Wrenching practices to avoid...

[Ruger_556]

Since apparently slowing your impact socket with your hand to avoid slinging bolts and sockets across the shop is the equivalent of using chrome's on an impact. I always wear heavy gloves and I've never worried about it before but I've never broken an impact socket after the fastener broke free but is it possible? What are some wrenching habits for a new tech like myself to avoid? 19 yo and I'll have my Associates in diesel technology by the end of June. I've been working on trucks for 2 years and heavy equipment for a year before that.

 

[KnurledNut]

Dont try to remove a stuck fastener from a socket by sticking your finger in it while still on the impact gun.

 

[_vin_]

Clean up mushroomed chisels.

Wear safety glasses.

Don't try to be a hulk in the shop, ask for help-use crane.

If something feels unsafe, follow your gut and stop doing it.

 

[redwrench60]

Avoid pushing hard on a wrench or other tool to break loose a bolt. Pull instead so you won't lose your balance when it breaks loose or the tool slips off the fastener.

Avoid standing directly inline with anything spinning real fast. (grinding wheel, cutoff wheel, tire balancer table saw blade ect.)

Don't stand with your nuts pointing at a tire you're seating the beads on.

Don't hold an object you're drilling still by standing on it.




Don't **** in a creek with your *** pointed upstream.

 

[00S4Boy]

I dunno for trucks and heavy equipment.

But for 3/8 and 1/2 inch I have my hand on the socket all the time and I only wear latex exam gloves, and sometimes you gotta use a chrome on an impact just the way things go.

By the book and actually working on stuff are vastly different.

Sure by the book never use a chrome on an impact and don't hold a socket, and wear a face shield/dust mask if grinding, and wear safety glasses and use #4 shade goggles using the torch.

Use common sense and learn from your experienced coworkers.

 

[aballl18]

Always try to lay you parts out in order they came off. so you can work backward when going back together.

If you are working on new trucks. be sure to look the torque spec about every month or so as new or updated parts might require different spec.

 

[Ruger_556]

always try to lay you parts out in order they came off. so you can work backward when going back together.

That I already do and every fastener goes back where it came from if I know I won't finish it by the end of my shift. We're a two shift shop and if you don't lay it out with everything in it's place it can be impossible for night shift to put back together.

 

[aballl18]

Yea i work on night shift at a International dealer. LOL

 

[Mr.3-5-7]

if you feel like you must get in on the funny pranks and shenanigans going on, do not, i repeat, do not mess with another techs tools. It will only get much much worse for you if you do that. But if someone decides it would be funny to mess with your box, you have free reign to destroy his life.

 

[heavyop]

By the book and actually working on stuff are vastly different.

I disagree with that statement.
It follows the "I have always done it this way and haven't got hurt Yet" Mentality.
Use the proper tool for the job. If you don't have it, get it.
Always use your protective equipment.
It isn't pretty when a grinding wheel comes apart.
There is never a time when you can't use safety controls to protect yourself.
If you see something unsafe stop the job.

 

[Filson]

Ears and mind open. Ask all questions that come to mind. If your not sure, stop and seek assistance. Safety, safety, safety. Go home with all your digits.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Here are a few:

Read this thread about getting fingers near a spinning impact.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153382

Here is the primitive Pete GM training film from the 40s

Part1.

Part2.

Chris

 

[larry_g]

Every time I have to break a fastener loose or pry something I do it in away that if the tool breaks I will not bash my hand or fall due to the force releasing.

If pushing on a wrench do so with an open palm, it saves the knuckles.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[nicksnothereman]

Since apparently slowing your impact socket with your hand to avoid slinging bolts and sockets across the shop is the equivalent of using chrome's on an impact. I always wear heavy gloves and I've never worried about it before but I've never broken an impact socket after the fastener broke free but is it possible? What are some wrenching habits for a new tech like myself to avoid? 19 yo and I'll have my Associates in diesel technology by the end of June. I've been working on trucks for 2 years and heavy equipment for a year before that.

Just loosen it with impact and remove the bolt with your fingers (or use a lower setting). With gloves it shouldn't matter to yourself but it can be bad to do to the tool (the impact wrench itself) because it's not freely spinning (more wear/tear). For the sockets themselves? Doubt it matters.

 

[Cadillac fan]

If you do happen to have to weld something tell people first. Don't just start welding without warning. I have been in a couple of workshops where people just get the welder out and start using it.

If you are not sure of something ask for help.

Never catch anything that you have dropped or that has fallen.

When working on anything electrical make sure the battery is disconnected and try not to complete the circuit whilst working on it.

 

[justanengineer]

Having repaired many crossed threads, start threads by hand, clean the dirt/rust/**** out of them before installation, and when in doubt about its quality or condition throw it out!

 

[dragonballz]

Avoid pushing hard on a wrench or other tool to break loose a bolt. Pull instead so you won't lose your balance when it breaks loose or the tool slips off the fastener.

Gotta disagree here. As long as your stance, balance, and muscle control is good. You'll be fine with either pulling or pushing.

Always assume you will slip off or break it loose... This will help you get your initial stance correct.

 

[redwrench60]

Gotta disagree here. As long as your stance, balance, and muscle control is good. You'll be fine with either pulling or pushing.

Always assume you will slip off or break it loose... This will help you get your initial stance correct.

.......m-kay. But we agree it's bad to stand with your nuts pointing at a tire while seating beads?

