Shop pranks

[Del Swanson]

I grew up and worked with my dad in his business. He had T.V. cameras that went through pipelines to check for cracks and leaks. He was one of the first people in the country doing this, so there wasn't a lot of equipment he could buy. We had to make most of it ourselves. We also did all of our own maintainence on our vehicles. I started working with my dad on the job when I was 12 and gained a ton of knowledge and experience. I didn't want to take over the business ( for a lot of reasons ) so when I got a Steamfitter apprenticeship, I figured I wouldn't be taken in with all the "new guy" stuff. "Go get me a Left handed wrench", "Hey, I need a box of sparks", that kind of stuff.
My first day on the job as a pre-apprentice I was teamed up with an older guy who seemed pretty sharp. When we started working he took his 6 ft. ruler out of his pocket, unfolded it, stuck it out in front of him with his arm raised looking up at the ceiling where we had to measure to install some piping. He moved his arm vertical then horizontal all with one eye closed, tongue sticking out and mumbling to himself. He then tells me to write down the numbers he gives me and then tells me to go cut the pipe. I said,"It will never fit!". He said, "Trust me, cut the pipe. If you keep your eyes open and your mouth shut, I'll teach you how to do it". It completely amazed me that it fit. I though now here's a guy I can learn from! I watched everything he did closely for the next three days as he stood on the ground and "took measurements" up at the ceiling 20ft. up and everything fit. The fourth day I ran an errand before work and ended up about a half hour early at the jobsite. I walk in and the Sonofabitch was up on a lift taking measurements for the day. He got me good.
Lets hear how you got taken or how you got someone if it's harmless like this, nothing dangerous.

 

[Del Swanson]

Sorry I didn't do a search first and there's already a thread like this. Admins please move or remove this.

 

[kams1973]

Sorry I didn't do a search first and there's already a thread like this. Admins please move or remove this.

You don't need to apologize. If you posted that story in another thread, I probably wouldn't have had the pleasure of reading it.

 

[poppop]

You don't need to apologize. If you posted that story in another thread, I probably wouldn't have had the pleasure of reading it.

X2-Good story.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Back in HS, many years ago, I worked at McDonald's. WE'd send the new guy downstairs for a bottle of steam. They would generally come back up with a CO2 tank.

 

[IH82BL8]

I used to work in a cable tv engineering office. We had an electronic equipment repair department in the building and they used something called "tuner wash". It was an spray used to clean circuit boards and had something like freon in it.

One day I got a can of it, attached the nozzle to a long piece of flexible tubing, run the tubing under the tables to the other side of the room, taped the tubing to a table leg and waited. Eventually my supervisor ended up at the right spot, so I hit the button. After a few seconds he yelped and jumped. He happened to be wearing black pants that day and, when he turned around, there was a patch of frost on his thigh.

 

[Orangestang]

Well this is not a shop prank but I bought some instant lotto tickets along with some coffee for my wife, I also had one of those fake 10k ones in there also, so when she found out she won 10k she was all ready to get it verified in her pj's, then I told her to read the back,it said you needed to go to easterbunnyland to claim the prize boy was she pissed..... Sorry if this was off topic..

 

[dirttracker18]

So many I don't even know where to start. I will break them up into posts and add as I have time:

One shop I worked at each car had to be washed before it left the shop (attention shop owners, great idea that customers loved, minimum wage kid washing, when not washing he was cleaning the shop or assisting mechanics).
Anyway he the kid thought he was a pranksters and always trying stupid little pranks.
So when I finish a vehicle, I take a jug of car wash soap and pour it in the cowl. Eveytime he swipes the hose past the cowl suds pour out. He just couldn't figure out why he couldn't get the car rinsed down.
Classic

 

[dirttracker18]

Grease on the nose piece of someones safetyglasses so when they take them off they always have grease on their nose. Simply but effective and usually not noticed by the victim.

 

[dirttracker18]

Notice on this one, cheap tool boxes only for both.

