Wrenching Tips: Hold onto Your Wrenches
And with this, we kick off a series dedicated to enabling the ownership of your crappy hoopty. We’re certainly not experts, but we’ve busted enough knuckles and stripped enough bolts to learn a few tricks along the way. We freely admit most of the knowledge you’ll see here is stolen in one way or another; after all, it’s not like we were all born knowing which vacuum port to hook the advance to. We’re just passing it along for your benefit.
Fitting with the title, we’re starting off with a rundown of some cheap ways to keep your wrenches from growing legs.
Caribiners
Easily the single-best way to organize box-end wrenches, a $1 ‘biner from Harbor Freightor the checkout aisle at Lowes gives you a zero-extra-space solution for keeping your SAE and metric apart and in order. They transport easily, making it easier to just grab the whole set as you walk out to the car. Itty-bitty key chain sized ones will work for your tiny wrenches, and big ones work for the big ones. You might even notice your Crescent wrenches have a hole in the handle that fits as well. Why anyone would pay (or bother to keep) the plastic tray-style wrench holders is beyond me.
Magnetic trays
If you’re spinning wrenches regularly and haven’t treated yourself to a magnetic tray, you’re blowing it. It’s worth drawing a distinction between a magnetic bowl and a magnetic tray. Trays are rectangular and will actually hold a wrench. Bowls are great for fasteners and the occasional socket, but lean towards uselessness when it comes to wrenches or screwdrivers. A magnetic tray plus a towel equals a fancy fender cover, as well. Just be careful when you go for that post-fix test drive. On more than one occasion I’ve left the tray in the engine bay or upside down on the frame rail with predictable results. They usually run about $10 at the cheap end to $20-25 at Sears or the like.
Cardboard Boxes
Hobos know what’s up. In all seriousness, hang on to the box your new carb just came in. Car parts in particular tend to come in sturdy, well-engineered boxes on account of their weight and sharp edges. If you’re working in a dirt or gravel driveway (or field or whatever), it doesn’t hurt to grab a box just to throw stuff in to keep your ratchets’ mechanisms from filling with crud. You’ll have to forgive the lack of actual photographic evidence of wrenches in a box, as when things get hectic enough to resort to employing cardboard, I’m not likely to have a camera lying around. Anyway, having any old box to throw stuff in as you wrap up and head back to the garage is so much better than picking up each socket individually. Can’t argue with the price, either.
So concludes the first installment of Hooniverse Wrenching Tips. Not exactly mind-blowing, but that’s not the point. The goal here is to get rid of your excuses for not picking up a project car or taking a hand to the one you already have. We’ll probably bounce around between specific car tech topics (like the aforementioned vacuum advance), “Grandpa Wisdom” type tricks and advice for being a gearhead in Our Modern Age.
Related posts:
Caribiners – such a great idea. Mine currently are organized with a toe strap from old clip-in pedals (it was what I had lying around working in a bike shop) and does pretty good too.
I also reuse plastic tubs, bottles and jars from food (pre-cut lunch meat, orange juice, Nesquik (don't judge me)) to sort random nuts and bolts.
I regularly use leftovers of these for catching fluids or soaking parts:
<img src="http://keenanevans.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/645644330_b9a4300146.jpg?w=545">
Source: http://keenanevans.com/2010/09/07/obsession-2/
I have an assortment of metal coffee cans storing various bolts, but I'm soon hoping to finally build my Wall of Fasteners with better organization.
4L (1 gallon? .85 hogs head's) oil containers with the top cut off (so that they are a cuboid with a flat rectangular opening) are a very handy storage/fluid holding/etc. device.
Regardless of what Grandpa Simpson said, a hoghead is generally in the 'hood of 60 gallons (varies, depending on if you're talking about tobacco, wine, or ale). While they'll certainly hold your tools, unless you've got ape arms – no offense, if'n you do – it's a bitch to reach into them even when the head is popped off.
<img src="http://fennerschool-associated.anu.edu.au/fpt/nwfp/barrel/hogshead.jpg">
What a great idea for a new series. Tips and tricks like this make a huge difference and usually get the, 'Why didn't I think of that' response.
