Wrenching practices to avoid...

[torqueman2002]

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 ...

DO NOT clean parts with brake cleaner that are to be welded or heated.

Read this warning and story, please. (I know it's been posted before on this site; but it is worth repeating)
Common Cleaners Can Turn Into Poison Gas
http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm

 

[williammcneely]

When the situation gets bad, go wash your hands. Sometimes that is all it takes to get a new perspective on things.

A digital camera / phone is you newest best friend.

Never loose your point of reference.

 

[androy]

DO NOT clean parts with brake cleaner that are to be welded or heated.

Read this warning and story, please. (I know it's been posted before on this site; but it is worth repeating)
Common Cleaners Can Turn Into Poison Gas
http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm

I did not weld the parts that i cleaned , i cleaned some parts on top of the garbage to avoid a mess on the floor , then maybe 15-20 minutes later I welded something else in the vise on top of the can , a spark droped in the can and the whole thing went boom . Knocked the welmet off my head ...

 

[Skin]

DO NOT clean parts with brake cleaner that are to be welded or heated.

Read this warning and story, please. (I know it's been posted before on this site; but it is worth repeating)
Common Cleaners Can Turn Into Poison Gas
http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm

Its been posted about twenty times. You need to be using chlorinated brake clean, which has been banned in a few states and as a result not as readily available as it once was, and you need to be welding with shielding gas (argon) to get the situation that guy had.

Heres a simpler suggestion, don't put a torch or welder to chemicals in general. If you absolutely need to spray a penetrant onto a hot part do it in a very well ventilated area. Melting a wax candle down the threads also works and will release far fewer noxious fumes. I keep a couple of the plumbers candles handy for stuck studs.

 

[LDR814]

If you are working in a noisy environment, wear ear protection - 1)it will help you focus 2)it may save your hearing in old age

If you are running screw/bolt etc in with a drill, make sure your head is out of the way when the screw hits bottom!

 

[curtrnev]

If you are using an impact and socket with a wiggler be sure it is a pinned type wiggler.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Don't be macho with your hand drill, especially when using a large bit ! Use the assist handle !!

 

[outdoorsman310]

don't throw tools.

 

[92integra]

some one already said don't double wrench and i can defiantly agree with that i was double wrenching during an alignment on a really stuck bolt the wrench's did a nice twist and took a chunk out of the center of my left hand. needless to say i could barely use my left hand for about 3 weeks and haven't double wrenched since

 

[Dynamic86]

Not every job you do is gonna go well. In fact many are gonna go bad. When things don't go as expected a little break is sometimes all it takes to get back on track.

 

[cyberslick188]

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

You learn this quick when learning some basic smithing and forging techniques. Very quick.

 

[mechan]

Not every job you do is gonna go well. In fact many are gonna go bad. When things don't go as expected a little break is sometimes all it takes to get back on track.

Agreed 100%! You defiantly remember the mistakes you make on bad jobs that should have been blatantly obvious from the get go in hind sight. You can learn something from every job regardless of how bad it is going or went. Being able to admit that you just jacked something up is worth a lot, but realizing that being humble has to be mixed with a certain amount of confidence. Everyone has made insanely bad screw ups at work, so if your boss or coworkers say otherwise they are full of it.

Defiantly don't bother catching stuff that has fallen! While once in a great while it may be the great save it can lead to so many other problems down the road. Catching a hot item or taking a trip off from an elevated work platform and testing out that fancy harness / lanyard.

 

[G-force]

If you're using a large bit on a powerful electric drill going through 1/8" and thicker steel, right before your bit penetrates the metal, run the bit in reverse to reduce the chance of the bit locking up and taking you for a ride. My Milwaukee electric scares the sh!t out of me!

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

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.

True...

I'll go one further... Having worked on 'dangerous' stuff most of my adult life... Assume it will break, or fall, or explode or otherwise go sideways and make sure you won't bash your knuckles, fall into the fire, or catch the fan blade in the head or otherwise suffer when it does - because sooner or later it will.

And most importantly, don't assume that reflective vest will protect your from moving vehicles... They're really thin and not even bullet proof. Make eye contact.

