downs, joist hangers, post supports and fasteners –available in either, galvanised Z275 steel, hot dipped galvanised steel or stainless steel 316.
The products have been cleverly designed to enhance not just the user’s experience, but also the overall quality and strength of the product.
A great example is the joist hanger range, available in a wide range of sizes.
Bremick made the hangers from 1.2mm thick material, where the competition offer mostly 1mm thickness. That’s 20 per cent added strength for the same price as the competition’s thinner product. The inclusion of a Tap-In nail prong for easier one-handed installation is another example of improved design.
We caught up with Heath Thompson from Impact Pools and Landscape. Heath was on the second stage of a job where a deck was being
built around a pool, and was able to put nearly the entire Bremick range of timber connectors and post supports into the job. He also used joist hangers, connectors, nail plates, brackets, and a range of fixings like anchors, coach screws, and UltraFast® bugles.
“Tradies are going to love the various styles available in this range of post supports,” said Heath, “from Full Stirrup Post Supports, and Full Stirrup with Solid Stem, all the way through to Half Stirrup, Half Stirrup with Solid Stem, Cyclonic & High Wind Post Support, Centre Fix Support, Centre Pin Post Support and Adjustable Post Support.
“Really, no matter what type of post support you need for your specific application, Bremick has you covered,” Heath added.
“The supports are strong and secure, and I loved that I could order all the products I needed from the one supplier and know I can trust the
brand and quality of Bremick. I’ve been using Bremick products for years and this new range has all the best qualities and manufacturing I’ve come to expect from Bremick.”
When building subframes and frames, you need trust in the quality of your hardware to have the strength to keep your work secure and rigid. After chatting with Heath about the hangers, brackets, and fixings from Bremick, he is 100 per cent confident in the new ranges.
“We used a wailing plate into the slab on this job and alternated between the Bremick Sleeve Anchors – which were great to work with – and the Masonry Screw Anchors, which are a big chunky screw, and they just keep driving,” Heath said.
“If anything, I feel sorry for the tradie who tries to remove this deck in a few decades. These hangers, triple grips and timber connectors are that good. The 1.2mm thickness of the hangers is a
u Full range of post supports
u Available in hot dipped galvanised and stainless steel 316
u 20% thicker joist hangers
of the anchors are exceptional. This deck isn’t going to move a single millimetre, thanks to the quality of these products.
“That’s exactly what your clients want to hear. On the brackets and hangers, we used a mixture of Bremick timber connector nails and connector screws just to try the different products. I really liked the fact Bremick has colour coded the screws, so any certifier can straight away recognise the correct-sized screws have been used on the job.
“Also, the screws are a great time saver on big jobs.”
Bremick has hit the ground running with these new ranges of connectors and post supports. Going by Heath’s experience, tradies will be pretty much jumping straight onto using these top-shelf products due to the clever designs, significant build quality and great price points. •
At some stage most tradies would have paid anything for a set of X-ray goggles or glasses to see what’s hidden in a wall or slab. With Bosch’s new D-Tect 200 C, you can forget about Superman X-ray vision and see what’s behind the concrete, brick, block, and drywalls.
The D-Tect 200 C Professional detects all common objects across seven wall types, with the option of four views on the 3.5” colour display. The D-Tect 200 C can detect pipes, metal objects, non-metal objects, live cables, voltage-free cables and waterfilled pipes of up to 8cm in drywall. It also detects metal objects of up to 20cm in concrete walls.
The D-Tect 200 C is equipped with Bosch Radar Technology and an improved HMI for safer and more precise detection. Tradies will appreciate the multiple view options, like Spot View, that makes detection in hard-to-reach areas much easier. Another great feature is the wall scanner allows taking a picture of the screen display and transferring the findings to a computer via the USB-C or Micro SD-card connection.
The goal of the Bosch D-Tect 200C is to enable safe drilling by showing the otherwise hidden locations of services such as cables (both live and voltage-free) and pipes filled with water. It’ll suit a huge range of tradies, including carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and anyone involved in HVAC applications.
A couple of new features on D-Tect 200 C are the new leakage-detection and distancemeasurement functions.
For our testing we dropped into a few different sites. The first one was a build of three levels and was perfect to show the wall scanner’s ability to find metal in concrete. There were piles of metal, water pipes and electrical cables under the slab.
TEST#1 CONCRETE WALLS AND FLOOR
First, we used the scanner in several of the view options to pinpoint both metal and wires in the wall. The process was as simple as turning on the D-Tect 200 C, selecting the wall material type (an important step), then placing the unit on the wall and slowly letting the four wheels run across the scanning area. We found the object-view window probably the best for our purpose as it clearly showed the depth and position of the objects, giving a great level of detail.