Here's one I just learned about a couple weeks ago. When you are masking things off to paint, use some tinfoil for hard to cover things, like your antenna. It is cheap and readily available in most kitchens, and it quickly takes the shape of whatever you wrap it around.
That's a good thought. I've painted lots of stuff, and used lots of masking materials, but never once thought of tin foil. I'm going to keep that in mind for next time.
I've heard of one mechanic that painted all his tools pink.
Why pink? Because people don't want to borrow pink tools, and you can spot them from all the way across the shop when you need to do a repo-depot job on your tools.
One of my friends only buys pink lighters for the same reason.
I use a particularly ugly shade of green. It was handy. No idea why I have a case of spray cans in that particular color.
thats a damn good idea actually. do they sell glow in the dark pink spray paint?
http://www.amazon.com/GLOW-DARK-Spray-Paint-Pink/…
One that I do it to mark (wrap electrical tap around or paint) the wrench/socket you use for a really common task such as the drain plug on the oil pan or maybe the lug nuts. Now was the 1/2" or 9/16"/ 12mm or 13mm? Just look for the one with tape on it.
Great point. I did that with my four-way lug nut wrench. No more trial and error, or rounding over from the almost fitting socket.
Once I had to grind down the sides of my 1/2" socket because the access was so tight. Now I don't have to guess which one it is.
"Muthalovin, why the hell are you keeping all these empty boxes? I want you to put them in the recycling"
On why muthalovin is not allowed to play fort/keep cardboard boxes in the house.
Age: 29.
Carabiners (check your spelling) are a bit of a pain, because the wrenches can bunch up and keep the clasp from opening. Think about using velcro cable-tie organizers instead. They have the advantage of being more flexible and not taking up much room themselves. You can also use them around the shafts of open-end wrenches. For cheapskates like me, you can also use shoe laces or twine. Or tape around the shafts. Tool rolls of cloth are also pretty simple, cheap and effective. String or wire works well to thread up your sockets.
Buying a set of Allen keys that's on a key ring is pretty nice too.
Magnetic trays? Thems for fancy people that have all their fingers still. That's why I have a different tray for each type of socket.
That reminds me – I'm going to have to rub flourescent orange paint into the markings of my scckets so I can identify them more easily.
"I'm going to have to rub flourescent orange paint into the markings of my sockets"
Brilliant!
Well, that'd work well on the impacts, but for my chrome ones, I'd probably go black.
High contrast is the key. I just got some impact sockets that have a matte black finish, which is why I was thinking of the orange. But yeah, black paint for chrome. Or if you're out of that, you can always use some hardened old filthy grease.
The Carabiner idea is nothing short of brilliant. Sure beats my method of just dumping them in the tool box with the rest of my crap. I really need to organize my sockets… I am looking forward to the rest of this series.
All my tools seem to be in a constant state of movement between tool chest -> little red tool box -> canvas bag -> garage floor -> back to the tool chest between projects and trips to PnP. Somehow that motivation to put everything back away neatly seems to disappear when you've been wrenching away all evening.
That's exactly my problem as well. Regret quickly sets in when I am trying to remember which car I left any one of my 3 14mm sockets in.
The one I am always looking for is my 10mm ratcheting Gearwrench, aka the world's most perfect battery terminal and cooling fan nut removal tool. I keep slipping that one in my pocket, I forget about it and then it keeps turning up inside the house. I have already reached a saturation point with the 1/2 -> 3/8 and 3/8 -> 1/4 adapters that there is usually one where I need it.
Speaking of Gearwrenches and adapters, these are pretty much the greatest things in the world: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00991245…
Ohh my… 8-O~~
SOLD!
I could have used these things when I was swapping valve cover gaskets for a Mazda V6 without removing the intake manifold first. There's room for a socket, but no room for a ratchet… If I hadn't been able to find a pair of Mechanix gloves in size "small" earlier, I think I would have completely skinned my hands on that one.