 

[Jmatlock88]

Resist the temptation to bang on a wrench (or anything) with your hand in substitute of a hammer or mallet. A tap with a soft brass hammer will remove a stuck wrench.

Use a bench brush and pan. Do not wipe away metal shavings with your hand or attempt to remove burrs by hand.

 

[bimmerZ5]

subscribed. love threads like this.. always plenty to learn from the veterans on this forum.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Gotta disagree here. As long as your stance, balance, and muscle control is good. You'll be fine with either pulling or pushing.

Always assume you will slip off or break it loose... This will help you get your initial stance correct.

Most important thing. Also make sure to wipe down the surface areas on the floor if you're pushing hard in case there's oil on there.

 

[Hawke]

When drilling something, never put your other hand near the hole being drilled. Drills bits break, broken drill bits go through your finger very easily.

I have a 1/8th hole in my thumb as a result of this.

 

[Skin]

Wear safety glasses.

This. Buy the most comfortable pair you can find and wear them every minute of your work day. You can even get them in prescriptions if you need them.

 

[Geurt]

lending it to someone else

 

[The Ratchet Man]

Gotta disagree here. As long as your stance, balance, and muscle control is good. You'll be fine with either pulling or pushing.

Always assume you will slip off or break it loose... This will help you get your initial stance correct.

If you must push, at least do so with an open hand. Your knuckles will thank you.

 

[Pumpman1968]

Your 3 most important tools are your head and your hands..........always use your head first.

Everybody knows something that you don't. I've been wrenching for almost 30 years, albeit not automotive, and I often watch what the other guys are doing. People have been in different situations and may know different approaches to your work. At the very least, pay attention to what the other guys do, you can also learn what NOT to do.

 

[firebox40dash5]

Don't **** up the old parts until you're sure that a) you can get a new one, b) the new one will work, and c) that the customer is willing to pay for it. After that, you can bust out the hot wrench, sawzmost, or BFH.

"I think my wheel bearing is shot."
{screws up unit bearing getting it out of knuckle}
"Oh, well... I really just wanted you to tell me if it was bad. Can you put it back in?"

 

[rumb]

Never use grease in ratchet! Only SAE30 OIL!

I made mistake in my GEDORE U-20 1993, in summer it works like butter, but in -10C grease get cold and it slips, some tooth now have little damage! :///

 

[KSB]

When servicing tires put them in a cage to inflate. Especially when working on multi piece/split rims.

Take the air out of a two piece rim assembly before taking the rim nuts off.

 

[woody 73]

Start out with these:

http://industrialsafetygear.com/har...exact)&utm_term=safety glasses&utm_creative=e

Followed by these:

http://www.cabelas.com/category/Hearing-Protection-Enhancement/104381280.uts

Then:

http://www.safeshoes.com/

That should get you off to a good start.

 

[rlitman]

Make sure the fill cap opens, before you pull out a drain plug.

If you're working on your own daily driver car in your driveway, make sure you can get a ride to the parts store, or be able to walk there before they close for the day.

 

[torqueman2002]

Stand to the side when starting and using a grinder; not directly in front of it - in case the stone(s) should come apart.

Don't try to slow/grab an impact/drill with latex gloves on; they'll catch on the tool and wrench your wrist.

Use a punch/drift/chisel holder when beating on them.

 

[Cadillac fan]

Another from me:

Try not to use pliers to hold/grip a nut when undoing a bolt. something that works for me is getting a ratchet and holding it on the nut and using a ratchet on the bolt. I can't remember what way they need to be but as you twist the ratchets both move and it makes it so much easier to undo.

 

[youngridge]

Safety glasses always
use floor dry
sweep often
dont double wrench
use the right tool for the right fastener
mechanics gloves as well as a heavy insulated pair
examine your tools, chrome chips, cracks, etc. Chrome slivers ****
Be careful when you torch and weld, know whats around you, and let the people around you know whats going on. Never work in a shop by yourself, and use hydraulic stops!

 

[jfcasey]

Don't be too lazy to swap the cutting tip off the oa torch in favor of the brazing tip when you are heating stuff up in tight quarters, and always have some freakin water or an extinguisher near by!

Don't put anything under a car thats in the air if you can avoid it... cuts your chances in half of setting the car down on stuff.

 

[PCO6]

When trying to break loose a tight nut, bolt, screw, etc. it's sometimes better to tighten it slightly before you loosen it. It breaks the rust, dirt, crud, etc. seal.

 

[androy]

If you clean parts on top of a garbage can with brake cleaner , move it away before welding something in the vise that wright on top of it... not that i ever did it and lost my eyebrows doing it ...

 

[shamrock12]

A newbie who I was working with recently learned the hard way by breaking a bolt loose while laying down with his face right next to the jack stand. The recoil from sudden release of torque caused his mouth to smack onto the stand. Lucky for him, no broken tooth, just a busted lip.

 

[98nismo]

I didn't know they had a video of the ABC's of hand tools. I enjoied the book PDF style of it. It covers some more tools aswell.
http://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-heritage-archive/Service_and_Training/ABCs_of_Hand_Tools.html

 

[AV tinker er]

Use a torque wrench, you'll have that to fall back on if something goes wrong.

Steel toes, all safety gear for that matter. I would rather look silly that lose an eye....


Fix all: drive a nail in it then bend it over or tighten or until it pops then back of a 1/4 turn.