 

[dragonballz]

Its been posted about twenty times. You need to be using chlorinated brake clean, which has been banned in a few states and as a result not as readily available as it once was, and you need to be welding with shielding gas (argon) to get the situation that guy had.



Heres a simpler suggestion, don't put a torch or welder to chemicals in general. If you absolutely need to spray a penetrant onto a hot part do it in a very well ventilated area. Melting a wax candle down the threads also works and will release far fewer noxious fumes. I keep a couple of the plumbers candles handy for stuck studs.

How bad is spraying penetrant on a heated part for you? I was just doing this yesterday. Of course, a **** load of white smoke came off of it.

 

[Fedwrench]

When using cable operated hose clamps on the flat band style of hose clamp, at NO time have any portion of your pinkies between the clamp and the hose when the clamp is compressed. Position it from the outside of the clamp. You'd be amazed how big of chunk of fingertip that clamp can bite off if the pliers slip. talk about bleeding, man it gets messy fast. A guy that worked for me did that. Blood everywhere.

 

[y20dth]

How bad is spraying penetrant on a heated part for you? I was just doing this yesterday. Of course, a **** load of white smoke came off of it.

That's actually VERY GOOD
The sudden cooldown will induce micro-cracks in witch the penetrant can flow

 

[mechan]

That's actually VERY GOOD
The sudden cooldown will induce micro-cracks in witch the penetrant can flow

If changing the properties of the heated part is the end goal by quenching it then it is very good.

 

[coyotejake]

Here's one for any of you who are wanting to learn to use a lathe, mill, or even a drill press. NEVER USE YOUR BARE HANDS/FINGERS TO PULL THOSE LONG STRINGY CHIPS OFF THE PART OR OUT OF THE MACHINE!!! When (not if) they catch on something and you have to pull harder to remove them, they will slice through your fingers long before they come loose from whatever they're stuck on! Use a long pair of needle nose pliers or a chip hook to free them.

 

[MattPersman]

Listen to the guys around you, you are new and don't know 10% of what you think you do. Knowledge is gained in this job over Many years and trial and error not with an AS degree.

Not trying to bash we were all new at one time and I would say the majority of us thought we knew more than we did lol.

 

[WVBrady]

How bad is spraying penetrant on a heated part for you? I was just doing this yesterday. Of course, a **** load of white smoke came off of it.

I took this to mean that he was concerned about the effect on his lungs from breathing in the smoke.

 

[wmartin]

Old Chrysler lug nuts!

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Old Chrysler lug nuts!

Chuckle

"L" isn't just for Loser, it used to be for "Look at that Loser twisting the studs off the Left side of his car"

 

[Ruger_556]

Chuckle

"L" isn't just for Loser, it used to be for "Look at that Loser twisting the studs off the Left side of his car"

Some 80's Ford pickups had left hand lug nuts... Never failed to be entertaining.

 

[Adam.C]

Be careful about copying the practices of old masters. Some of them have a supernatural spider sense for danger that allows them to do unsafe stuff and get away with it. You won't be as lucky. I usually gravitate to the guys with missing fingers who have learned from mistakes.

 

[texasfiremedic]

I can't stand when I hear a person (senior) person in a trade say, "I watched him do it. I knew better, but he has to learn it on his own. The same way I did."

Every senior member of a shop or any job to that matter is not there just because they get the job done faster or better. They are also there to make sure that the other person (newbie or other senior) does not get hurt or mangled. Remember everybody has stop work authority. Don't be afraid to use it. It will be a learning experience for one or both. And if your shop or job that you work at doesn't practice this rule maybe you should speak up and try to get it started.

And for the senior members don't be bullheaded. Just because you have been doing something for the last thirty years doesn't mean you have been doing it the right way for thirty years. You never know when you might just learn something yourself.

And for the newbies, Senior members didn't make this far into their trade by being dumb@$$es. Shut up and listen. You will probably learn something.

I know that the last two statements kind of contradict each other but you get the picture.

Just my two cents. Oops, 1 cent after taxes.

 

[JamieK]

Work smarter, not harder. You'll be thankful you did years from now. Use an engine hoist to pick up heavy parts, especially cylinder heads. Bad on your back lifting a head while standing over a fender. And always use the correct tool for the job, even if it means waiting till you get one. Less chance of damage to parts and personal injuries. And always use a torque wrench.

