178 replies to this topic

[matty879]

i always put a dot at 12 and a dot at 3

i just put the other dot on the head where it needs to be ie at 180 270 90 etc and turn till they meet

[inconsistant]

If you're doing any sort of mechanical work on your car your hands are probably going to be dirtier than your winky so my tip is to wash your hands before having a pee rather than after.

[RustyNuts]

Ah yes hand washing... 

 

Orange Swarfega has micro granules in it which very effectively removes oil / grime from your hands. It's available at some supermarkets now too along with the usual eurocarparts and others (for some reason never seen it at halfords).

 

Tip for use though... only one or two squirts is needed. Anymore and it seems to dilute the granules in the soap liquid and then the effect seems to wear off. Fewer squirts = more granules in the soap and then it does an excellent job.

 

Sometimes it's nice to have a bowl of water next to the car along with the swarfega - then you can wash your hands at will.

[Kiltox]

Ah yes hand washing...

Orange Swarfega has micro granules in it which very effectively removes oil / grime from your hands. It's available at some supermarkets now too along with the usual eurocarparts and others (for some reason never seen it at halfords).

Tip for use though... only one or two squirts is needed. Anymore and it seems to dilute the granules in the soap liquid and then the effect seems to wear off. Fewer squirts = more granules in the soap and then it does an excellent job.

Sometimes it's nice to have a bowl of water next to the car along with the swarfega - then you can wash your hands at will.

Washing up liquid and sugar does a very similar job for a lot less

[Keymaster]

Speaking of which, I've found that orange swarfega to be much more effective at clearing blocked/slow/stinking drains than any of Mr.Muscles various offerings.

[mercrocker]

A small piece of blue-tac holds a screw against a screwdriver far better than fat greasy arthritic fingers when trying to replace something in a tight area.   Heavy grease or vaseline sometimes works, too, for holding in rubber seals during re-assembly, particularly on canister-type oil filter bowls.

[sierraman]

Don't waste money on expensive hand cleaners, half handful of sugar in some Swarfega much more effective.

[inconsistant]

Wash your hands afterward too if you've got a stinky winky.

[For Fiats Sake]

Let 7 or so days elapse between viewings of "ebay tat thread", thus most of the irresistible bargains won't be available.

[scaryoldcortina]

A small piece of blue-tac holds a screw against a screwdriver far better than fat greasy arthritic fingers when trying to replace something in a tight area.   Heavy grease or vaseline sometimes works, too, for holding in rubber seals during re-assembly, particularly on canister-type oil filter bowls.

I spent 10 minutes today looking for a small piece of blu-tac for exactly that reason. Steering column shroud screw on a smart was being a pita because deep hole on an angle + slightly wobbly t10 torx head.

[dollywobbler]

I use Ecover hand cleaner. Smells far nicer than Swarfega and works really well. I like to have wipes around when working on the car though. Also useful for wiping tools down after mucky jobs.

I have also lined my garage floor with cardboard. Absorbs minor fluid spills very nicely. I have a sheet that I place under cars when working outside. Has saved my driveway from more bloody oil spills.

[catsinthewelder]

Probably too obvious but if you round off an allen headed bolt or screw then progessively larger torx fittings and a hammer are your friend.

 

I wonder if sugar and washing up liquid works for clearing drains?

[twosmoke300]

Sealey torx / spline key sets make brilliant stud extractors . Drill a hole in your broken bolt then beat in a suitable size bit . They will slip rather than break off which is better as you won't have a piece of hss stuck in it .

[beko1987]

An old cot mattress makes an excellent kneeling/laying on pad when working on the car! Bonus is their plastic covered so just wipe dry

[fordperv]

an offcut of lino makes a great thing to lie on underneath a car as well

[beko1987]

I always used to keep a stash of carpet tiles (well, still do) but when they get wet/damp their worse than just kneeling on a wet road!

[mercrocker]

Shop over the road from me always has a mountain of cardboard boxes outside.   I break one of them down for a laying mat, they can just go back in their recycle bin afterwards.

[cort1977]

Shop over the road from me always has a mountain of cardboard boxes outside.   I break one of them down for a laying mat, they can just go back in their recycle bin afterwards.

Yep, this is what I do as well.  

 

Mattresses or pads etc are OK but I find knee pads really useful for any job low to the ground.

[passmethegun]

Hand sanitizer is great for getting oily hands clean (better than the big bottle of Deb), especially useful if you keep a small bottle in the car for side-of-the-road repairs.

Baby wipes are pretty good too, and gentle enough for oily babies.

I don't recommend using babies for car repairs.

[twosmoke300]

I do ! Small hands are perfect for ...... just about every job on modern cars with no room to get any sort of tool / hand / light near where you need it

[Parky]

Halfords always sell oil piss cheap on Boxing Day

[Bren]

Shop over the road from me always has a mountain of cardboard boxes outside.   I break one of them down for a laying mat, they can just go back in their recycle bin afterwards.

Just make sure you tip the tramps out first.

[cros]

I was making a reverse blocking device to attach to my Morris 10 gearbox late last night. With the weld still glowing I thought I'd have a piss while waiting for it to cool sufficiently to be fitted. Brainwave, take the device along and speed up the process. My hot tip? Don't get it too close to your helmet.

[WilsonWilson]

If you cant find a small piece of blu tac, hammer a slightly larger piece of blu tac over it.

[themildbunch]

Silicone spray used liberally on old, slow to retract seat belts makes them whip back in like new... 

[Kiltox]

Silicone spray used liberally on old, slow to retract seat belts makes them whips back in like new... 

 

Furniture polish does the same

[beko1987]

I imagine that tip will fuck you over should you wear a white shirt in the car though...

[garbaldy]

Would it kill the mould though as it appears to have started early this year

[chodweaver]

Bearing in mind how mould grows with such enthusiasm on silicon bathroom sealant, I'm guessing no.

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[lisbon_road]

Gloves are available cheap from places like Eurocarparts and I think beat washing hands everytime.  There's the issue of testicular cancer too if you go for a wee and your hands have engine oil on them, plus some of those hand cleaners have the plastic particles that people are getting worried about.

 

I think it is great: do a load of filthy work, take the gloves off and woo hoo clean hands.