I've got to buy some Gearwrenches. Those are so cool. I've got a set of Craftsman ratcheting box end wrenches, but they're not quite the same.
They are definitely a convenience tool, there isn't a job you couldn't finish without one… but with them certain jobs will go by 10 times as fast and with much less cursing, like removing the distributor cap from a B230FT block mount dizzy. where the effing hex screws are pointing towards the firewall and you can't get a screwdriver in there. They seem to go on sale a couple of times during the year, usually around Thanksgiving day or Memorial day.
I have non-hexed (just knurled) Harbor Freight versions of those and they work…ok.
I think it has more to do with the HF-y-ness of the ratchet mechanisims and the mediocre knurling quality that makes them stiffer and slipperier than they should be.
I managed to pick up the Craftsman ones for $7 during the Xmas sales at Sears. Sears after Thanksgiving is a serious kid in a candy store moment for me yearly. I actually start saving money for that exact purpose about 2 months in advance.
Yes they are. Best thing in an xmas stocking ever, or damn close.
Some great ideas here, some I've heard of, some not. What I want is a quick and easy way to corral and store flare wrenches (the toe strap and carabiner ideas being out for obvious reasons).
Like Van_Sarockin said a couple of posts earlier: velcro cable-ties will hold a group of open-ends. Seems like I've seen a magnetic bar dealie for that, too. Truth to tell, if you can store your box and combo ones differently, you probably have enough space in your toolbox just to put the open-ends in there loose. That's what I do. Or put them in a tray.
Van Sarockin also recommended wrap in cloth and tie, at least that's how I do it. put them down smallest to largest, and start wrapping, smallest to largest, then tie the bundle. I got the idea from the soft gas line colored wrench sets that come like that often.
Years ago I received a nice set of Allen keys. I also received a metric set. I spray painted a gray stripe on one and a red stripe on the other to let me know which goes where. Those stamped numbers are really small.
This reminds me of the most powerful lesson I learned in Small Engine Repair Class in High School. I expect everyone here knows it but just in case…
Q: When disassembling something, where is the best place for the bolt and or nut you just removed?
A: Right back in the hole it came out of.
If that isn't possible, I use old egg cartons, marking each hole with the destination of the fastener I put in it. Your mileage may vary, if you are clumsy or have a bunch of rowdy youngsters in the garage.
I developed the same habits a long time ago. Saves a lot of searching and gnashing of teeth later on.
Yup. The only thing worse than losing a fastener, is finishing the job up and having some left over. Inevitably, the ones needed at the beginning of the assembly. Then again, we never did find that set of head bolts for the Studebaker…
Egg cartons are good, because the little parts can't hide in the corners. I also like clear plastic bags and ziplocs, too, if you don't need to keep things too organized. That way you can close them up and not have things jump out.
Used that approach with my last big job. Along with lots of digital photos. Smartphones are awesome – I left the pics in the phone until after the shakedown cruise, then deleted them.
I recently discovered paper cups. Theyre cheap and disposable, and you can write the contents on them with a sharpie. Much easier to read than on a ziploc If not filled to deeply or with large fasteners/parts, you can stack them in the order of disassembly like you do when theyre empty.
Sandwhich bags with masking tape for a label usually works pretty well for me, unless it's something that needs to go back in a particular order (such as pushrods), for that old styrofoam insterts (like what they use to cushion a new tv in it's box) work pretty well.
I tend to write each larger fastener's relative location on it in permanent marker (so the banjo bolts on my turbo's coolant lines have heads marked 'L' and 'R'), or, if there are too many to properly sort, a similar method to the egg carton. If it's a quick job, sometimes I'll simply lay 'em on an unused flat surface in the pattern in which they came out.
Fittings and hoses are another thing. I tend to draw different patterns and angles of lines across each junction with variously-coloured Sharpies and reassemble 'em like a puzzle, particularly when I'm not sure I can trust a piece of tape wrapped around 'em. Anyone who buys a used car from me will have a bit of a learning curve ahead.
If I can't put the bolts back I'll take a piece of cardboard, draw a picture of the part, and stick the bolts through approximately where they belong.
