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Tools on Tuesday – Basic Mechanics Tools
August 7, 2007
The value of a good tool properly selected for the job it’s designed to perform is priceless. Inversely a good tool selected for the wrong job is worthless. Cheap tools – useless period! If the cost of a “good” tool cannot be justified then rent one or hire the services of a contractor.
Maintenance personnel actively involved in equipment repair and upkeep should maintain a basic set of mechanics tools. Mechanics tools are primarily used for removing hardware, nuts, bolts, screws, and other detachable components. Initial diagnostics usually involve removing protective guards and panels. Here’s a short list of recommended basic tools that should be easily carried in a single tool bag. The list below contains a couple of non-mechanical tools related to electrical. Persons utilizing electrical measuring instruments should be properly trained before being allowed to perform any electrical diagnostics or troubleshooting.
David’s List – A General Purpose Tool Set:
Slotted Screwdrivers: 1/4 x 4, 5/16 x 6, 3/16 x 3, 3/16 x 6, ¼ x 1-1/2 Stubby
Precision Slotted Screwdrivers: 1/16, 3/32
Cross Tipped (Phillips) Screw Drivers: #1 x 3, #2 x 4, #3 x 6, #2 x 1-1/2 Stubby
Precision Phillips Screw Drivers: #0, #1
Ball End Hex Key Set Inch: .05-3/8”
Ball End Hex Key Set Metric: 1.5-10mm
Adjustable Wrench: 8”
Slip Joint Pliers: 6”
Vice Grips: 6”
Tongue & Groove Pliers (Channel locks™): 10”
Needle Nose Pliers w/cutter: 7”
Inspection Mirror w-Telescoping Handle
Flashlight
Knife (replaceable razor type)
Measuring Tape Inch/Metric Graduation: 12’
Diagonal Cutting Pliers (dikes): 6”
12 Pt. Combination Wrench: ¼, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, ½, 9/16, 5/8
12 Point Combination Wrench Metric: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Ball Pein Hammer: 12 Ounce
Awl
Large Tweezers
Voltage Indicator
Digital Multi-meter (600 Volt CAT II Minimum)
Notepad & Pencil
Lock Out – Tag Out locks and tags
Remember to follow company lock-out tag-out procedures prior to performing any maintenance activity.
This set of tools is like a “First Responders” medical kit. It’s not going to facilitate surgery but it will provide convenient means of quickly diagnosing and correcting most minor problems.
Maintenance personnel assigned to the floor should keep these tools handy at all times. Many problems can be quickly resolved with a few basic hand tools. Waiting on someone to retrieve a simple tool for a small task is time consuming and costly.
Pet Peeves:
“It’s got a lifetime warranty if I break it I can just get a new one.” Screw drivers are not made for chiseling or scraping they are made for well …installing and removing screws!
“I will be right back. I left my tool bag in the maintenance cage on the other side of the facility.”
“Where is the manual?” ("Maintaining a Maintenance Library" that’s a different day’s Blog – coming soon)
Links of the Day:
Wikipedia on Tools (I usually don’t link Wiki but this one is pretty good.)
Stanley Tools History
Posted by David Sanders on August 7, 2007 | Comments (1)