With the marks on the top and side of the scanner it’s easy to accurately mark the wall, slab, brick, block, or drywall where the hidden items sit. We knew from the scanning that the reo bars were set under the slab every 200mm. The scanner picked that up perfectly. We repeated the scan on the floor where we knew there was more reo was and some water pipes. Again, the D-Tect
1 Unmatched 200mm max detection depth.
2 Dan from Dan Struct putting the Bosch Professional D-Tect 200 C through its paces.
3 Unique Bosch radar scanner technology.
4 Designed for a wide range of uses, from concrete, brick, block, corefilled and drywall.
5 New features include a distance measurer and leakage detection.
200
The
The leak detector and distance measurer are great features and we tested both with excellent results.
First, to use the distance measurer, the scanner’s simply placed on the wall from where you want to start your measurement. Then, as the scanner rolls across the wall, it accurately displays the measurement.
We compared the results with a tape measure and found the Bosch was spot on. It was great for making measurements on your own from a midpoint on the wall where there was nowhere to hook the tape.
In leak-detection mode, the screen displays a graph that shows the moisture level within a wall, and the graph clearly indicates any leak. Being able to pinpoint the area of a leak like this will make the 200 C worth its weight in gold for any tradie looking to cut wall material to fix a leak.
The Bosch Professional D-Tect 200 C has plenty of great features that will make it a valuable asset for many tradies. From finding studs to avoiding steel and finding leaks, it will tick many boxes for tradies. The D-Tect 200 C will last the test of time as well with its upgradeable firmware, which will have you up-to-date every time you’re on the tools. No device is foolproof, and we would always recommend using professionals to scan important areas before drilling. •
You can pick up one of these at your local Total Tools, Sydney Tools or Blackwoods. Learn more about the Bosch detection range or search Bosch Professional Detection Tools online: bosch-pt.com.au/au/en/detectors101302-ocs-c/
u Leak detection
u Radar technology
u USB-C and SD card slot
u Depth indicator
u Multiple views
u Screenshot feature
Punches and cold chisels are right up there on the list of hand tools that should be lifelong items – ones that can be handed down to kids and grandkids. That’s the approach and mindset Kincrome has taken with the design and construction of its Punch & Cold Chisel ranges.
hardened and tempered top-grade chrome-vanadium steel – a manufacturing process which creates tools with the ideal level of toughness without being brittle – these hand tools are strong and ready to tackle the tough jobs Australian tradies will inevitably throw at them.
The cold-chisel range has a particular focus of being tough and staying sharp, with a point meticulously machined to keep the angle for cutting, shaping and demolishing everything from masonry, iron, steel, brass, bronze,
Kincrome’s punch range is huge, with some unique and well-designed punches for a specific range of tasks. Tradies and specialty workers from construction, wood, leather, carpet, craft, and many other industries and trades
From centre punches to pin punches, hollow punches, taper punches, starter punches, and some awesome combination punch sets and Punch & Chisel Sets, Kincrome has created an epic array of products to cater for the needs of a wide range of tradies and skilled workers looking for extremely tough, strong, and
With a range way too big for us to look at in this review, we decided to catch up with carpenter Glen Bell who, with fellow carpenter John, was doing
We figured it made sense to just let Glen rip into whichever of the punches 2
Glen’s site was getting close to lock-up stage, with the roof on and most of the windows and sliding doors installed, and there was still plenty of both timber and steel framework available for our testing.
First, Glen made his way around with various sized nail, taper and starter punches to sink any exposed nails and other fixings for a flush and clean surface for the plasters and to tidy up anything that could get caught on wiring.
“I was a little surprised at the weight of the first punch I picked up. It was lighter than I was expecting,” Glen shared. “But after using the punches, their strength and toughness was very evident. They sunk the nails and other items with ease. I didn’t have to really load up on the hammer at all.
“The textured finish on the punch grip offered not just a great feel, but provided excellent grip, control and precision, which is exactly what you want and need with tools of this nature.”
So regardless of if you’re using a starter punch to align holes prior to a fastener or rivet being inserted, or a pin punch to push out a pin other implements can’t reach, or simply driving exposed nails beneath the surface of the timber, the design and manufacture of this range of punches will not disappoint.
It’s a very impressive range on many fronts.
There was plenty of concrete that needed to be cleaned up in and around the areas where large sliding doors were soon to be installed, so Glen ripped in with the very nice-looking cold chisels.
“This chrome-vanadium steel is really tough,” said Glen. “Again I was surprised I didn’t have to
really load up the hammer as much as I have with other cold chisels in the past. I felt it was due to the sharpness of the brand-new chisel and the well-designed angle of the tip.
“The concrete was flying as I made my way around several of the areas we needed to clean out. This process was pretty effortless and the cold chisels and punches would have to be the best I’ve used over my career.”
