RustyNuts Posted September 28, 2016 Author Share Posted September 28, 2016 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. AMC Rebel and chodweaver 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiltox Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 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 For Fiats Sake, Rocket88, Vince70 and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keymaster Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 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. chodweaver 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercrocker Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 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. RustyNuts 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sierraman Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Don't waste money on expensive hand cleaners, half handful of sugar in some Swarfega much more effective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inconsistant Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Wash your hands afterward too if you've got a stinky winky. plasticvandan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
For Fiats Sake Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Let 7 or so days elapse between viewings of "ebay tat thread", thus most of the irresistible bargains won't be available. Laseraligningfoofooflanges, The Moog, Skizzer and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scaryoldcortina Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 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. mercrocker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 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. chodweaver 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catsinthewelder Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twosmoke300 Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 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 . chodweaver 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beko1987 Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 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 mercrocker and chodweaver 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordperv Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 an offcut of lino makes a great thing to lie on underneath a car as well beko1987 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beko1987 Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercrocker Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cort1977 Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
passmethegun Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 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. rml2345, Craig the Princess and For Fiats Sake 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twosmoke300 Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 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 For Fiats Sake and passmethegun 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 Halfords always sell oil piss cheap on Boxing Day RustyNuts 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 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. beko1987 and The Moog 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cros Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 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. beko1987, fiatdaft, sierraman and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 If you cant find a small piece of blu tac, hammer a slightly larger piece of blu tac over it. worldofceri, Jerzy Woking, fatharris and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themildbunch Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 Silicone spray used liberally on old, slow to retract seat belts makes them whip back in like new... sierraman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiltox Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 Silicone spray used liberally on old, slow to retract seat belts makes them whips back in like new... Furniture polish does the same Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beko1987 Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 I imagine that tip will fuck you over should you wear a white shirt in the car though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garbaldy Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 Would it kill the mould though as it appears to have started early this year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chodweaver Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 Bearing in mind how mould grows with such enthusiasm on silicon bathroom sealant, I'm guessing no. Sent from my GT-S5830i using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisbon_road Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D Spares & Tyres Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 Silicone spray used liberally on old, slow to retract seat belts makes them whip back in like new... Never use silicone anywhere near a car you intend to do any paintwork on either now or in the future..... Tamworthbay and matty879 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D Spares & Tyres Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 When painting car wheels, put a small length of hosepipe over the valve. Paint the tyres in neat washing up liquid rather than mask off. Once dried the tyres will jetwash up like new. RustyNuts, fiatdaft, twosmoke300 and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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