People who don't know how to use their tools

People who don't know how to use their tools

Author
Discussion

Lotus Elan +2

Original Poster:

469 posts

272 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
While walking the dog I noticed a guy cleaning his wheels with them off the car.
As I was returning from said walk he was putting them back on with rather a large torque wrench. Now obviously I don't know what the torque wrench was set at but after it clicked he just kept tightening the nut, making it click again and just kept on pulling !!! Made me shudder wobble
What other tools do people not know how to use properly?

Kerniki

2,465 posts

28 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
Tighten it till it goes loose smokin

LunarOne

5,756 posts

144 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
I watched a very experienced mechanic use a ratchet as a hammer this morning. He clearly hasn't got a clue what he's doing.

Scroll to 3:45

borcy

5,482 posts

63 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
Watching mechanics in tyre fit type places, I don't think many have ever been shown how to use a torque wrench properly.

BrownEaredDog

589 posts

108 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
Lotus Elan +2 said:
While walking the dog I noticed a guy cleaning his wheels with them off the car.
As I was returning from said walk he was putting them back on with rather a large torque wrench. Now obviously I don't know what the torque wrench was set at but after it clicked he just kept tightening the nut, making it click again and just kept on pulling !!! Made me shudder wobble
What other tools do people not know how to use properly?
Even reading your description of this tool-abuse made me wince like I'd been there myself.

A story of my own - not quite about not knowing how to use a tool, but not knowing the potential dangers of using it incorrectly. Last year I walked past a chap who was lying completely under his car which was solely supported by a rusty old trolley jack...no axle stands, bricks or any other support yikes

Exasperated

438 posts

18 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
borcy said:
Watching mechanics in tyre fit type places, I don't think many have ever been shown how to use a torque wrench properly.
Don't they usually have to rely on their air tools to make sure they can torque up the bolts to at least 40,000Nm?

Ganglandboss

8,368 posts

210 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
LunarOne said:
I watched a very experienced mechanic use a ratchet as a hammer this morning. He clearly hasn't got a clue what he's doing.

Scroll to 3:45

Ganglandboss

8,368 posts

210 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
I was in a tyre bay once and one of their monkeys was knocking balancing weights on with a Vernier calliper.

Ganglandboss

8,368 posts

210 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
Exasperated said:
borcy said:
Watching mechanics in tyre fit type places, I don't think many have ever been shown how to use a torque wrench properly.
Don't they usually have to rely on their air tools to make sure they can torque up the bolts to at least 40,000Nm?
#


sunbeam alpine

7,078 posts

195 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
Kerniki said:
Tighten it till it goes loose smokin
A real pro would back off a quarter turn after it went loose...

Sporky

7,232 posts

71 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
LunarOne said:
I watched a very experienced mechanic use a ratchet as a hammer this morning. He clearly hasn't got a clue what he's doing.

K87

3,743 posts

106 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
Tools of a different sort.

A neighbour has a four metre high hedge, he uses a corded electric rotary mower to trim the sides, holding the handle high above his head with the rotating blade a metre above his reach.

Other vampire neighbours film the process waiting for it all to go wrong.

E63eeeeee...

4,540 posts

56 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
K87 said:
Tools of a different sort.

A neighbour has a four metre high hedge, he uses a corded electric rotary mower to trim the sides, holding the handle high above his head with the rotating blade a metre above his reach.

Other vampire neighbours film the process waiting for it all to go wrong.
yikes

borcy

5,482 posts

63 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
Exasperated said:
borcy said:
Watching mechanics in tyre fit type places, I don't think many have ever been shown how to use a torque wrench properly.
Don't they usually have to rely on their air tools to make sure they can torque up the bolts to at least 40,000Nm?
Then a bit of a performance with torque wrench, which clicks off straight away. Funny that.

shirt

23,436 posts

208 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
Ganglandboss said:
LunarOne said:
I watched a very experienced mechanic use a ratchet as a hammer this morning. He clearly hasn't got a clue what he's doing.

Scroll to 3:45
He’s just under specced his hammer that’s all, era got you covered for this

https://www-de.wera.de/en/great-tools/koloss/





the cueball

1,270 posts

62 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
I’m probably one of them…

I have lots a tools in plastic cases that I just don’t know how to use properly..

Stuff like bearing kits, welders, even all the various extensions etc in tool kits..

I always get the feeling I’m not getting the best out of anything I use hehe

BunkMoreland

1,012 posts

14 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
Lotus Elan +2 said:
While walking the dog I noticed a guy cleaning his wheels with them off the car.
As I was returning from said walk he was putting them back on with rather a large torque wrench. Now obviously I don't know what the torque wrench was set at but after it clicked he just kept tightening the nut, making it click again and just kept on pulling !!! Made me shudder wobble
What other tools do people not know how to use properly?
I know a main dealer that hired an american chap (in the Uk) and he did that a lot!

It was brought to managements attention. They ignored it. Something about "dont worry about him, worry about yourself"

Someone engaged with the American chap in conversation. Turns out he had NEVER been to any form of college, apprenticeship and had never been taught anything about cars. He'd worked a few weeks with a friend in the states unpaid, (doing menial tasks) and then literally blagged it at interview when he arrived in the UK. He had a succession of jobs based on the fact that "previously I worked at X, Y or Z" and no one bothered to ask him about qualifications! Or check references. NOR ask other members of staff to keep an eye on him as a newbie

In the end he left because it turned out he didn't even have a fking work permit! Thats the level of stupid management you get in the motor trade in the UK!

Jakg

3,600 posts

175 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
LunarOne said:
I watched a very experienced mechanic use a ratchet as a hammer this morning. He clearly hasn't got a clue what he's doing.

Scroll to 3:45
I've done the same... if just need to give a socket a quick tap to ensure it's properly seated on a slightly corroded nut, it's not the right tool, but it works.

A bit like how screwdrivers aren't pry bars... but they work.

My excuse was that I was under a car in an awkward position with a hammer a walk away. Less justifiable on a lift.

Mars

9,089 posts

221 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
shirt said:
He’s just under specced his hammer that’s all, era got you covered for this

https://www-de.wera.de/en/great-tools/koloss/
I honestly didn't think there was a tool left in the world that I'd be excited enough to add to my wish list but since I gave my son my original Halfords pro socket set, I have an opportunity to start again with just the sockets I need... and a wrench. And what a piece of kit this thing is..!! I. Need. It.

gruffgriff

1,741 posts

250 months

Saturday 27th July
quotequote all
Ganglandboss said:
I was in a tyre bay once and one of their monkeys was knocking balancing weights on with a Vernier calliper.
yikes

Both my digital and the proper one are sheathed and clipped in to their respective boxes. Paid for with my early YTS apprentice wages and in perfect condition getting on for 35 years later...and both used regularly enough.
Happy to use a chock brick to hammer a socket on a nut though. Bricks make rubbish hammers but I've got lots...