| Home | Fundamentals Shams + Scams | Glossary |
Some tools and equipment are supplied by the ser vice facility and few technicians have these as part of their tool assortment. These tools are commonly used but there is no need for each technician to own them. Many shops have one or two of each. Bench Vises Often repair work is completed with a part or assembly removed from the vehicle. The repairs are typically safely and quickly made by securing the assembly. Small parts are usually secured with a bench vise. The vise is bolted to a workbench to give it security. The object to be held is placed into the tool's jaws and the jaws are tightened around the object. If the object could be damaged or marred by the jaws, brass jaw caps are installed over the jaws before the object is placed between them. Bench Grinder This electric power tool is generally bolted to a work bench. The grinder should have safety shields and guards. Always wear face protection when using a grinder. A bench grinder is classified by wheel size. Six- to ten-inch wheels are the most common in auto repair shops. Three types of wheels are available with this bench tool: 1. Grinding wheel, for a wide variety of grinding jobs from sharpening cutting tools to deburring. 2. Wire wheel brush, for general cleaning and buffing, removing rust, scale, and paint, deburring, and so forth. 3. Buffing wheel, for general purpose buffing, polishing, and light cutting. Presses Many automotive jobs require the use of powerful force to assemble or disassemble parts that are press fit together. Removing and installing piston pins, servicing rear axle bearings, pressing brake drum and rotor studs, and performing transmission assembly work are just a few examples. Presses can be hydraulic, electric, air, or hand driven. Capacities range up to 150 tons of pressing force, depending on the size and design of the press. Smaller arbor and C-frame presses can be bench or pedestal mounted, while high-capacity units are freestanding or floor mounted. --- A creeper allows you to work comfort ably and safely under a vehicle. !WARNING! Always wear safety glasses when using a press. Grease Guns Some shops are equipped with air-powered grease guns, while in others, technicians use a manually operated grease gun. Both types can force grease into a grease fitting. Hand-operated grease guns are often preferred because the pressure of the grease can be controlled by the technician. However, many shops use low air pressure to activate a pneumatic grease gun. The suspension and steering system may have several grease or zerk fittings. Oxyacetylene Torches Oxyacetylene torches have many purposes. In the automotive service industry they are used to heat metal when two parts are difficult to separate, to cut metal (such as when replacing exhaust system parts), and to weld or connect two metal parts together. Oxyacetylene welding and cutting equipment uses the combustion of acetylene in oxygen to produce a flame temperature of about 5,600°F (3,100°C). Acetylene is used as the fuel and oxygen is used to aid in the combustion of the fuel. --- A floor-mounted hydraulic press. --- Oxyacetylene welding equipment shown with a cutting torch. Tip; Working pressure gauge Acetylene control Oxygen control; Cylinder pressure gauge; Regulator; Cutting torch control; Oxygen cylinder; Working pressure gauge; Cylinder pressure gauge; On/off valve; Regulator; Acetylene cylinder Twin hose The equipment includes cylinders of oxygen and acetylene, two pressure regulators, two flexible hoses (one for each cylinder), and a torch. The torches are selected for the job being done-welding torch for welding, brazing, soldering, and heating and cutting torch for cutting metal. There are three sets of valves for each gas: the tank valve, the regulator valve, and the torch valve. The oxygen hose is colored green, and the acetylene hose is red. The acetylene connections have left-hand threads and the oxygen connectors have right-hand threads. Welding and Heating Torch--The hoses connect the cylinders to the torch. On the torch there are separate valves for each gas. The torch is comprised of the valves, a handle, a mixing chamber (where the fuel gas and oxygen mix), and a tip (where the flame forms). Many different tips can be used with a welding torch. Always select the correct size for the job. Cutting Torch--A cutting torch is used to cut metal. It’s similar to a welding torch. However, the cutting torch has a third tube from the valves to the mixing chamber. It carries high-pressure oxygen, which is controlled by a large lever on the torch. During cutting, the metal is heated until it glows orange, and then a lever on the torch is pressed to pass a stream of oxygen through the heated metal to burn it away where the cut is desired. Precautions Never use oxyacetylene equipment unless you have been properly trained to do so. Also, adhere to all safety precautions, including:
Next: Power Tools for Automotive Use Prev.: Hand Tools for Automotive Use Home Article Index top of page |