There’s no doubt the success of these products comes down to both the clever designs of the cutting angles and the precision machined finish giving great strength and durability, but the hero of the Kincrome tools is the use of the hardened and tempered chrome-vanadium steel used in the tools’ construction.•
1 You will always have the perfect Punch or Cold Chisel for a specific task.
2 The hollow punch will suit many professionals working on leathers or materials.
3 The concrete is flying after a tap using the sharp edge of the Kincrome Cold Chisel.
4 Hands down the best range we’ve seen in a while.
Make no mistake, Paslode’s new PPN-Master™ has been designed and manufactured with a very clear goal in mind: to deliver nails accurately into metal connector guide holes with precision and speed that simply hasn’t been seen before.
An ongoing challenge on site is how to install metal connectors within installation guidelines (ensuring the product warranty), maintaining the structural integrity of the metal connector and the overall build quality quickly, safely, and easily. This keeps the certifier and homeowner happy. Some tradies are clustering nails or penetrating the connectors with nails at various points close to existing prefabbed holes or close to the edge of the connector. This does not fit within installation guidelines voiding the warranty on the metal connector.
The new Paslode PPN-Master has a brand-new exposed-tip design which is used by easily placing the tip of the tool directly into the hole of the bracket or connector. When firing, this same tip guides the nail into the hole each and every time. The line of sight of the contoured body is excellent and provides a clear and completely unobstructed view of the nail placement.
Apart from the precision this tool will offer, another huge benefit will be the time savings. The PPN-Master system will do in hours what previously would have taken days hand nailing or palm nailing, and where the apprentice may take two days to do a job, it can now be done in hours with the PPN-Master.
Other features to appreciate with the PPNMaster are a long fan runtime for enhanced cooling performance, left and right belt and rafter hook, Impulse-gas technology, a single shot solution and enhanced nail control providing consistent drivability and correct nail depth and placement.
We simply wanted to see just how easy it was to place the PPN nails into the holes on a range of various connector items like strapping, grips and brackets. We caught up with carpenter Christian from Waterview Constructions. Christian had just installed a pile of connectors by hand on a renovation and had plenty more ready to go in.
“I was a little cautious at first,” said Christian. “The gun’s nose is very different to those I’d seen before from Paslode. But it’s this exposed narrow beak-like tip that allows you to see exactly how the tip sits directly in the prefabricated hole on your strapping, triple grips, boots or joist hangers. Then, with the squeeze of the trigger, the tip guides the PPN nail exactly where the tip was just sitting in the hole of the connector.
“Every single nail I fired was a perfect placement into the hole. Not a single nail missed or ended up anywhere other than where I exactly wanted it.”
1 The direct line of sight for precise nail placements is the backbone of this impressive tool.
2 Hit the hole every time with the new Paslode PPN-Master Nail Gun.
3 Tip of the nose sits into the hole for exact and precise placement and is easily identifiable when installed.
4 Tradies regularly framing will save huge amounts of time with the Paslode PPN-Master.
5 Save not just hours but days compared to hand nailing nail plates, triple grips and similar products.
There’s no denying the significant time saving with the PPN-Master. A carpenter that does a lot of framing will NEED to get this tool. Not only will it save huge amounts of time, it’ll also keep certifiers happy and able to sign off on work. The days of using coil tools, cluster-nailing connectors and shooting through metal connectors indiscriminately are pretty much on their last legs. As we have all seen in the industry, the quality of the build is becoming increasingly under the spotlight and the responsibility of understanding and adhering to install guidelines sits with the builder. Paslodes PPN-Master is the right tool for the job and makes it easy for the installer to install as per guidelines and have peace of mind the job is done right. One less thing to worry about for the builder. The Paslode PPN-Master will solve most of the issues in this area, with tradies no longer needing - accidentally or on purpose - to penetrate metal connectors anywhere other than the prefabricated and correct holes.
Christian remarked, “not only was the gun extremely fast and easy to get perfect placement, but the Paslode PPN nails are designed for the job. They’re also marked on the top of the head of the nail, so certifiers will easily be able to see PPN nails have been used, along with the precision placement.”
This innovation brings the builder the ideal solution to installing metal connectors. Any product that will save time and produce work that helps tradies adhere to best-work practises, along with offering industry-leading features, is set for success. •
It’s important to get into a good safety routine before any welding or cutting procedure. Here are a few things to look out for.
Are you and your workshop safe?
Ensure your workplace is well lit and well ventilated and that it’s clean and free from flammable or combustible material. Always have a fire extinguisher handy and ensure that fume extraction is on when welding. Always ensure gas cylinders are safely restrained. Make sure you are wearing the right protection, such as safety footwear, welding helmet or goggle, and you have fireretardant clothing (not standard cotton drill) and correct welding gloves.
Check your equipment.
