Dinkum, the charming Australian outback-inspired life sim, offers a delightful mix of crafting, exploration, and town-building. Crafting is at the heart of creating your ideal island setup, whether you’re aiming for a cozy homestead, a thriving farm, or a bustling town. With so many items to craft, it can be overwhelming to decide which ones are worth your resources. After countless hours exploring the bush, I’ve compiled a list of the 19 best Dinkum Items to craft in Dinkum to help you build your perfect setup. These picks prioritize functionality, efficiency, and aesthetics to elevate your gameplay experience.
1. Crafting Table
The Crafting Table is your starting point for most creations in Dinkum, available from day one in Fletch’s Base Tent. It’s essential for crafting basic tools, decorations, and other workbenches like the Cooking Table or Table Saw. You’ll want to craft an extra one for your own tent to save time running back to the Base Tent.
Materials: 6 Planks, 4 Nails
Why It’s Great: Unlocks a wide range of recipes and is the backbone of your crafting progression.
2. Advanced Crafting Table
An upgrade to the standard Crafting Table, the Advanced Crafting Table pulls resources from nearby chests, so you don’t need to carry everything in your inventory. It’s a game-changer for streamlining your crafting process.
Materials: 3 Copper Bars, 4 Tin Sheets, 10 Hard Wood Planks
Why It’s Great: Saves time and inventory space, making large-scale crafting projects much easier.
3. Cooking Table
Food is critical for maintaining health and energy, and the Cooking Table lets you whip up dishes like Fruit Salad or Roasted Wattle Seeds that boost your stats. Place it near your farm for easy access to ingredients.
Materials: 4 Planks, 2 Tin Sheets
Why It’s Great: Cooked foods restore more health and energy, and some provide buffs like increased stamina regeneration.
4. Billy Can
The Billy Can takes cooking to the next level by allowing you to make jams and drinks, such as Banana Jam, which boosts movement speed and stamina. It’s perfect for long exploration trips or intense mining sessions.
Materials: 3 Tin Sheets, 1 Copper Bar
Why It’s Great: Offers portable buffs that make daily tasks more efficient.
5. Table Saw
The Table Saw converts logs into planks, a staple resource for building structures and crafting furniture. It’s a must-have for expanding your town and unlocking new recipes.
Materials: 6 Planks, 2 Tin Sheets, 1 Copper Bar
Why It’s Great: Planks are used in nearly every building project, making this workbench indispensable.
6. Furnace
The Furnace smelts ores into bars, which are crucial for crafting advanced tools and structures. It’s a key step toward upgrading your gear and unlocking high-tier recipes.
Materials: 5 Stone, 3 Copper Ore, 2 Quartz
Why It’s Great: Enables crafting of metal-based items, opening up new possibilities for your setup.
7. Quarry
The Quarry is a passive resource generator that produces ores and old items daily. Place it strategically in your village to collect materials without constant mining.
Materials: 5 Iron Bars, 5 Copper Bars, 10 Quartz, 100,000 Dinks
Why It’s Great: Provides a steady supply of resources, reducing the need for tedious mining trips.
8. Metal Detector
The Metal Detector helps you find buried treasure like Shiny Discs and Old Keys, which can be sold for Dinks or used for crafting. It’s a great early-game investment for boosting your economy.
Materials: Purchased from John’s Goods for 6,000 Dinks (requires Metal Detecting License)
Why It’s Great: Uncovers valuable items and supports early-game income.
9. Basic Hammer
The Basic Hammer is one of the first tools you can craft and is essential for breaking rocks and gathering stones. It’s a stepping stone to better tools but remains useful early on.
Materials: 8 Stone, 1 Tin Bar
Why It’s Great: Affordable and necessary for early resource gathering.
10. Copper Pickaxe
An upgrade from the Basic Pickaxe, the Copper Pickaxe mines faster and can break larger rocks, giving you access to more resources like iron and quartz.
Materials: 1 Copper Bar, 2 Hard Wood Planks
Why It’s Great: Speeds up mining and unlocks new resource nodes.
11. Iron Spear
The Iron Spear is a reliable weapon for hunting animals and defending against threats like crocos. It’s faster and stronger than the Basic Spear, making combat safer and more efficient.
Materials: 1 Iron Bar, 2 Spinifex Resin, 2 Flame Sacs, 2 Hard Wood Planks
Why It’s Great: Improves your combat capabilities, especially for tackling tougher enemies.
12. Animal Trap
Animal Traps let you capture critters and animals for profit or donation to the museum. They’re a great way to earn Dinks passively while exploring.
Materials: 2 Tin Sheets, 2 Hard Wood Planks
Why It’s Great: Provides a steady income stream and supports museum completion.
13. Crab Pot
Crab Pots catch crabs in shallow water, which can be cooked for food or sold for Dinks. They’re a low-effort way to gather resources while you focus on other tasks.
Materials: 2 Tin Sheets, 1 Copper Bar
Why It’s Great: Passive resource collection that complements your fishing efforts.
14. Scarecrow
The Scarecrow keeps birds away from your crops, ensuring your farm’s productivity. It’s a must for serious farmers looking to maximize their harvest.
Materials: 3 Hard Wood Planks, 1 Spinifex Resin, 1 Old Gear
Why It’s Great: Protects your crops, saving you time and resources.
15. Sprinkler
Sprinklers automate watering for your crops, freeing up time for other activities. Place them strategically to cover multiple plots.
Materials: 2 Copper Bars, 2 Quartz, 1 Old Spring
Why It’s Great: Reduces daily maintenance, making farming more efficient.
16. Bee House
Bee Houses produce honey over time, which can be sold for a good price or used in cooking. They’re a fantastic passive income source for your town.
Materials: 4 Hard Wood Planks, 1 Iron Bar, 1 Jarrah Log
Why It’s Great: Low-maintenance and profitable, perfect for scaling your economy.
17. Wooden Torch
The Wooden Torch provides light for nighttime exploration or adds a cozy vibe to your town. It’s cheap to craft and enhances aesthetics.
Materials: 2 Hard Wood Planks, 1 Spinifex Resin
Why It’s Great: Improves visibility and adds charm to your setup.
18. Rock Path
Rock Paths are a simple way to beautify your town and create clear walkways. They’re affordable and make navigation easier for you and your NPCs.
Materials: 3 Stone
Why It’s Great: Enhances town aesthetics and organization without breaking the bank.
19. Gum Log Seat
The Gum Log Seat is a stylish piece of furniture that adds personality to your home or town square. It’s a great way to make your setup feel lived-in.
These 19 items are the backbone of a thriving Dinkum setup, balancing utility, efficiency, and aesthetics. Prioritize crafting workbenches like the Crafting Table, Table Saw, and Furnace early on to unlock more recipes, and invest in passive income sources like the Quarry and Bee House for long-term gains. With these items, you’ll be well on your way to building the outback paradise of your dreams.
