Workshop tips and tricks

[waddycall]

As this seems to be health and safety - leave plenty of time after welding/grinding/hot work before walking out and closing the door!

 

[chunkolini]

If anybody asks you to do a five minute job or fix an exhaust, punch them as hard as you can and run away laughing.
They wont ask again.

Another top tip.
Long leads on tools such as grinders etc, always wrap them around the tool in a figure eight pattern, they dont develop into coils and get all twisted up. Coil mine round and round and die. Every single power tool in my empire is wound figure eight stylee.

 

[Alister]

If someone else was working at something before you, assume they made a hash of it. Most times you will be right.

 

[Gavin_d]

As this seems to be health and safety - leave plenty of time after welding/grinding/hot work before walking out and closing the door!

Haha I've often gone back into the garage 5 mins later thinking oh no has that stuff cooled down yet.

 

[clift_d]

Long leads on tools such as grinders etc, always wrap them around the tool in a figure eight pattern, they dont develop into coils and get all twisted up. Coil mine round and round and die. Every single power tool in my empire is wound figure eight stylee.

A much better way is to wind into alternating coils - this helpful video shows you how:

 

[clift_d]

Another tip I saw in another post somewhere here - apologies for not remembering the original author - after you've finished for the day stop for a cup of tea and then when you come back after 15 - 20 minutes you'll be able to spot more easily anything that's been left on, or any rags that have caught sparks, etc, before they become big problems overnight.

 

[brightspark]

an even better idea fit some rise in temperature smoke alarms

 

[rory1]

Never put your finger where you wouldn't put your pri.....zed possession!

 

[langy]

Always work on the 6P principle, Proper Planning Prevents Pi$$ Poor Performance

 

[Gavin_d]

Here's one I don't see everyone do. Open the valves on gas bottles just enough for flow. Not all the way. This iis ncase you get a fault with a regulator, fire or any other type of emergency then your able to cut supply quickly.

 

[harryb94]

Here's one I don't see everyone do. Open the valves on gas bottles just enough for flow. Not all the way. This iis ncase you get a fault with a regulator, fire or any other type of emergency then your able to cut supply quickly.

I think on a lot of gas bottles the valves only seal properly when fully open/closed

 

[Gavin_d]

I think on a lot of gas bottles the valves only seal properly when fully open/closed

I've allways just turned the valves until hear the gas release through the tubes instead of winding them all way open.

 

[Spark plug]

All of gas bottles only get opened 1/4-1/2 a turn.

 

[Gavin_d]

All of gas bottles only get opened 1/4-1/2 a turn.

That's how it should be done. However I have seen people open them fully to the point it's tight.

 

[Spark plug]

That's how it should be done. However I have seen people open them fully to the point it's tight.

That just silly, Im also not a fan of BOC valve keys, if you need to turn your O/A off in a hurry. Ideally you should have a key for each cylinder.

 

[Wallace]

Unwind extension leads fully to prevent them overheating and catching fire.

 

[Spark plug]

Tidy up at the end of every day in the workshop or it will end up looking like mine.........

You have been warned

 

[CompoSimmonite]

when welding under cars,wear ear plugs, I was told this by someone who got some spatter in his ear, after 6 operations he still couldnt hear properly.

This happened to me. I'm left with permanently affected hearing.

 

[sparkysy]

And mine! It's a tip too! My words of wisdom are never assume anything assuming is the mother of all c@c" ups

 

[Maker]

Here's one I don't see everyone do. Open the valves on gas bottles just enough for flow. Not all the way. This iis ncase you get a fault with a regulator, fire or any other type of emergency then your able to cut supply quickly.

With fuel gases you should do this but other gases (Shielding gases) have a back seat valve, meaning that it may leak unless it's fully open (or closed). That's what I was taught anyway, dunno how true it is.

I don't know what category oxygen falls in.