Workshop tools are essential for performing vehicle repairs in the mechanic’s shop. These workshop tools represent a significant investment, so we’d like to offer some recommendations for their maintenance so they last a lifetime, or as long as possible, at full capacity.
How to Organize Mechanic Tools in Your Workshop
Organizing your tools in the workshop is essential for an efficient workflow. Below are some key strategies to achieve this:
Workspace Design
Designate specific areas for each type of work or activity. For example, you might have one workstation for carpentry, another for metalworking, and another for electronics repairs. This helps maintain order and efficiency.
In addition to designating a specific area for each type of work, another tip is to group tools by function or type (power tools, hand tools, etc.). This makes it easier to find what you need when you need it.
Workshop Storage Sets
Use shelving, boxes, drawers, and tool organizers to store your tools neatly. Consider tool storage solutions from Dyco Ventures that offer custom designs to fit the available space and are accessible.
Labeling and Marking
Clearly label boxes, drawers, and shelves to quickly and accurately identify contents. This makes it easier to find and return tools after use.
With proper organization, your workshop will become an orderly and efficient space where you can work productively and safely.
Maintenance of Hand Tools in a Mechanic Workshop
Wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, and so on, the hand tools used in the mechanical workshop vary greatly in complexity, uses, and price. They are generally more economical than pneumatic tools, but maintenance should not be neglected to extend their useful life.
How many times have we seen pliers used as a hammer or other tool for a purpose other than its design? Workshop tools should always be used for the task for which they were designed by the manufacturer (except in emergencies).
Why?
- You could break the tool by using it for a purpose for which it is not designed.
- You could also damage the vehicle by slipping or not completing the entire task.
- And finally, you could lose the warranty that the tool manufacturers give you. Obviously, the warranty doesn’t cover improper or incorrect use.
If you want to preserve the tools in your workshop for the next generation, you must prevent them from rusting. Although many tools are designed with rust-resistant steel coatings, if they accumulate dirt, they risk corrosion. Taking the time to clean your tools is a good idea. Whenever possible.
To clean hand tools, a cloth or soap is sufficient when they are very dirty. After cleaning, dry the tools and store them in their cart or on a shelf to keep them in good condition.
Air Workshop Tools
These types of pneumatic tools are powered by compressed air and are very useful in mechanical workshops. Tightening and loosening nuts are tasks that are made much easier with their help. To keep them in good condition, they require proper maintenance throughout their useful life.
When air is in its normal state, it contains water vapor, and when it is compressed, this air heats up, and the moisture condenses. Humid air is prone to rust, so draining the compressor at the end of the day is a good practice that will extend its lifespan and performance.
Hot, humid air will also circulate through the hoses to the workshop tools, so this situation must be prevented. Before using the tools, it is advisable to add some drops of pneumatic oil to the tool’s air connection.
If used throughout the day, apply oil occasionally and check for water at the end of the day to prevent rust from forming overnight. The amount of oil used in tools can be lowered by increasing the quality of the compressor air.
A filter or regulator is a device that filters out harmful particles, maintains the correct pressure, and lubricates the system with oil. These filters are affordable and will help extend the life of your tools.
Regarding air pressure, it is recommended to use the pressure indicated by the workshop tool manufacturers for their use.
Using the correct pressure and checking it with a pressure gauge is a good way to ensure you are working at the correct pressure.
Battery-Powered Workshop Tools
These types of tools are a very powerful solution used by mechanics in the workshop. To avoid problems with these tools, it is advisable to follow these tips:
- Use them frequently. It’s recommended to use tools every one or two months to extend their lifespan.
- Do not fully discharge the battery. Like all batteries, these have a “memory,” so recharging them according to the manufacturer’s instructions will extend their lifespan.
- Do not leave the battery on the charger longer than necessary. This common practice can cause it to overheat. It is recommended to keep it in a climate-controlled environment to maintain its battery life.
Don’t forget that the battery-powered tools in your workshop should also be kept clean. The intake and exhaust ports on drills, rotary tools, and other tools can become clogged and reduce their performance. Cleaning these ports with a brush will remove dirt. As the saying goes: “prevention is better than cure.”
By applying the tips in this article and treating your workshop tools properly, you’re sure to extend their useful life. Maybe for life…
