In Dinkum, knowing what to keep and what to part with can make a huge difference in your long-term success. While it’s tempting to offload excess items for quick Dinks, some materials are far more valuable when kept for crafting, quests, or future upgrades. As someone who’s spent countless hours on the island, here are 22 Dinkum items you should never sell — at least not without serious consideration.
1. Old Contraption
This mysterious machine part might seem like junk at first, but it’s essential for crafting critical tools like the Quarry or Tele-Tower. Hold on to every single one.
2. Iron Ore
Iron Ore is notoriously harder to find than its copper and tin counterparts, yet it’s necessary for crafting high-end tools. Always save it for upgrades.
3. Opal
Opals fetch a high price, but resist the urge. They’re used for crafting decorative lighting and can sometimes be requested in high-value favors.
4. Beehive
While it sells for a decent price, beehives can be turned into Bee Houses for a sustainable supply of honey — a much better long-term investment.
5. Sprinklers
Once crafted, sprinklers are extremely useful for farming. If you’ve accidentally made too many, store them rather than selling. You’ll likely expand your farm.
6. Fertilizer
Getting Fertilizer isn’t easy, and it’s essential for maximizing crop yields. Always keep your supply stocked, especially during growing seasons.
7. Wattle Brew
This stamina-boosting drink is too valuable in combat and mining situations to sell off. Store it for when you’re heading into deep mines.
8. Bush Lime
You might think Bush Limes are common, but they’re frequently used in cooking recipes and early-game stamina recovery. Keep a stack in your storage.
9. Quartz Crystal
Used in several late-game recipes, including lighting, Quartz Crystal becomes more useful the further you progress. Don’t offload these too soon.
10. Gum Logs
Despite being easy to obtain, Gum Logs are a foundational resource for furniture and construction. You’ll be surprised how fast they disappear during building sprees.
11. Palm Wood
Crafting tropical-themed decor often requires Palm Wood. Keep it on hand if you plan to develop themed sections of your settlement.
12. Hardwood Plank
This processed resource is required for some of the most advanced crafting recipes. It’s not something you want to sell, even for quick Dinks.
13. Shiny Stone
You can break these down for ores using a grinder, making them far more valuable than their initial appearance suggests.
14. Flour
Flour is used in many cooking recipes that boost stamina or health. Making it is time-consuming, so never sell off your supply lightly.
15. Animal Food
While not technically rare, Animal Food is essential for farming productivity. You’ll regret selling it when your chickens stop laying eggs.
16. Cement
Crafting cement takes both resources and time. Since it’s a core ingredient in many crafting projects, always keep some in your workshop.
17. Copper Ingot
Even when you’ve moved on to iron, copper remains essential for various recipes. Hold on to your stockpile for future construction.
18. Spinifex Resin
This sticky substance is used in torches and other useful items. It’s not a flashy resource, but one that adds up in value over time.
19. Mangrove Stick
Required for certain fish traps and other crafting items, Mangrove Sticks are deceptively useful and not always easy to gather in bulk.
20. Jellyfish
Although weird, jellyfish can be used in cooking and for completing tasks. They also store well and can be surprisingly hard to find on demand.
21. Permit Points
Not technically an item, but Permit Points are so vital that spending them on early licenses rather than selling resources for quick cash is the smarter move.
22. Alpha Materials
When you defeat Alpha animals, they drop rare items like Alpha Antlers or Alpha Claws. These are incredibly useful in crafting powerful weapons — do not sell them.
Selling items is part of every Dinkum player’s routine, but choosing what not to sell can be just as important. Hoarding certain materials early will save you hours of grind later when you need them for building, crafting, or completing quests.
If you’re ever short on essentials, it’s smarter to buy Dinkum Items from trusted sources or find cheap Dinkum Items that give you a quick boost without sacrificing your long-term strategy. Many experienced players use services like U4GM to stock up on rare or time-consuming resources without derailing their gameplay focus.
So before you head to John’s Goods with a full backpack, take a second look — the item you’re about to sell might just be the key to your next big milestone.