5 Tips For Working As A Mechanic

Being a mechanic is an awesome and fulfilling job. Not only do you get the opportunity to work on vehicles and machines, you have the chance to hone your skills and develop relationships with anyone who comes into your shop. Working as a mechanic can also serve as a career opportunity or hobby for the mechanically inclined. Whether you’re in the midst of a career position, a diy enthusiast or just getting started, here are five tips for working as a mechanic this year. We hope you find them useful. 

Understand Your Limits

Dirty Harry was onto something when he said, “a man’s gotta know his limitations.” Although intended to create a cinematic moment where the audience learns to love the protagonist, it makes a lot of sense when applied to real life. Understanding your limits as a mechanic doesn’t diminish your ability. Instead, it shows a dedication to professionalism and taking care of what matters most: yourself and your customers. Leaving what you can’t handle to other professionals is a fantastic way to build a network and cultivate a reputation for quality service. It can help you build relationships with customers, too, and even share knowledge with other mechanics as you hone your craft.

Utilize Safety Equipment

Accidents happen every day. Everyone thinks it won’t happen to them until it does. So they might overlook protective gear or downplay potential danger. But being the “cool, tough guy” doesn’t matter much if you mangle yourself or get injured because you weren’t wearing protective gear. Eyewear and gloves are two pieces of safety gear that no workshop should be without. They have a multitude of different uses and offer protection from many potential hazards associated with a mechanic’s work. Respirators are ideal for painting and detailing to keep those dangerous fumes from ingratiating themselves into your lungs and respiratory system. Face masks can be helpful when working on vehicles in a general sense and are a good idea for protecting your nose, mouth and face. Face shields are crucial for protecting your face when doing any kind of “hot” work—that is, any work that can expose you to flames or where flammable material is present. Use safety equipment regularly and properly to keep safe while working so you can keep doing what you love without taking a lot of unnecessary risks.

Use The Right Jacks

Putting machinery up on jacks is something everyone working with vehicles/heavy equipment recognizes as necessary to getting work done. So it goes without saying (but we’re saying it anyway) that a good mechanic should have the right types of jacks for the work they perform.

Hydraulic jacks are pretty standard for most mechanics, using Pascal’s Principle as a basis for designing a simple, yet extremely useful machine. High lift jacks might be necessary in some workshops, based on the kind of work being performed. Ultimately, the types of jacks you keep in your workshop will largely depend on your needs. But having them is critical and should not be something you skimp on when setting up your workshop/workspace.

Expand Your Skills and Knowledge 

Increasing your skills and knowledge as a mechanic should be a high priority. As with any profession, staying on top of industry changes, trends, and skills can be amazingly beneficial. It helps give you an edge over the completion. It demonstrates confidence. It can also be a way to set yourself apart from the competition. Other than the professional reasons, learning new skills helps with increasing motivation, success and happiness. That can be incredibly valuable when working with vehicles and other machinery. 

Invest In Quality Tools

Any worthy and knowledgeable mechanic will take care to ensure they invest in the best tools for their workshop. Quality mechanics tools are essential to the work you do in your shop. You’ll need the basics: hammers, screwdrivers, a drill, and so on. Specialized power tools and pneumatic tools (like air hammers and tire pumps) are also vital to working as a mechanic. Extra mats, extra oil (and other fluids), and buckets are good to have on hand just in case you need them. Extra drill bits, wrenches, sockets, and other accessories will also save you time. And it’s always a good idea to keep a toolbox that’s organized and optimized for your work. By investing in quality to begin with instead of buying the cheapest thing you can find will save you time, money and energy in the long run. 

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