ALWAYS leak test equipment before use
Get in the habit of conducting a system pressure test – observe the regulator gauges for one minute. If the pressure drops there is a leak. Test for leaks by using a suitable leak-testing solution. Spray this on all connections and joints and see if bubbling occurs. If the leak isn’t found, dissemble the system and check each component separately – regulators, hoses, and hand assemblies – until the leak is found.
Does your equipment comply with standards?
It is important to ensure you employ the correct equipment for the gas you are using. Check also your equipment is manufactured according to the following standards:
• REGULATORS – AS4267.
• FL ASHBACK ARRESTORS – AS4603. Use FBAs at both the torch and regulator ends for optimum protection.
HOSES – AS1335. Make sure hoses are suitable to use with the gas you are using and that the hose length is less than 15m for mobile welding applications.
WELDING GOGGLES – AS/NZS1337.1-2010 (impact and clarity of lens) and AS/NZS1338.1 for welding filters.
Always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use your gas equipment and accessories.
Below is a guideline that will help you keep your equipment in safe working order:
REGULATORS, HOSES, HAND ASSEMBLIES and FLASHBACK ARRESTORS – visually inspect these weekly or before each use and test these items every six months. Regulators, hoses, and hand assemblies must be replaced within five years of first use. Flashback arrestors should be tested or replaced annually.
Get to know the Australian Standard AS48392001 – the safe use of portable and mobile oxy-fuel gas systems for welding, cutting, heating and allied processes. This provides the basic safety information you or your employer or contractor needs before using gas welding equipment, so read and understand this information carefully.•
↑
adheres to all the necessary safety standards needed to get the job done right.
For gas, welding and welding safety products visit BOC at boc.com.au or boc. co.nz, or drop into your local BOC store.
OPTIMISED DESIGN FOR EFFICIENT CUTTING. PRECISION SET TEETH ENABLE FAST, SMOOTH CUTS IN A WIDE VARIETY OF BUILDING MATERIALS. SEE THE RANGE AT BUNNINGS WAREHOUSE.
Hey, you! Do you want free tools? Now that we have your attention, let me tell you about Kincrome’s Tools for Life apprentice program!
I know the name is a bit cheesy, but it literally tells you everything you need to know.
In a nutshell, we have built a toolkit program dedicated to trade apprentices, and we want to tell you about it. As a trade apprentice, having access to quality tools is essential.
We know tools are expensive, but they are also a lifetime investment that can make or break a career. Therefore, it is essential to have the right tools for the job. The good news is that Kincrome’s new Tools for Life program has you covered.
With 21 different toolkits on offer, there is sure to be a toolkit to support you, no matter what trade you’re in. With that said, the program offers a whole lot more than just a great range.
Tools for Life aims to provide young tradespeople with a quality option for their trade tool needs, plus a little bit more.
With every toolkit, Kincrome offers free tools that anyone can redeem if they purchase a Tools for Life toolkit and are a certified apprentice. This offer is an excellent way for apprentices to add to their tool collection without having to spend more money. It’s a great incentive for apprentices who are starting out and need to purchase a lot of tools quickly.
The Tools for Life range offers a variety of options for trade apprentices.
For example, for those in the automotive
industry, the range includes toolkits specialised for impactrated needs, metric/ imperial jobs, and all sorts of other specialised tasks. These kits include all the necessary tools for the job and are designed to last a lifetime.
Speaking of a lifetime, our Tools for Life program is backed by Kincrome’s lifetime guarantee. Our tools are made from high-quality materials, and this quality ensures that apprentices can rely on their tools day in and day out, which is essential for anyone starting out.
Whether this is your first toolkit or an upgrade, Kincrome and Morris finance have access to tailored finance solutions to suit your needs.
The Kincrome payment method allows you to collect your tools today and pay them off weekly from as little as $8 per week. Our finance specialists are there to help you make the right choice for finance and will be pleased to discuss the options with you and any of your Tool for Life toolkits.
Further to all the offers surrounding this program, apprentices may also be eligible for an Australian government-supported “trade support loan.” Check out Kincrome’s website for details.•
↑ Top: Free tools are on the table for any certified apprentices who purchases a Tools for Life kit.
↑ Kincrome’s Tools for Life program aims to offer tailored tool kits for young tradies backed by a lifetime guarantee.
If you are an apprentice entering a new trade or changing into a different one, check out Kincrome’s full range of apprentice toolkits and all of the free tools available now at Kincrome.com.au/tfl.
TradePro™ is a trade range from Gainsborough –a leading distributor of high-quality door hardware and access solutions in Australia. Developed and tested in Australia, Tradepro™ understands style and adds the perfect finishing touch to front and internal doors.
It’s an affordable door hardware range developed for residential homes delivering security, quality and performance. TradePro™ is available in contemporary styles and finishes for the everyday needs of homes, including entrance-door locksets, internal lever and knob, and deadbolts for added security. TradePro™ can be builder-keyed and used with the Gainsborough Keying System for added convenience, delivering a complete solution. For over 50 years, Gainsborough has been at the forefront of innovation with style and security delivering superior products, servicing major home builders.