 

[pauls_workshop]

When using a dremel or similar cut off type tool:

1. Do not ever be in the plane of the cutoff wheel, be two feet back and 90 degrees out of that plane.

2. Always, always wear good eye protection glasses.

3. Even better is a guard on the tool itself around the wheel

4. I learned these above the hard way and almost lost an eye once. Luckily, the dremel cutoff wheel when it broke spun up and hit the front of my eyeglasses instead, kept spinning vertically 1" up the glass, then bounced off that and hit me square on my forehead. I got a big bruise on my forehead. The glass was completely and badly scarred up. I was very lucky. Learn from this and don't repeat my error. - Paul

 

[beatcad]

just because these aint been brought up yet....
do not wear your (wedding) ring.
you hippys(and ladies) tie your hair back.
roll up you sleeves/no loose clothing near machinery
tuck your tie in your shirt or behind your apron.

 

[tshetter]

Always tighten/loosen the nut, keeping the bolt stationary.

 

[mp23]

Be careful about copying the practices of old masters. Some of them have a supernatural spider sense for danger that allows them to do unsafe stuff and get away with it. You won't be as lucky. I usually gravitate to the guys with missing fingers who have learned from mistakes.

If he is missing more than one there is a good chance he is not "learning" from his mistakes

 

[MellyVan]

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! :///

Serious? First time I have heard this... Who can confirm this? My ratchet feels the same now as in summer...

Also, I do not have any sae30 oil, what's the next best thing?

 

[rlitman]

If you're using a large bit on a powerful electric drill going through 1/8" and thicker steel, right before your bit penetrates the metal, run the bit in reverse to reduce the chance of the bit locking up and taking you for a ride. My Milwaukee electric scares the sh!t out of me!

No reason to run in reverse. Just stop feeding it forward.
The rake of the cutting edge of the bit will embed itself into the steel you're cutting, pulling a chip. It is that chip that grabs. If you pull back on the drill just a little, it breaks the chip, and makes it less grabby.

 

[tlevan03]

If using a ladder to go up and down from a work spot make sure nothing remains on top of the ladder before moving. I learned that the hard way yesterday, I left a 24" crescent wrench on top while undoing hydraulic lines on a dozer and took the wrench to the forehead while moving.

 

[b-body-bob]

If using a ladder to go up and down from a work spot make sure nothing remains on top of the ladder before moving. I learned that the hard way yesterday, I left a 24" crescent wrench on top while undoing hydraulic lines on a dozer and took the wrench to the forehead while moving.

Good point. I caught a claw hammer to the forehead once like that.

 

[bygasper]

If using an air nailer (I know this isn't "wrenching", but a lot of handy folks read this) GET YOUR HANDS AND FEET OUT OF THE WAY! I have shot myself with a finish nailer twice (once attaching myself to the work) and framing nailer once. I know way way too many fellas that have shot themselves as well.


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[wafrederick]

Watch what you are doing.I have cut myself with an utility knife three times so far not paying attention.One was cutting opening a bag containing a part,a brand new blade.

 

[rlitman]

If using a ladder to go up and down from a work spot make sure nothing remains on top of the ladder before moving. I learned that the hard way yesterday, I left a 24" crescent wrench on top while undoing hydraulic lines on a dozer and took the wrench to the forehead while moving.

Good one. Tools seem to become invisible up there when you climb down.

If using an air nailer (I know this isn't "wrenching", but a lot of handy folks read this) GET YOUR HANDS AND FEET OUT OF THE WAY! I have shot myself with a finish nailer twice (once attaching myself to the work) and framing nailer once. I know way way too many fellas that have shot themselves as well.

Especially with finish nailers. I've seen nails make a full U turn inside the wood because they deflected off a knot. They can come out in unexpected places.

 

[MN4x4]

Not wrenching but -

If using a self-feed or auger bit, make sure your finger can't get trapped between the item you're drilling and the trigger!

Also, if using a right-angle drill above your head with one of these bits and you drop it down to your side when finished, be sure the bit isn't still turning or it can grab your pants and give you one heck of a hickie!

Don't ask how I know these things...

 

[metaldad]

On the subject of utility razor knives, buy the retractable ones, and ALWAYS retract the blade when putting it down