subject: Tips For Garage Safety [print this page] When you're in the automotive shop or garage working on your car, there are a few basic tips you need to keep in mind.
It's important to support the vehicle properly. Make sure that the jack you use to lift your car is not the cheap or homemade version. Supporting something that weighs 1 tons would mean you need to provide yourself with a good floor jack. To keep your car in the air once it's been lifted, you need to use a good jack stand. If the raised automobile is not properly supported, then don't even think about crawling under it.
Wearing proper safety gear is also a must. Grabbing their tools and getting to work without any safety gear is the habit of some mechanics. You need to wear safety glasses so that your eyes will be protected from falling debris. Don't risk anything getting in your eye or it may cause a lot of damage. Another gear that's becoming popular are the mechanic's gloves. A mechanic's hands will be protected even if the material of these gloves are thin. Have you ever smashed your hand on the engine block and gotten a bloody knuckle as a result?
Using the right tools is essential. It can be very tempting to just use what you have in your garage and improvise. However, borrowing or purchasing the right tools for your auto project is the better option. For example, you need to use a good torque wrench. If your expensive cylinder head is not properly torqued then it could be damage. You also need to use a good transmission jack. Remember that these transmissions are made of soft aluminum, meaning that they can be easily damaged. Providing yourself with a good manual is also important. This is a must have if you want to save a lot of money and suffer less frustrations and headaches. You need to have some handy instructions with you when you're in the automotive shop or garage. Great manuals are often provided by Chiltons.
You also need to apply some common sense. So is using your brain. You often see people working in a gas tank and smoking a cigarette at the same time.