LOCKSETS – TradePro Bela and Adel Locksets feature a contemporary yet functional style for any home and are available in entrance, privacy, passage and dummy functions. Combine an
entrance leverset with a TradePro deadbolt for added security. Available in satin chrome, bright chrome and matt black finishes.
ENTRANCE SETS – TradePro Bela and Adel Entrance Sets feature a contemporary style for entrance and external doors. Equipped with the added security of a deadlocking function, they are available in satin chrome, bright chrome and matt black finishes.
LEVERS – The internal contemporary lever designs are available in privacy, passage and dummy functions to create a uniform look throughout the home. Available in satin chrome, bright chrome and matt black finishes.
DEADBOLTS - TradePro Cass and Dani are contemporary-style deadbolts in round and square styles and are designed for homes with a modern look. Featuring high-security deadlocking functions with a 25mm bolt extension to suit 60mm latches. Available in satin chrome, bright chrome and matt black finishes.•
The electric revolution for businesses, tradies and van buyers is here, with Peugeot offering its first 100 per cent electric vehicle in Australia. Now, you can enjoy every day driving that is smooth and jolt-free, all the while benefiting from impressive acceleration thanks to immediately available torque.
With Partner Van already established as a local business favourite, Peugeot e-Partner retains all the practical features and functionality of its conventionally powered petrol siblings, but with all the benefits of electric vehicle technology.
Based on the EMP2 (Efficient Modular Platform) multi-energy modular platform, e-Partner offers a 100 per cent electric engine with a maximum power output of 100kW and a maximum torque of 260Nm. The EMP2 platform also gives e-Partner easier manoeuvrability, thanks to its shorter overhangs and a reduced turning circle. Plus, e-Partner is available with a lithium-ion battery offering 50kWh of energy storage, making it a robust workhorse.
Peugeot Partner Van has been tried and tested for over 20 years by business users, delivering a level of quality that set the benchmark. Now the newest addition to this highly sought after range offers unrivalled comfort in a utility vehicle thanks to the Peugeot i-Cockpit™, as well as the freedom to choose between a petrol engine or an electric motor. Because Peugeot believes a van can be both practical and aesthetic, careful attention has been paid to the style, onboard comfort and functionality of Peugeot e-Partner.
A highly capable workhorse, with compact dimensions for city parking, e-Partner has up to 3.9 cubic metres of cargo space with dual rear swing doors allowing for easy access when loading all your gear. And because you’re on the road all day, e-Partner’s ergonomic, quiet and tech savvy cabin makes driving smooth and effortless. •
↓ The e-Partner provides excellent comfort thanks to its i-Cockpit™ layout.
↓ Much like its petrol engine counterpart, Peugeot’s e-Partner has 3.9 cubic metres of cargo space.
The iconic homegrown Mongrel Boots are about to unleash a new breed of Mongrel - revealing the all-new K9, coming soon!
After receiving overwhelming feedback from customers who were looking for a more streamlined nonsafety boot, the team got to work creating something that would fit the bill. With a nod to the evolution of workwear and embracing the crossover between work and play, they have delivered a boot that you’ll want to wear seven days a week. It’s casual, fashionable, and most importantly, supremely comfortable.
The K9’s feature Mongrel’s trademark Aussie-made quality and all the Mongrel boot tech that people have come to expect from their boots, like the AirZone Comfort System® and OrthoTec footbeds, but the beauty of this boot is really in its simplicity. Mongrel have made sure these boots do all the talking. All boot, no BS!•
Arriving online and in-store at your local Worklocker very soon!
↑ Mongrel Boots’ latest K9 offering sports the brand’s trademark features such as the AirZone Comfort System® and OrthoTec footbeds.
↓ Bigger and more powerful than its predecessors, New Trafic is designed with peak comfort and convenience for tradies.
Renault Trafic Van is a household name among Australian tradies, and the recently launched facelift is packed with work-ready features to keep it atop the shopping list for Australian small businesses.
“New Trafic is an exciting upgrade that builds on the strengths that Australians know Renault commercial vehicles for,” Renault Australia General Manager Glen Sealey said.
“With additional safety and technology, comfort and convenience, we’ve made sure that New Trafic delivers hassle-free ownership and works hard for Australian small businesses.”
New Trafic is bigger, more powerful, and much more high-tech than the outgoing model, with a hard-wearing but surprisingly car-like interior which is a very comfortable place to work dayto-day.
Its turbocharged 125kW engine is now standard across the range, giving New Trafic plenty of get-up-and-go to keep up with your workday. But power doesn’t come at the expense of efficiency, with the automatic gearbox drinking a very frugal 6.5L/100km on the combined cycle.
