Mechanics: what are your most common tools?

overhearing a 6pt/12pt discussion between two bored maintenance engineers

 

Doesn’t most everyone have both 6 and 12, and how careful are we to choose between the two?

 

Now this thread is funny.

 

deleted double tap.

 

I did have some colleagues at $work chuckle to hear I'd been called Steven Hawking.

 

Was the rationale for each argument the same?

 

Did you see this interview with Hawking? It's one of the funniest videos I've seen in a while. The guy had a great sense of humor.

 

Was replacing a halogen head light bulb on daughter's Pilot yesterday; it's never easy. Owner's Manual says grasp the bulb, rotate 1/4 turn counterclockwise, pull out. Yeah right.

First off it's a tall engine bay, a single step up a ladder is helpful, and I had that. Then it's really obscure, you can reach it with one hand, but just, and lordamighty it takes some oomph, to get that thing through the locking resistance, to turn and release. Same thing in reverse when installing the new one.

I've a vague recollection of using adjustable wrench like this in the past, and of course that was the one tool I didn't bring. Anyway, for next time:

 

I hope you didn't mess up your knuckles doing that job Mendel. Looks like it would be less painful giving blood to the Red Cross.

 

No, that's just a circulation issue. Happens every winter.

 

Apply lubrication to the bulb socket next time it will come right out.

 

Like the huge log as a work service. Kinda makes me homesick for Vermont.

 

Put some vasoline on the seal. it will go in easily, and when you need to remove it, it will also turn easily.

 

I've read lots of threads about maintenance noticing that many of you shade-tree mechanics are really big on proper torque.

I don't work for or make any $$ from Harbor Freight. ... I'm just showing you a coupon deal.



All drives ... $12 each.

 

Get all three!

 

That would probably work on the light bulb as well.

 

Not sure about that. You might want to use dielectric grease, that would be better.

 

I'm drawing a blank on google, so:

I've got three pencil style tire pressure gauges:

1. No-name 10-50 psi, hard to seat properly, purely for back up.
2. PCL 10-120 psi, gauge a little cramped and hard to read, feels heavy/solid, had it for years, dependable.
3. Milton 20-70 psi, recent purchase, easy to use, easy to read.

I've been mainly using the Milton, and set my tires to 36 psi with it. The issue: if I read the pressure with no-name I get just shy of 32 psi, and with the PCL I get 34 psi.

My preference is the Milton, just for the easy-of-use and readability, but I'd be curious to know how accurate it is. I wouldn't mind having add/subtract a couple of pounds fudge factor, if needed.

Has anyone heard of a pressure gauge accuracy checking service? Maybe, for example, Costco's tire department mechanics might use one, could help? Just curious if anyone's got ideas.

 

There are such things as high-precision laboratory pressure gauge testers, which use weights on a piston. I used one when I tested tire pressure gauges years ago. Most digital gauges are reasonably accurate (although less convenient to use than a conventional pencil-style gauge, in my experience).

 

Is that a 6 point or 12 point Crescent wrench?