We've all probably spent thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars on tools over the course of our careers, all of which serve their own special purpose, but in some instances you can't beat the ingenuity of some of the hacks we use to make our lives just that little bit easier.
So in no particular order, here are some of the top hacks and tips to help us get the job done.
Cardboard
That's right, plain boring old cardboard. While it may have a multitude of uses, this one in particular involves poking bolts through a sheet when disassembling a component to ensure the bolts arent lost and their order isn't mixed up. You can also write on the cardboard with a texta to aid in easier identification. A partitioned PVC box is also a great way to keep track of parts.
Bulldog Clips
While the bulldog clip is usually commonplace in the office, they can also be a handy tool in your roll cab when it comes to fitting timing belts. An extra pair of hands arent always available, so use a bulldog clip to secure a timing belt to a gear to assist when fitting a new belt.
Brillo Pads
Brillo pads can be an excellent tool for cleaning contaminated areas or mating surfaces like water pumps and throttle bodies, leaving a nice smooth finish for fitment of a new gasket.
Nail Polish
Don't have a paint pen handy? Nail Polish is a great way to mark components like bolts, timing belts or timing marks and doesen't wash off with the likes of brake cleaner or other cleaning agents like white-out does. If you want to do your nails aswell, well thats up to you.
Paper
Bolt keep falling out of your socket while you're trying to get it in place? Put a small peice of paper over the bolt head before inserting it into the socket to keep it in place. Blu-tac or grease may also be effective in keeping a bolt in its place.
Dental Floss
What's one of the worse sounds a mechanic can hear? A nut or bolt falling through an engine bay and not hitting the floor. Next time you've got to fit a nut or bolt in a precarious position, try tying it to your finger with a short length of dental floss. If you happen to drop the nut or bolt, you won't lose it in the engine bay and when you start the nut or bolt, the thread will cut through the dental floss.
Aftermarket CDL Strap
Familiar with the metal straps used to mount aftermarket door actuators? These are great for mounting components in awkward places or even holding up a window when fitting a regulator by bending it into a hook, placing it under the window and then back down over the door to form an S shape.
Sewing Seam Ripper
Usually used to pull stitches in sewing, these are a great tool to open up a wiring loom quickly without risking any damage to the wires. You should be able to pick these up at your local supermarket.
Welding Tip Cleaners
Great for cleaning welding tips but even better for clearing a blocked washer jet. Simply insert the right size tip cleaner into the washer jet a few times to get rid of any obstructions.
Have you got any of your own Tool or Productivity hacks to share with the Community?
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