A co worker was a prankster and liked they grease on the nose peice bit (see above) or eyes drawn on glasses, rag full of grease in place of mine.
I wait until he leaves at the end of the day and get to work. He always locks his tool box. So I carefully drill out a rivet on the trim peice on the top. I then drill through the inner part of the box, insert longer rivet and rivet box closed.
Next morning I find him drilling out the lock as he thinks its messed up since he can't get his box open.
As noted, it was not a good box and was in rough shape. Not a good plan for a Snap-on box.

 

[dirttracker18]

Second tool box prank.

My dad had a guy back in the day that would always mess with his tools as a prank, grease handles and such. Not once in a while but all the time. Pranks can be funny but all the time is just annoying.
So after work one day he turns the guys box around and drills a small hole in the back and inserts a grease nipply. He takes the air greaser and pumps it full until it ozes out. Wipes down box with cleaner to remove excess and makes sure he is there early in the morning for a good laugh. Guy opens box and every drawer is full of grease to the top. Dad says the guy never mess with his tools again.

 

[GarageEnvy]

I posted this elsewhere but for those who didn't see the other thread....

I had a neighbor who was always coming up and honking the horn while I was under the hood (not a particularly funny prank BTW). One day he says he needs help changing the radiator on his car. Amazed that he knew what a radiator was and completely mystified how he diagnosed the problem I said bring it over and let's check it out. Well it was actually a transmission cooler but he was close. So I said I'll do it but I needed help. There's a chance that this thing could bleed out when I disconnect it. If you see red fluid come out when I disconnect it get in your car and race over to NAPA and get felopian tubing as fast as you can. I told him seconds counted and even had him in the car with it started. So naturally I disconnect the lines, red transmission fluid comes out, he yells "**** she's a bleeder". I say quick go to NAPA and get the felopian tubing as fast as you can. We've only got minutes to save her. Ten minutes later I get the call from my buddies at NAPA who are still crying with laughter. The neighbor burst through the door and yells "quick I need some felopian tubing, my car is bleeding out."

 

[scooterseats]

Never Seize behind the sweatband on a hard hat. The silver slowly seeps through the perforations and runs down the victims forehead. This too, usually goes unnoticed until it is everywhere. Of course, the headband has to be replaced since you can never get all of the Never Seize out.

 

[birdman1]

I worked in a radio shop in the military. Any time we had a new guy, we would insert a lengh of tubing into the rear of the unit and blow cigarette smoke in to the radio as he was tuning it. Diff. reactions from quickly turning off all switches to just running away like it was going to blow up.

 

[Chuckw]

Like someone else said, so many where to start... you said safe so we used to pull "the nickle & funnel" trick on the newbies. Several senior shop guys have their coffee cups full of water strategically placed or iin hand for readiness. One person is standing with a coin on their forehead and a large coned funnel in their pants. Object being to get the coin in the funnel. The senior guy can miss or make it , but sure as heck the newbie will want to try. You can let them try once or twice but usually after the first attempt, when the person is placing the coin on their forehead for their next try, the cups of water (or hot coffee if the didn't like ya) go into the funnel. Works EVERY TIME.....

This any many others would most likely get you fired in today's work environment.

 

[dirttracker18]

When I worked at a glass shop (auto and commercial) we would always have the new guy grind a peice of tempered glass. We would show him how to use the grinder, mark a rounded corner where it was square and tell him it was expensive and a rush. Just grind carefully until you get the rounded corner.
For those that don't know you cannot grind tempered glass, it will eventually shatter.
Very funny as we all here the glass shatter after about 30 seconds. The look on the guys face is great as he thinks he just ruined an expensive piece of glass.

 

[ZRX61]

So after work one day he turns the guys box around and drills a small hole in the back and inserts a grease nipply. He takes the air greaser and pumps it full until it ozes out.

If someone did that to any of my toolboxes, the coroner would be removing his chared remains from his burnt out car...

 

[dirttracker18]

If someone did that to any of my toolboxes, the coroner would be removing his chared remains from his burnt out car...

That beings said, you wouldn't mess with another guys tools and box everyday either. Turn around is fair play, plus we didn't have $10 000 tool boxes back then either.

You sig quote, Nikki Sixx's band right?
Sixx AM

My wife is a big fan, crew and sixx am, took me a bit but I knew I recognized it.