I like this. Maybe I can rack my brain for some old tricks handed down. Send them to the Hoon's who can eloquently explain it and see if I am special….or not.
I write the date and mileage of the oil change somewhere on the engine in crayon. It wipes off easily, but usually stays in place otherwise. Stock up on the 10 cent packs of crayons at back to school time.
On my MGB I'd write the date/mileage on the filter itself with a sharpie. Since I was under the hood 4 times a week and the filter was -right there-, it made it easy to keep up.
Can't do that with the Fords…
On an MGB, you could probably just scrape it into the gook with a nail.
…which, assuming it runs, would last about twelve minutes before being entirely obscured by a fresh layer.
It ran… and the grease slid down the block, away from the filter! Ingenious British engineering there!!
Man, no respect! None!!11!
I see you stopped short of mentioning the part where the grease drips down, accumulates on the crossmember, then catches fire. I've owned an MGB, too.
The local Auto'reillyzoneshuck'sboys gives away windshield stickers just like they use at MonkeyLube. I grab 'em 10 at a time and keep a stack in the garage cabinet, along with a Sharpie.
These are all way better ideas that what I do, which is write on the wall of the garage.
That still beats my "ah, I don't have to write this down NOW, I'll remember to do it later" former (no, really) approach.
That goes well with the, "Well it's Saturday, better top-up," approach.
I used that approach last time. Unfortunately, I did four oil changes that day and I have no clue where we stand. Guess I'll have to rely on the "this looks too brown, time to change" methodology.
I always scratch the date and milage into the oil filter with a can opener. You know, the one you use to open your cans of oil.
I use a china marker. It's smoother than a crayon.
I have little notebooks in the glove compartment of each car. I track mileage from the back page toward the front, and list any work, from oil changes to swapping engines, from the front to the back, with descriptions of work performed, brand of part used, and location of part purchased (and which shop did the work, on the rare occasion I make the poor decision to let someone else touch my car). That way, when like earlier this week when my wife's car started having trouble starting, and I was thinking, "didn't I just replace the battery 6 months ago?", all I had to do was look in the glovebox and confirm that yes, I did.
Still haven't had any more time to figure that problem out yet…
Now why didn't I think of the carabiners sooner? I'm going to have to get some.
For small screws and such the old computer tech trick is to use Altoids tins. Why? Because they snap shut tight.
As an added bonus, Mrs. TurboBrick has no idea you've been out in the garage sampling barley pops, what with the minty fresh breath.
It has been too damn long since I heard someone use the term barley pops. Thank you.
If you're going to be using lots of wrenches in different sizes quite often then invest in a tray to keep them from scattering across the bench or floor you may be working on. It's the only way short of putting them away after every use that I've found keeps that wrench around.
I use muffin baking tins for small part and bolt holders and bread loaf tins for tool control when wrenching. Saves time and and makes job cleanup real easy.
Plus one on the muffin tins, I keep one on the bench full of random small bicycle parts. I also have a 9×16 ish cake pan I use for holding tools and small parts for motorcycle work, complete with some interesting bumps where I accidentally shorted a battery.
An excellent, excellent thread! Right up my alley. I'd written a whole raft of essays like this for my blog, maybe I should finish the project and actually post them?
My buddies and I all picked different colors to spray paint our tools with. Dayglo green for me. I need a new can, most of the tools I've bought in the last few years haven't been marked!
On wrenches: I keep my SAE and metric wrenches & sockets in separate toolboxes; metric in the black one, standard in the blue one. Most everything else goes in a third toolbox, a repurposed Bell Telephone lineman's box from the 50's.
I keep both 6 and 12 point sockets and usually reach for the 6 pointers, as they are less prone to rounding off nuts & bolt heads. But, I haven't marked them to tell the difference at a glance, which makes picking what I want a nuisance at times… gotta correct that.
