3 Underrated Tools You Should Have After Your Auto Mechanic Training
Any auto mechanic needs a variety of tools at their disposal for success: pliers, wrenches, ratchets, screwdrivers—you name it. But really, these are only a few of the more basic tools a mechanic will find useful throughout their career, and the full list of options for tools they can use is actually quite extensive. Although we’ll only be looking at three here that you might not already be using, you’ll still be able to understand how they work and how they can streamline your ability to get the job done. Here are three tools you might not have thought of getting if you’re studying to be an auto mechanic, but are very much worth it.
Screw Pitch Gauge—to Become a Mechanic Who Can Measure in Two Different Ways
Here’s a tool that’s both cheap and one that pretty much every shop owns, but is worth talking about regardless—and definitely worth having around if you have bolts measured in both English (aka imperial) and metric sizes. A screw pitch gauge allows you to measure the pitch of a screw’s thread if the screws each use opposing measurement types (pitch vs. teeth per inch), giving a better idea of how it measures up without needing to measure the pitch completely by yourself. Therefore, you’ll also be able to measure the exact size of each screw or bolt without accidentally putting a metric one into an imperial hole, or vice versa. It’s a rather simple tool in nature, but can save you plenty of time and confusion.
Listening Device—to Hear Unexpected Noises from the Inside
No, this isn’t quite like going to the doctor and getting your pulse checked with a stethoscope—unless, of course, you’re a sentient automobile. Instead, this tool is used for diagnostics and catching any noises that may be heard within the car’s motor or engine. To use it, you put the microphone clamps onto the area of the vehicle where unexpected sounds might be present, and discover through earbuds which of the transmitters is giving it off. This could be the fault of damaged bearings, malfunctioning valves or water pumps, or air leakages—among other causes.
It’s an underrated maintenance tool in that it can recognize sounds you may not easily hear, and can save you a great deal of time. There are also wireless ones available to help find noises that can be heard while the car is being driven. If you want to improve your ability to diagnose car abnormalities after your auto mechanic training, this could very well come in handy for you.
Digital Torque Wrench and Adapter—to Easily Put Numbers on Torque
Okay, so this is technically two tools rather than one, but both are worth having around if you want to become a mechanic and make your job that much easier. A digital torque wrench with an LCD display can be used for cranking and tightening bolts either clockwise or counter-clockwise, while the adapter can be used alongside any regular ratchet and show the torque number while you’re using it.
Both can show you the torque as it’s rising, and a sound will go off when a certain number has been reached. Either way, these tools can help make determining torque value and finding the correct specifications easier, and help you avoid damaging a car from tightening screws and bolts without one—not to mention without needing to buy various sizes of regular torque wrenches!
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