Fewer trips to the bowser mean more time doing business for Cameron Vella, Senior Project Manager at The Lindenvel Group, who runs a fleet of Renault Trafic Vans which each clock up to 1,500km a week. With that much time on the road, having a comfortable place to do business on the move is critical.
“The Trafic just doesn’t feel like a van because it’s so quiet and comfortable, it doubles as the work and play vehicle,” Cameron said.
“I literally do not own another car – I drive it on weekends and everywhere we go.”
All variants of New Trafic feature soft yet hardwearing upholstery and an eight-way adjustable driver’s seat.
“We chose the Renault Trafic for the cargo space and dimensions of the long wheelbase”, Cameron said. “It’s a good-looking van too which obviously impacts how we’re presenting our business.”
The headlining claim of New Trafic is that it holds the title for the longest load length among competing vans, up to 4.15m. This is thanks to the ingenious load-thru flap in the bulkhead which extends loading space under the passenger seat.
But New Trafic doesn’t only hold credentials in comfort and driveability, it’s packed with smart tech which keeps you both connected and safe on the road.
“The technology is fantastic”, Cameron said. “We spend a lot of time on the road, so a quality Bluetooth speaker system for clear conversations with clients, suppliers and trades is paramount.”
An eight-inch central touchscreen with the Easy Link multimedia system comes standard on New Trafic, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, DAB+ and USB connectivity.
Plus, to ensure you and your gear get to work in one piece, New Trafic is loaded with new safety tech such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and active emergency braking, as well as traffic sign recognition and blind spot warning on higher grades.
All examples of New Trafic are part of Renault’s commercial van five-year Easy Life Ownership, featuring a five-year/200,000km warranty, and up to five years of roadside assistance when you complete each of the five 30,000km/12-month capped-price services at a Renault dealer. •
New Renault Trafic starts from $49,000 before on-road costs. For more information, visit www.renault.com.au
HPP Lunds has released a new Australian 56-page catalogue for their JB Weld-branded products. It contains the entire range of JB Weld products including those newly released such as ValveGrinder, FiberWeld and the range of Herculiner ute bed liner products.
Each section is headed with a large photo of the product in use, and the sections are broken up into product groups such as exhaust repair, thread lockers or putty sticks. There is also a group of speciality products such as windscreen, radiator, leather and vinyl repair, tank repair, valve grinding paste and metal strapping products.
To assist customers, there are easy-to-read charts explaining the many uses for the products such as for the two-part epoxies. These charts clearly show which applications are suited to each of the tailored products. As an example, ClearWeld
is suitable for repairs to garden equipment, fibreglass, rigid and semi flexible plastics, ABS, PVC and CPVC pipes, auto trim and bumpers, crafts toys, wood, concrete, ceramic, tiles glass, gap filling and vinyl siding.
Easy-to-read charts are also included that quickly show the product attributes, the materials to which they are best suited and a rating system that, with a quick view, allows you to see which product best suits a material. These are rated in terms of Good, Better, Best.
In addition to the charts, complete product descriptions are detailed including part numbers and product sizes available.
Specialty packs are also listed such as the Essential Travel Pack of products and product display units - both counter and wire rack types. More than 60 products are listed.
•
The JB Weld Australian catalogue is available to download from https://hpplunds.com.au/j-b-weld/ or from this site https://qrco.de/bcjxKo
For a hardcopy version contact Ben Leonard on (07) 3722 1111. A QR code is also available to obtain the catalogue.
↑ The newest JB Weld Australian catalogue has plenty of great features such as suitable applications and a rating system for various materials.
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↓ Excision’s PR50 portable roller allows for ease in moving material in and out of the saw.
Have you ever cut with a saw when you can’t get your material level and struggle to move it along on your makeshift stand?
Introducing Excision’s new portable roller – The PR50! Here to solve all your headaches by allowing you to easily move your material in and out of your saw. The new roller boasts many features, including a huge height range of 90mm with 5mm increments, so you can get the correct height for every job. The height range is from 60mm high to 150mm, with an easy-to-read scale. The roller is easy to carry only weighing 1.75kg, and the PR50’s strongly built frame is rated to 50kg and includes four locating holes for easy fixing.
Made by Excision in Australia for tough Australian conditions.•
Want to take the hassle out of onsite cutting and save time? Contact Excision today.
• Huge height range from 60 to 150mm to suit all portable bandsaws and drop saws
Lightweight and easy to carry
• Four positioning holes for fixing to saw horses
• Use on site for any application
Made in Australia
Aluminium housing powder coated grey with UV stabilised polycarbonate diffuser
4500 Lumens (25W) 6300 Lumens (35W)
Charging time: 4-6 hours
Solar panel: 5V/30W (25W) & 5V/50W (30W)
Battery: 3.2V DC/30Ah (25W) 3.2V DC/50Ah (35W)
Part# TSFL25WSOLAR (25W) / TSFL35WSOLAR (35W)
Proudly Distributed by
Premixed concrete can be difficult and expensive to source in regional or remote areas. If you’re a long way from town, the premixed concrete you’ve ordered may already be starting to set by the time it arrives…that’s if you can get it at all.
