"Handy Shop Tips..."

[george graves]

OK, so we have the fav tool thread - this is the "Handy Shop Tips Thread"

I'll get it going.

I find it handy to have a very small container on the work bench for trash. If you ever watch the food channel - they refer to it as the "garbage bowl". It saves a lot of time walking over to the trash believe it or not.

I keep a magnet in my screw driver drawer. If you slide the magnet over the screwdriver like you are sharpening a knife (about 20 times) it magnetizes it enough to hold a screw all by it's self.

[LINUS]

not a bad idea...

most probably know this one, but squirt some liquid dish soap on your hands, work it all in your fingernail area & then wipe off with a paper towel before you start any greasy work.

it leaves just enough soap under & around your nails you don't look like such a greasemonkey when you go out with the G that night.

you might still have grease rubs on your forearms, but your fingers aren't all nasty.

[1991 318is]

Having tools and equipment! Almost every time I've screwed something up it was because I didn't the right tools, jacks, etc. Borrow, rent, or buy them and life is a lot more enjoyable. Without them it's a vale of tears.

[Majikal]

Invest in a quality jack and jack stands... makes life a hell of a lot more easy when you can lift a car in 4 pumps.

[StereoInstaller1]

I like ice cream.

[browntown]

kitty litter or powdered laundry soap on oil spills.

[Tangent]

Remove fill plugs before drain plugs. Keeps you from finding out that the fill plug is siezed after you've drained the fluid.

[Jscotty]

I keep a magnet in my screw driver drawer. If you slide the magnet over the screwdriver like you are sharpening a knife (about 20 times) it magnetizes it enough to hold a screw all by it's self.

Actually if you heat up a screw driver and then place it beside a strong magnet (like one from a large audio speaker) while it cools, you will make the magnatism of the screwdriver permanent.

Brake parts cleaner tends to work best on cleaning up oil spills (both old and new) although you will need plenty of ventilation!

Buy only high quality socket sets. Don't waste your money on a $4.99 set that contains over 100 sockets.

Resist the urge to randomly toss all of your tools into one container as a result of being tired and glad that this frustrating repair job is over. Every time I do that, I can't find the tool that I need later on.

[george graves]

Make an area of one of the safer drawers for key/wallet/cell.

I've got a 1/3 width drawer on in chest that is perfect for personal stuff.

Nothing like setting a diff on top of your cell phone...

[TopOfTheLine89]

Always roll down the customers window, always. Sucks getting locked out by an auto lock security system with the keys inside and having to break in.

When doing a motor job or oil change, never put the oil drain plug in handtight, if you can't tighten it with a wrench that moment don't even begin to put it in. If you do and get distracted right after you won't remember till the car has been driven a mile on the highway with no oil by the customer.

[CorvallisBMW]

pop down to your local goodwill or value village and pick up an old grease monkey suit. I never have to worry about getting my clothes dirty, EVER. It's more comfy than your average junky jeans/t-shirt

[atomic]

Wipe all your tools used for the project or day down with rag before putting them up. Keep your investment clean

[Mike325]

Always have a clean work area. Try to work in a well lit and well spaced area. Sucks when you can't see what you are doing and trip over shit when you are trying to walk around.

Also, don't work on your car if you are having a bad day or something. We all know that some jobs on our cars sucks balls and doing them when you are already pissed off does not make it any better. Stay inside and have a nice cold beer instead.

[ivo316]

Always put a thick towel or piece of cloth on your fenders while working on your engine, your zipper can do nasty things on the paint..;)

Take your screwdriver out of your back pocket before sitting in the car.:(

[Pinepig]

Drain plugs and lugnuts , either tighten them up or throw them in the garbage.

Those of you that have failed to heed this rule understand completely.