 

[ZRX61]

You sig quote, Nikki Sixx's band right?
Sixx AM

My wife is a big fan, crew and sixx am, took me a bit but I knew I recognized it.

Yup, 2nd album is due out either in March or May. It's been finished for quite a while, they just haven't released it yet.

 

[Falcon67]

From my own Wayback machine...

When I worked the parts counter, nube counter help in the other stores got the calls for muffler bearings, 76 Eldorado clutch parts, Massey-Ferguson turn signal lamps, Volkswagen water pumps, etc. The charged capacitor trick was always good too.

The best punk we did at the old Tandy warehouse was a guy getting married. We filled his Cutlass up to the windows with Styrofoam peanuts. Years later I saw him and he said peanuts were still coming out of places in the car. Nobody had a video camera at that time, but that car driving away with the windows down and the peanuts swirling out was incredibly funny. A wake of peanuts as far as you could see.

 

[Rickochet]

Whenever a new guy comes on board, I have my secretary deliver a message telling him he just had a phone call.

She says, "A gentleman by the name of Mr. Raff called. I didn't catch his first name because of his accent, but I believe it was something that began with a "G". His accent was unusual, almost sounding like an African accent. He asked for you to call him back ASAP at this number."

So the newbie rushes to the phone, places the call and asks for Mr. G. Raff. Of course everybody in the building is watching him make his phone call.

As soon as he asks for Mr. G. Raff, the other end of the line usually replies, "I'm sorry, but Mr. Giraffe can't come to the phone right now, as he must stay in his pen."

Then the light comes on....... the phone number was to the local ZOO!!!! And that's when the cackling and the embarrassment begins.

It is also a good time to see if the newbie has thick enough skin to withstand a long time of punishment! And it must be fun for the employees at the zoo, as they always go along with it!

 

[PCO6]

My Dad worked as a mechanic for most of his life. He was an apprenticeship counsellor for the Provincial government for about 5 years before retiring in his early 60's. His boss was a collector of "educational" certificates. He would take MANY courses, go to LOTS of seminars, etc. EVERY ONE would result in a framed certificate being hung on the boss' wall behind his desk. My Dad and a co-worker created a phony certificate that actually said "I _______ (the boss) am full of sh!t" and hung it the wall with the rest of the certificates. My Dad is now in his early 80's. Up to about five years ago, his buddy sent him the occassional picture to show that the phony certificate was still there.

 

[JamieK]

I'm in the parts dept for a dealership, and we had a new guy training. While he was at lunch, I left a note on his computer to call "Mr Burns" back about an "ashtray" for his car. He called, and blurted out what he was calling about. The number was to the local crematory. The look on his face was priceless.

 

[rickycobra]

I grew up and worked with my dad in his business. He had T.V. cameras that went through pipelines to check for cracks and leaks. He was one of the first people in the country doing this, so there wasn't a lot of equipment he could buy. We had to make most of it ourselves. We also did all of our own maintainence on our vehicles. I started working with my dad on the job when I was 12 and gained a ton of knowledge and experience. I didn't want to take over the business ( for a lot of reasons ) so when I got a Steamfitter apprenticeship, I figured I wouldn't be taken in with all the "new guy" stuff. "Go get me a Left handed wrench", "Hey, I need a box of sparks", that kind of stuff.
My first day on the job as a pre-apprentice I was teamed up with an older guy who seemed pretty sharp. When we started working he took his 6 ft. ruler out of his pocket, unfolded it, stuck it out in front of him with his arm raised looking up at the ceiling where we had to measure to install some piping. He moved his arm vertical then horizontal all with one eye closed, tongue sticking out and mumbling to himself. He then tells me to write down the numbers he gives me and then tells me to go cut the pipe. I said,"It will never fit!". He said, "Trust me, cut the pipe. If you keep your eyes open and your mouth shut, I'll teach you how to do it". It completely amazed me that it fit. I though now here's a guy I can learn from! I watched everything he did closely for the next three days as he stood on the ground and "took measurements" up at the ceiling 20ft. up and everything fit. The fourth day I ran an errand before work and ended up about a half hour early at the jobsite. I walk in and the Sonofabitch was up on a lift taking measurements for the day. He got me good.
Lets hear how you got taken or how you got someone if it's harmless like this, nothing dangerous.