It’s worth remembering industry guidelines recommend premix concrete should be placed within 90 minutes of when it’s batched. You can always set up a mobile batch plant for larger projects, but for many small to medium projects the costs just don’t stack up.
And there’s still the problem of sourcing quality raw materials on a remote site.
Bulk bags to the rescue
Cement Australia’s bulk bags of drymix concrete may be the solution.
They’re ideal for projects where you’ve only a few metres of concrete to lay, but you still want to make sure you’re using a quality product that will meet your project’s specs. Unlike 20kg bags of concrete mix, Cement Australia’s bulk bags of concrete mix can be formulated to meet specific project requirements, such as high-strength, low-drying shrinkage, or reduced carbon. Bulk bags of drymix concrete can also be supplied in various sizes up to 1.5 tonnes. The bulk bags can be delivered to a site and used as needed. Additional outer plastic wrap can also be provided to help keep the product dry while in transit or on site. Then, when you need concrete, just empty the bulk bags straight into your mixer, add the recommended amount of potable water, mix and pour.
Cement Australia’s drymix bulk bag products are manufactured at its own local production facilities, so the dosing and blending of each of the mix constituents is done
in a controlled manner and removes the excessive variability that can happen mixing on site.
It’s not just easy-to-use drymix bags and concrete products. Cement Australia also has a great range of other drymix products, including mortars, renders, grouts and stabilised sands. Just like the concrete mixes, the other products can be designed to meet specific project requirements. Remote projects can be challenging, but the quality and convenience of Cement Australia’s bulk-bag products means there’s one less thing to worry about.•
Blundstone continues to lead the way in safety footwear with its RotoFlex range.
This world-leading biomechanical design is a result of years of research into the needs of workers in trades, building and construction industries. The range includes two styles designed specifically to provide a genuine women’s fit – the wheat #8860 and stone #8863. There’s no better boots to focus on having celebrated Women in Construction Week in March.
Empowered Women in Trades (EWIT) reports females represent three per cent of the trade workforce. EWIT is one of many organisations working to support women to thrive in these industries and to encourage growth in representation. Furthermore, the NSW Department of Education reports in its Women in Trades Strategy for 2021 to 2024 that women face several challenges when entering a trade. These barriers include cultural attitudes and perceptions about what roles are ‘suitable’ for women. The team at Blundstone is constantly researching, developing and designing to make sure finding appropriate women-specific safety footwear is not one of these challenges.
The #8860 and #8863 from the RotoFlex range increase Blundstone’s women-specific offering to seven styles – including boots suitable for a range of heavy and light industries.
“Blundstone is proud to be offering two more styles to increase our women’s offering in the safety market,” Blundstone Australian Sales Manager Kylie White said.
“The #8860 and #8863 are specially designed to conform to a woman’s foot, providing all the latest
protection and comfort features found across our extensive unisex work and safety range.”
The RotoFlex #8860 and #8863 styles are an Australian-first in providing composite safety in heavy-industrial women’s safety footwear. Along with the Fortalite® compression-resistant composite toe cap, there are three key technical features that work together to deliver RotoFlex’s premium comfort and safety – the GripTek® Heavy Duty TPU outsole, AirCell footbed, and SoftCell® overarching comfort system. Supporting the comfort technology, is Infinergy® E-TPU, a super-elastic energy foam from BASF that works to reduce impact and fatigue.
Componentry aside, the key technical features that differentiate the women’s specific RotoFlex styles are the last the boots are moulded on and the AirCell footbed that has been shaped and constructed with a softer PU to provide optimal support for a woman’s build.
Research indicates women’s feet aren’t in fact smaller versions of men’s, but rather, a different shape entirely with distinct functional contrasts – and thus, the need to offer women’s specific support. Blundstone’s design team has considered several variables for their women’s specific styles – arch heights, range of motion and everything in between to ensure a better performing safety boot fit for hardworking women.
Blundstone believes women should be entitled to all the same benefits afforded to men in the construction and trade industries. In releasing the two RotoFlex women’s specific styles the brand demonstrates its commitment to the evergrowing female workforce. •
The women’s specific RotoFlex are available at participating retailers now. Put Blundstone’s innovation to work.
