Using **** Tools while laying in the snow........*****!

[youtanut]

I had to do a little alternator repair on my 83 Toyota pick up, so being 40 miles from all my Snap on tools I thought I would run by and borrow a buddys tools and make it a quick job.......NOT!

A busted lip, frozen feet and 2 hours later the damn truck is still in need of the same alternator repair.
He had one, yes one 3/8 drive extension and at some point in the past used it on an impact and the damn socket fell off and hit me in the face 3 times!
Pry bar slipped and hit me in the lip all while laying on a towel in six inches of snow.

Now I know your saying,damn this dude is a dumb a**, and while that may be true the only reason I would do such a dumb a** thing is I need to drive this truck that 40 miles in the morning to go plow snow at work.

I guess my only point is I hate not having the right tool and I hate not having quality tools even more!

 

[JimDon]

Towel won't help you much with snow. Get a good sized cardboard box next time. Open it up so it is laying flat. Preferably a heavy one with the parafin coating. Will let you slid under with ease and also help to keep you dry. Yes, crappy tools are the s--ts. Makes us appreciate our good tools all the more. Hope you get it fixed.
Jim

 

[WHT]

More than once as a student, I had to lie on my back in a foot of snow under a broken down old car to keep it running and make a class. Putting on a new exhaust system was the worst experience since it took several hours in 20 degree weather. My tools were crappier than the car. And, yes, I used pieces of cardboard when they were available.

 

[atomicpunk]

+1 on the cardboard to lay on, had to that a few times.

 

[bhalv]

I find that appliance boxes are the best, nice and think so it usually takes a while for **** to soak through them.

 

[expfcwintergreen]

My car has a lot of miles on it so I keep a tarp under the front seat, and at the very least, 7-19mm 3/8 drive sockets, spark plug socket, two extensions. ratchet and breaker bar, 6-19mm combination wrenches, adjustable wrench, 3 phillips and 3 slotted screwdrivers, needle nose and channel lock pliers, and a magnet all in a Klein 5139 tool bag under the hood, toward the side where it misses most of the heat. These are all basic Craftsman tools. I usually keep a tool bag on each side of the console, one under the front seat, and a bigger bag underneath the spare tire in the trunk for tools that aren't used as much but usually don't have to go into these for most things that come up.

Even at home where I have a basic set of SK and Snap-On tools, I usually don't bring them out unless I am doing something that looks like it will become really involved because I can usually work out of the bag of tools under the hood, and I am too lazy to lug the ones inside, outside.

 

[99LeCouch]

Yep, that's why there's a little tool set in the trunk made up of good, inexpensive tools. If it breaks, oh well. If it saves my ****, fantastic!

 

[slip knot]

I'm not sure if any tools will make me feel better about working while lying in the snow. Down here we seem to wait it out. if ya stay inside long enough that white **** on the ground will go away.

I really don't know how you guys can deal with a winter of ice and snow.

 

[WVBrady]

It helps to be young. When I was much younger, I relined my brakes when it was -20 F (although, I was in a carport). My dad had died that year and my mom wanted to spend Christmas with my brother's family.

 

[Flatintoone]

WVBrady,
The first question that comes to mind is, Does being in a carport really help all that much when it's -20 F???

 

[dwm]

WVBrady,
The first question that comes to mind is, Does being in a carport really help all that much when it's -20 F???

Sure. It's sort of like the ragtop on a vintage British roadster: it keeps the top of your head dry.

 

[jhelrey]

Wtf!?!?!?

You have snow? I hate you!

 

[dieselmike]

if i was in the US id be in the south so fast it'd make your head spin

 

[pipsters]

AAA Plus is I think $100/yr and covers two people. I think one is around $60 or $70. Used it a few times you get 4 tows a year for free with it up to 100 miles.

 

[punkenduro]

and this is why i live in cali, its still just 65 out.

 

[slipjointed]

Tarp, then cardboard... plus a little plug in wall heater if you have it. That pretty much makes it bearable. It also doesn't hurt to run the vehicle just until the block warms up... also will help with sticky bolts. Obviously that doesn't work if the repair needed prevents the vehicle from running before starting said repair. Luckily I moved to the desert quite some time ago, so I haven't had to deal with snow. I have the opposite problem... things here get so hot that you can cook eggs on them, literally.

 

[greasemonkey44]

its 65 right here too lol
its a ***** working in the weather tho; had to change a starter solenoid for a big cummins engine in the pouring rain one time. Even with the hood closed it was still raining on me; 10 minutes after i was done it eased up

 

[canuckian]

spent many years fixing my junk (vehicles, ATV's and snowmobiles) laying in snow, slush, mud...you name it. A nice cushy piece of cardboard isn't always easy to come by and a tarp is even more rare if you're not in your own element. The absolute biggest piss off I find is when a small fastener that is absolutely needed for the repair to be effective decides to fall behind your head in the slush/snow with just enough dirt mixed in to make the fastener disappear just when your extremities start to go numb from being cold and wet. oh, and i firgot....it's dark outside!!
Those memories help me appreciate the shop and tools I have now!!

 

[kv501]

I live in Blizzardville, USA, and I'm fairly sure lying in snow with any tool *****.