Ive been working on cars for a long time now. Over the years I've learned how to do just about everything to a car from simple engine swaps to ground up restorations. Im sure a lot of members here can attest as well. Ive been away from the board for a while now and just started to browse around again. Ive noticed a lot of threads with some pretty unsafe advise given. It would be nice to do a thread on safety. I know its boring and not really fun to read, but it is necessary. Common knowledge that everyone should know does not mean that everyone knows. We have a lot of new members who may have never used a floor jack or jack stands before, or if they have they may not know how to use them effectively.

 

Sadly , for most , safety is what the OTHER guy shoulda been doing when he got hurt , BUT IT"LL NEVER HAPPEN TO ME ! .......

Somewhere in between the "it'll never happen to me" mentality , and the occasional lapses in good work habits , ALOT of people end up with mangled parts . Yes , some are "newb" mistakes , but the far greater amount I've seen in over 50 years as a mechanic have been injuries to experienced folks who DO know better , but let their guard down just that one time . In my professional training (I'm a licensed FAA A&P Mechanic) it was stressed that experienced folks are far MORE likely to slip up , having become SO familiar with the equipment that safety is all too easily forgotten .

ANY machine , from a tiny pair of scissors to a Jumbo Jet , can inflict it's damage if handled carelessly !

Lesson here = never become TOO much of a "pro" to mind safety , and keep YOUR parts outta that machine's moving parts !

 

Here's my recommendation: Eye Protection!

Whether under the car to replace a temperature gauge sending unit, tighten an exhaust hanger, sand off rust areas in the engine bay or clean and fill grease fittings, I always notice some sort of debris or particle bounce off of my safety glasses.

Remember this; no matter how many spare car parts you may have, you only have one set of eyes. You'll need both for maximum third gen enjoyment!

 

Also no getting under jacked-only car. Use body stands, shove a wheel under there as well, etc. Had a scissor jack collapse once seconds after I got out from underneath, back when I was young and dumbass. Even though I knew it was a stupid thing to do at the time.

Also don't use scissor jacks, ever! Pos things.

Disconnect the batt when you doing any sizeable amount of engine work.

 

Jack stands are over rated. If I don't need to take the wheels off or need the extra clearance under the car I sit the car up on wheels/tires. No way it will roll this way, they don't ruin the asphalt and it's cheaper than owning 4 jack stands.

 

Well jack stands were just an example, but I am curious how you sit the car up on wheels? Also you can pick up 4 jack stands for about 50 bucks at harbor freight, that's pretty cheap IMO.

 

I'm a safety fanatic. Guys die under cars all the time. I've seen a guy under a car, supported by a bumper jack only on a sloped driveway. I'll use a hydraulic jack only if I'm just taking off a wheel, but if I need to get under it, I not only use jack stands, but I'll also roll a short log (that's approximately the same girth as I am) underneath as well. It only takes a second and it's great peace of mind. Eye protection is also a good one. I have a nieghbor who refuses to wear glasses when cleaning a bolt on a wire wheel. Not sure how he's managed to keep one of those little bristles from sticking in his eyeball, I always feel those suckers flying off.

 

Read the instructions:




Opps!!!!.

 

the internet is a dangerous place...just sayin

 

If for example, I am pulling a motor out and I can leave the car's tires on I go and grab another set of 4 tires and wheels. Jack it up and place the car's tires in the rim. 100% of the time it can not roll and it raises the car high enough to allow you to easily go in and out from under the vehicle.
I get made fun of by everyone for using tires.

 

^ a spare set of steel wheels works great for getting a car up off the ground! Also, it makes it impossible for air hoses or extension cords to get jammed under a tire.

Safety glasses are a good thing. A full face shield is a MUST for grinding, meant to be used in addition to safety glasses.

Always pay attention to what's gonna happen to your hands when a bolt breaks loose. I actually can't remember the last time I busted a knuckle when a bolt came loose

 

Not sure how many use oxy acetylene torches here. Rule of thumb when igniting - acetylene on then ignite your flame and add oxygen - extinguishing oxy off then acetylene. Many people try to ignite the oxy and acetylene at the same time which could lead to a big bang and some missing limbs. The same goes with extinguishing the flame if you turn off the acetylene first the flame may actually get sucked down the torch and burn internally or worse yet flow back into the hose and tanks. Always wear at least a #5 shade when using the torches and be aware of your surroundings. You don’t want that 5 gal plastic gas can next to you; do you?