Perhaps the best advice I've ever received on this subject was from my carpenter friend: at the end of each day, gather all of your tools and account for them, especially sockets and wrenches. Clean them off if they're grimy or wet. Put 'em all back in the box. If you're missing something, track it down now, not later. 5 or 10 minutes of organization at the end of the day beats flailing around in a frantic search the next day (or week, or month) every time. I've even been known to stop, clean and organize in the middle of a project and have rarely regretted doing so.
I use several of the tricks mentioned earlier in the thread: put fasteners back where they came from, make as much use of old food containers as possible, use ziploc bags marked with a Sharpie, muffin tins and egg cartons, and my favorite, bright green painter's tape for labeling. And lots of digital snapshots.
I think I'll give the carabiner trick a try.
I could keep going, but I'll stop for now and hope this topic continues in future postings! Topic suggestion: Managing greasy, gritty filth and getting stuff clean.
Clean?
One time I got really POed after an inconvenient bolt broke. Cleaning the tools was a great way to lose steam for me.
I've recently been assembling all new wrench and socket sets. One of the reasons I've decided to use Kobalt from Lowe's is they color their metrics blue and their SAEs red, in addition to their large engraving of the sizes.
Most of my essential tools wind up in the same place: behind the front seat (there is only one) in Pokey: The Pizza Delivery Supercar. Pokey, my 4 door 91 Metro, usually has enough tools and spares in it so that I need never call a tow truck or lose a delivery. Everything from my cheap-but-surprisingly-good Pittsburgh wrench sets (SAE and Metric) to my Craftsman dial back timing light and a set of factory service manuals go with me everywhere I go. As to organization, that is why I have the sets I have. The $6.99 set of metric Pittsburgh wrenches (Harbor Freight) came with their own separator that lets me see if one is missing. The larger SAE set came in a roll up thingie with a place for every wrench. The Craftsman socket set my sister bought me for Christmas 6 or 7 years ago has it's own handy blow molded case. My Pittsburgh 1/2 in socket sets (deep well and standard) came in metal cases that let me organize them well. The rest of it sits in the bottom half of a plastic Wal Mart tool box that the lit broke off of. Harbor Freight also provided me with a 3/8 click torque wrench for the princely sum of $9.99 that also resides in the Geo along with a 1/2 in breaker bar and a socket sized for CV axle removal. This is by no means an exhaustive list but when you deliver as much pizza as I do it pays to be prepared.
In case you were wondering why Pokey has no passenger's front seat, it's for cargo capacity. Most of the times it lets me haul larger and more orders per run. In addition, it keeps them low to the floor so that they do not fall off the seat. I also find it comes in handy at the home improvement store when I need to transport 8 foot sections of lumber. Believe it or not, I have had 8 1x12x8's in the car at one time-and the hatch closed just fine. It's not a perfect solution but I can't afford to tag and insure my truck right now so I have to make do.
You sir are winning! I keep most of my tools in the back of my Volvo too, they mostly fit above the spare, and what does not I have a cardboard box bungie corded in the back.
.When you said cardboard boxes my instant thought was a "Mexican Creeper" and I mean this with no disrespect at all, I just first saw a cardboard box used this way in Mexico and thought it was brilliant. Creepers suck in my opinion, they always get hung up on little pieces of gravel, hoses, cords, dropped wrenches, and they put you higher up than you would be if you were just laying on the ground.
What's even better than cardboard is a "slip-sheet", a piece of plastic 42"x48" that is absolutely bomb-proof and is used to replace a wooden pallet when shipping things that are bigger than they are heavy because they take up less room. To get one is easy, just go to the warehouse where they load Trucks full of Soda (Pop) or Beer and then to the Loading Dock and ask them if they have any "old ones". They will brusquely ask you WTF you want one for and just say, "I need to work on my car, my jack is broke, my creeper only has three wheels…"
They will laugh, and probably give you a brand new one.
bonus points for the corrugated soaking up spills. I have an old ceiling tile that I use as it provides more padding, yet still soaks up oil.
Even better is a remnant of linoleum flooring. It is slicker than the cardboard and will roll up when you are done. These can usually be picked up cheap at a flooring store or free if you can find an installer.
Cut the side out of a coolant jug, basically, along the label. You now have a drain pan.