HAHA This is the kind of stuff my dad did to me when I was little and working on project I thought he was god and could do no wrong but it turns out he had everything figure out before I woke up each time.

 

[82_454_shorty]

My dad used to get me with this one every once in a while.

He'd take an old condensor off of a distributor and charge it up. He'd then yell "catch" and throw me a condensor. When those suckers touched your hand they used to give you a good jolt!

 

[Jota21]

Whenever a new guy comes on board, I have my secretary deliver a message telling him he just had a phone call.

She says, "A gentleman by the name of Mr. Raff called. I didn't catch his first name because of his accent, but I believe it was something that began with a "G". His accent was unusual, almost sounding like an African accent. He asked for you to call him back ASAP at this number."

So the newbie rushes to the phone, places the call and asks for Mr. G. Raff. Of course everybody in the building is watching him make his phone call.

As soon as he asks for Mr. G. Raff, the other end of the line usually replies, "I'm sorry, but Mr. Giraffe can't come to the phone right now, as he must stay in his pen."

Then the light comes on....... the phone number was to the local ZOO!!!! And that's when the cackling and the embarrassment begins.

It is also a good time to see if the newbie has thick enough skin to withstand a long time of punishment! And it must be fun for the employees at the zoo, as they always go along with it!

We've done the same thing with Mr. Paul R. Behr... pretty lame, but then again, so are cubicles.

 

[SCutchins]

Friend of mine works with a very large woman who always plays the same lotto numbers. Whenever there is a really huge payout everyone in the office gives one person cash and he goes and buys everyone's tickets.

After one of these huge jackpots, he sends an email out to everyone with the "winning numbers", which were this lady's. She screams "I won, I won, I F*CKING WON!!" and then proceeds to run down the hall screaming "F you" to everyone, including her boss. Not only that, and my friend swears he saw it, one of her ***** pops out of her shirt and she doesn't even notice it because she's too busy yelling F YOU.

I'm assuming she got her shirt back on before profusely apologizing to the boss.

 

[Herb]

Grease, that is for amateurs! I've used red RTV a couple of times, same guy! I don't know why he couldn't smell it, but it was funny when he tried to remove his glasses and they were stuck to his nose!

 

[Herb]

Another good one for people who leave their styrofoam coffee cups sitting around full of coffee is to super glue them to the shelf or counter. The heat makes the glue set up fast and hard.

 

[daveroy]

We had the typical USAF standards.

Hey Newbie, go down to supply and requisition:
1.) 100' of flight line.
2.) 2 Gallons of prop-wash
etc.

Once I moved over to the IT side it was fun sending airman looking for the bit bucket, or the network cable stretcher.

We send one new airman who thought his 5hit didn't stink to go get the bit bucket... so he comes back claiming the guys at supply said it didn't exist. So the senior NCO of the unit jumps in this guys face telling him they are pulling his leg cause he's a newbie. Now go get it! and don't come back till you do. We went to his dorm room about 4 hours later and he was just layed out watching TV. He figured it out on his way over there and thought He would turn it around on us.

 

[bondsman]

Here is an old Navy one.... The mail bouy watch... Take a young bootcamp and place him on the fantail with a boat hook all dressed out in a huge kapok (big old life preserver), goggles, hard hat, gloves, harness, fire boots. Then tell him that he is to watch for the mail bouy and collect the mail bags as we float by. They usually figure it out within a half hour.... There are many more like the BT punch, 100' of water line or chow line, bucket o' steam. Them were the days..

 

[ToyMeKaNeK]

Several thick tie wraps placed around the drive shaft of your prankster buddy's truck.
Remember the base ball card in your bike spokes? Great payback. Try it. No harm done.

 

[dcovey]

In the military we have an oil analysis program where an oil sample is taken and sent in to the lab to be analyzed. Since this is taught in a mechanics AIT he can expect to pull these samples.