When Lysaght began manufacturing galvanised roof sheets in Australia over 100 years ago, it was the iconic corrugated shape that paved the way. Today this product is known as CUSTOM ORB® and it remains one of Lysaght’s most popular profiles. Not only is it being used to reroof traditional homes, but it’s also crossed construction eras and architectural styles, with CUSTOM ORB® cladding increasingly being used in the latest contemporary architectural designs. Lysaght’s corrugated cladding range has expanded to include a number of other variants, all of which are available in a wide selection of COLORBOND® steel colours and unpainted ZINCALUME® steel, providing added choice to builders, architects and homeowners. Once reserved exclusively for use as a roof cladding, current-day design trends see this versatile shape being specified in many walling applications. There are five products available within the LYSAGHT® corrugated range.
Featuring strength and rigidity and low maintenance appeal, CUSTOM ORB® is ideal for Australia’s demanding conditions. Available in a range of COLORBOND® steel colours and finishes, CUSTOM ORB® opens a world of creativity, ensuring architects’ design visions are met. CUSTOM ORB® is also available in unpainted ZINCALUME® steel to give that traditional look to projects that require it. With a nominal cover width of 762mm and suitable for minimum roof slopes of 5°, it is the economical choice for covering large surface areas. It’s also extremely strong, lightweight, easyto-install.
CUSTOM BLUE ORB® - curves with more CUSTOM BLUE ORB® is more ductile than regular CUSTOM ORB®, making it more suitable for bullnosing on traditional verandahs, or for curving into a range of concave or convex shapes. It also provides nominal cover width of 762mm and is available in all the same colours and finishes as traditional CUSTOM ORB®
Further variety can be found in the CUSTOM ORB ACCENT® range, which offers the pleasing rippling corrugated aesthetics of traditional CUSTOM ORB® but with deeper corrugations.
ACCENT® 21 allows a higher rainwater carrying capacity which makes it suitable for roof pitch designs as low as 3°thanks to its 30% deeper ribs compared to CUSTOM ORB®
With ribs that are 120 per cent deeper and 50 per cent wider than CUSTOM ORB®, ACCENT® 35 is even bolder in appearance, offers longer spanning capabilities and can be used on roof pitches as low as 2°.
As the name suggests, MINI ORB® is a mini corrugated cladding that’s ideal for both interior and exterior wall applications. It complements other LYSAGHT® roofing and walling claddings and is perfect for providing an accent or feature wall – this profile can also be used for flat or curved installations for added flexibility. •
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CUSTOM ORB® profile comes in many forms and is a staple selection for many contemporary projects.
More information on Lysaght’s corrugated range of cladding products along with technical information, case studies, design and installation guides for the full LYSAGHT® steel building product range can be found at www.professionals.lysaght.com.
Looking for a high-quality soldering kit for your professional or DIY applications? Look no further than Warren & Brown Tools, Australia’s leading provider of scope soldering irons and soldering stations.
Their extensive range of soldering tools includes 240V soldering irons, 12V soldering irons that can run off a car or tractor battery, as well as cordless soldering irons. The Scope Maxima Series Soldering Kit in particular is a comprehensive and versatile kit designed to handle a wide range of soldering situations from 25W to 100W.
The kit comes complete with a 100W soldering gun and spare tip, a 25W Soldering Iron, helping hands with alligator clips and a cast-iron base for stability, a solder sucker, a probe with a fine point and slotted end and a solder tube containing 1m of 1mm core solder. Spare tips are also available separately.
But that’s not all – Warren & Brown Tools also offers a 12V Superscope soldering iron that operates directly off a car or truck battery, making it ideal for automotive applications. And best of all, it uses the same spare parts as SS irons with the exceptions of the flex lead, which is 6m with battery clips.
Whether you’re a professional or a DIY enthusiast, Warren & Brown Tools offers a 12V Superscope soldering iron that operates directly off a car or truck battery, making it ideal for automotive applications. And best of all, it uses the same spare parts as SS irons with the exception of the flex lead, which is 6m with battery clips.
Whether you’re a professional or a DIY enthusiast, Warren & Brown Tools has you covered with their extensive range of high-quality soldering tools. So why wait? Invest in a Warren & Brown soldering kit today and experience the difference in quality and performance!
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As well as Soldering Equipment, the WB Precision Tools comprehensive range has you covered for:
Torque Setting Equipment
Hand Tools & Accessories
Workshop, Garage & Service Equipment
Wheel Torque Setting Equipment
Cylinder Head Reconditioning Equipment
For more information, to view the product range, or to find your local distributor, go to wbtools.com.au Use Promo code TRADIE at checkout for 10% off your next purchase! Valid until 31 May 2023.
200mm max detection depth
Detection of all common objects, even in narrow spots with the unique spot mode
Clear visualisation of detected objects including the new leakage detection function through the intuitive HMI
Suitable for detecting materials including iron, copper, cables and plastic pipes AVAILABLE AT
The RotoFlex range by Blundstone includes two women’s specific styles, the #8860 and #8863. These safety boots offer lightweight protection in a genuine women’s fit.
PUT OUR INNOVATION TO WORK
AVAILABLE AT PARTICIPATING RETAILERS NOW