Thoughts from the Garage Floor The Mechanic in Action - -) Work slowly, get more done. So many mistakes and accidents happen because someone didn't walk to the other end of the bench to get the appropriate tool. Whether it's a slipped knife that catches a hand, or a slipped wrench that catches pristine bodywork, wrenching is just like racing; the harder you try to go fast, the slower and more dangerous you become. Slow down and do it right, then speed comes invisibly. -) Let the tools do the work. No points for shredding your fingertips because you didn't walk 12 feet to get the wrench. No points for making one piece of used-up 79¢ sandpaper last for 20 minutes. No points for getting that last ragged cut out of a dull $1 hack-saw blade. -) Wear glasses. It only takes one metal shaving, or one puff of grit to wreck your vision. You don't generally need "safety goggles", but put _something_ between your eyes and machine-tool fling-off. When I started wearing prescription glasses I never realized how much crap was coming my way. After six months of garage work I looked at the lenses to discover pits and erosion from who knows what, all of which was headed straight for my cornea. -) Wear gloves. We become more sensitive to chemicals as we age, and moreso with repeated exposure. No need to make things worse - it's a one-way trip. Brake fluid destroys my skin, but it wasn't always like that. We all get dirty and greasy but if you're getting things on your hands that you wouldn't put in your mouth, you should be wearing gloves. -) Teach your 'seat-of-the-pants' some accuracy. Eye-ball everything, and then measure to double-check. Get good at estimating distance and force and you'll be faster and more accurate mechanic even if you always correct yourself against the measures. -) When cutting or filing metals, clamp a set of vice-grips to the end of the part that's not in the vise. It'll damp the squealing vibrations and save your hearing. -) When soldering, use flux. Many home hobbyists have never heard of it. Wow. Rosin core is usually preferable (doesn't corrode electrics). Flux boils and smokes under heat, and it cleans the surface as the solder flows. It makes the difference between a good connection and a cold solder joint that has 2k ohm's of resistance. -) Put a piece of tape over the ignition switch for every fluid you drain out of the bike. Don't take the tape off until you put that fluid back in. The Tool Chest - -) If you can't remember the date when you bought your drill bits, throw them away and buy new ones. They're almost guaranteed to be dull by now, but it's taken months or years and you can't notice something that slow. -) Keep a set of left-hand twist carbide drill bits for dealing with broken bolts. I'm five-for-five with easy-outs breaking at inopportune times. So far it's two-for-two with a set of left-hand Vermont American short drill bits. -) Eat lots of Chinese take-out food. And save the 1lb and 2lb plastic containers for nuts, bolts, and whatnot. They even come with lids that you can write on. -) Browse eBay once in a while looking for that one tool you want but can't justify. Non-eBay'ers will be amazed at how often you can get lucky. The Shop - -) A warm, lighted, dry, secure garage is a luxury. If you've got one, say a prayer for the rest of us who don't have warmth, or low humidity, or sufficient electrical, or security, and take an hour to think about the below. -) Build your work-bench tall. Mine's at 41" and I wish it were taller. Posture and leverage on the bench are crucial. Raise the bench so that when standing at it, your hands can be flat on the bench with elbows at a not much more than 90 degree angle. It'll feel weird until you spend a day there. Then it makes sense. BC Guy April 24, 2003