While stationed in Korea I had a new private come into my office with a clear 35 gallon trash bag that looked as though he had blown it up like a balloon. When I asked him what he needed he stood at attention and said his sergeant had sent him to me with the exhaust sample I had asked for..

Of course everyone in the office fell out of their chair..

Dave

 

[BigRed390]

In the military we have an oil analysis program where an oil sample is taken and sent in to the lab to be analyzed. Since this is taught in a mechanics AIT he can expect to pull these samples.

While stationed in Korea I had a new private come into my office with a clear 35 gallon trash bag that looked as though he had blown it up like a balloon. When I asked him what he needed he stood at attention and said his sergeant had sent him to me with the exhaust sample I had asked for..

Of course everyone in the office fell out of their chair..

Dave

HA!!! That's a good one! My co-workers are now staring at me for laughing...

 

[41ratrod]

I was working in a maintenance shop and one of the guys was always put putting
other peoples tools in his tool pouch.We always new where our missing tools were.So one day when he was gone we spray painted his tools blue.

Other guy was real jumpy so one Halloween I tied one of those fire crackers with the strings to the inside of his tool box scared the **** out of him.
He was also scared of spiders so we always had to put fake spiders on and around his box.
On the second shift one of the guys had a tool box that was mounted under a work bench and swing out into the shop. Someone welded the lead close and the hing
so it wouldn't swing.
Had a dumb parts girl (but real pretty and had bigTE#) she would get orders for stuff like left handed door knobs ,HD ski hooks,ect.

 

[Printer Mike]

Didn't know the parties involved, but I heard a Delta airplane mechanic drove his car home from work in Atlanta rush-hour traffic with a "Gay, and proud of it!" bumper sticker...

 

[MetalCutter]

Empty the sugar container at the coffee pot and re-fill it with salt. I drink my coffee black now.

 

[Vicegrip]

When I was 14 and working for a plumber I got sent to the truck for a pipe stretcher. Went to the truck and ate my lunch while reading the bosses ******* fished from under the front seat. He was some kind of pissed when he came out 10 min later.

 

[TheGrooveking]

I did that to another tech back in the early 80's. The guy thouight he was a lady killer, so we drilled and riveted (using my brand new 7.2 volt Makita cordless drill)to the inside of his rear bumper a small piece of sheet metal that we painted white. Upon it we wrote in ********* marker "I am gay! Honk if your *****!", we riveted to a piece of rubber weather striping that was for a semi-trailer door(reefer). This worked great because when the car was idle the sign laid up under bumper of his Lincoln Mark V, but when got up to about 30 the windage under the car made the little sign come down so you could read it from behind. This drove him nuts for over two months with people honking at him and laughing and waving!! He finally found it when he dropped his keys while trying to open his trunk, he saw it and ripped it off. The next day we came into the shop and he had nailed it to the bulletin board, so one of the other techs took it and went into the locker room and drilled/riveted it to his locker. The guy ended up quiting about a month later.

TheGrooveking

 

[Torque1st]

^^^Lots of good stuff!

Order a "special" magazine subscription or toy for the boss or co-worker delivered to the office. It usually puts them on all kinds of mailing lists so the deliveries never stop.

Drop a heavy plate on the floor when the B-T shop clerk walks buy. Makes for an interesting bounce.

Rig an extension cord with a electrolytic cap or 1/2 Watt resistor plugged into the end. Place "loaded" end in/under a project. Plug other end in at the appropriate time.

Plastic containers with a small piece of dry ice in them placed strategically. !!BOOM!!

Extra wheel weights on tires.

Disconnected shocks.

Use a needle greaser and run a bead of grease under the window seal strip.

Silicone RTV or super glue in locks on junk tool boxes or lunch boxes.

Plastic pipe cement seals plastic lunch boxes real well.

Brake hose clamps on pressurized lines (don't let the subject drive away).

Black grease on the underside of floor shift knob or headlight switch etc.
Clear silicone grease at same points.

Glitter in the heater ducts.

Dead fish/bird/rat in the trunk or under seats.

BTW, I have been the recipient of some of these.