Getting old and home mechanics.
Discussion
I use a foam kneel pad... kneeling on concrete and tarmac is definitely a young mans game!
Something like this.
When we bought a new mattress, I cut the old double memory foam one up into 6 pieces - excellent if you're spending a fair bit of time under a car.
Good work lights also help - I use a Ring rechargeable LED job.
Best thing I ever bought was a DeWalt impact gun (DCF889 gb IIRC)... I've not met a bolt it won't under yet in 6 years (assuming there's room to get the thing in position).
Something like this.
When we bought a new mattress, I cut the old double memory foam one up into 6 pieces - excellent if you're spending a fair bit of time under a car.
Good work lights also help - I use a Ring rechargeable LED job.
Best thing I ever bought was a DeWalt impact gun (DCF889 gb IIRC)... I've not met a bolt it won't under yet in 6 years (assuming there's room to get the thing in position).
At 62 ( like me) a really good battery impact driver ( De Walt for the win) is the way to go.
Makes suspension work a piece of cake. Even outside, on your back, under the car. So very, very easy. I bought it for work, but it now lives at home.
I kept on telling the Mrs coming in from yet another car related DIY episode " I'm too old for this s
t." But a rattle gun takes all the effort away and its use is so very satisfying that I fear I may be playing with cars for quite a few years yet.
Makes suspension work a piece of cake. Even outside, on your back, under the car. So very, very easy. I bought it for work, but it now lives at home.
I kept on telling the Mrs coming in from yet another car related DIY episode " I'm too old for this s
t." But a rattle gun takes all the effort away and its use is so very satisfying that I fear I may be playing with cars for quite a few years yet. Jazoli said:
Pistom said:
Making yourself more comfortable is really important. Do you have a link to those?
They look like scruffs, they sell them in screwfix, I wear them every day for work, https://www.screwfix.com/p/scruffs-trade-stretch-w... currently on offer.Faust66 said:
I use a foam kneel pad... kneeling on concrete and tarmac is definitely a young mans game!
Something like this.
When we bought a new mattress, I cut the old double memory foam one up into 6 pieces - excellent if you're spending a fair bit of time under a car.
Good work lights also help - I use a Ring rechargeable LED job.
Best thing I ever bought was a DeWalt impact gun (DCF889 gb IIRC)... I've not met a bolt it won't under yet in 6 years (assuming there's room to get the thing in position).
I have used one of these for the last few years https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Handyman-LITE-Mechanic-...Something like this.
When we bought a new mattress, I cut the old double memory foam one up into 6 pieces - excellent if you're spending a fair bit of time under a car.
Good work lights also help - I use a Ring rechargeable LED job.
Best thing I ever bought was a DeWalt impact gun (DCF889 gb IIRC)... I've not met a bolt it won't under yet in 6 years (assuming there's room to get the thing in position).
I`m long retired now after working in the motor trade for over 50 years, 25 of those years running my own car repair business. I also have a fully equipped workshop at home, but I`m finding it really hard work now just to do a simple service. Its a mixture of a back problem brought on by years of car work, and lack of inspiration. I just cant be bothered with cars anymore. Lets face it, an oil and filter job requires the car on stands, the removal of loads of clips and screws, and a huge plastic "surfboard" just to get to the sump plug. Anything technical requires a laptop and all the gizmos. Yes, I agree, I`m past it. I now pay a guy to work on my cars, its called peace of mind.
The only complex car work I do now is building Tamiya models, just finished a McLaren Senna. ( stop sniggering at the back )
The only complex car work I do now is building Tamiya models, just finished a McLaren Senna. ( stop sniggering at the back )
ARHarh said:
I have used one of these for the last few years https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Handyman-LITE-Mechanic-...
I'm far to mean, luckily I have a plumber opposite me & I have an endless supply of Boiler boxes , sometimes jumbo corrugated .The problem I get is if I have been sitting for awhile legs underneath me it takes me a few minutes of pain & shakiness trying to unfold them to stand...
51, and still quite happy grovelling under cars. I view it as men's yoga - compared to a lot of friends, I'm ridiculously flexible and strong, which I put down to bench pressing gear boxes with extreme precision as I line up the input shaft....
I have got fed up with winter, and assuming I get planning permission, I'm going to build a heated mechanics palace, with a 2 post lift, loads of workshop space and 8 garage spaces.
I have got fed up with winter, and assuming I get planning permission, I'm going to build a heated mechanics palace, with a 2 post lift, loads of workshop space and 8 garage spaces.
My plans going forward (as a 56 year old) is to tinker with my old classic car and bike as much as I can, but let the dealers look after the newer stuff I don't care too much about.
Hope to move to a bigger house at some point and want a double garage, heated !
Then I'll get a bike lift and something to lift a car, or dig an inspection pit, is that still a thing these days ?
Hope to move to a bigger house at some point and want a double garage, heated !
Then I'll get a bike lift and something to lift a car, or dig an inspection pit, is that still a thing these days ?
52 year old here.
Prefer working on bikes these days. Everything is much lighter and easier.
I invested in a bike lift and nicked a broken chair from the office. I even have a portable radiator to keep warm. It's luxury compared to crawling around under a car.
The biggest problem has been the deterioration in my eyesight. I now need glasses for reading and any close up work, which is a complete PITA, as they are always falling off and getting covered with oil.
For driveway spannering, a good foam kneeler is essential, along with all the right tools. I recently bought a big DeWalt rattle gun, which makes removing wheels, hub nuts and suspension bolts a pleasure.
But inclement weather can sod off. I replaced an Audi TT starter motor on a freezing cold and pissy wet January morning. The job itself was undemanding, but it was an utterly miserable and soul destroying experience.
By contrast, I did the timing belt and pump on a Focus on a lovely Sunday afternoon in August. It was a very relaxing and therapeutic way of saving a couple of hundred quid.
Prefer working on bikes these days. Everything is much lighter and easier.
I invested in a bike lift and nicked a broken chair from the office. I even have a portable radiator to keep warm. It's luxury compared to crawling around under a car.
The biggest problem has been the deterioration in my eyesight. I now need glasses for reading and any close up work, which is a complete PITA, as they are always falling off and getting covered with oil.
For driveway spannering, a good foam kneeler is essential, along with all the right tools. I recently bought a big DeWalt rattle gun, which makes removing wheels, hub nuts and suspension bolts a pleasure.
But inclement weather can sod off. I replaced an Audi TT starter motor on a freezing cold and pissy wet January morning. The job itself was undemanding, but it was an utterly miserable and soul destroying experience.
By contrast, I did the timing belt and pump on a Focus on a lovely Sunday afternoon in August. It was a very relaxing and therapeutic way of saving a couple of hundred quid.
For crying out loud lads, WTF is wrong with you all.
I'm 53, and will quite happily rip off suspension, change engines, I'm OK with bodywork, and st hot on electrics. OK, I know I do it for a living, but I'm at it at least 5 days a week, and during February only had 2 days off in the month. So, come on, sort it all out, otherwise you're all doomed.
In our workshop, I'm the youngest. My partner is 63, and our fitter is 73. And we give him all the tricky jobs.
What I think you are tending to lack is sufficient place to do the work. It 'aint no fun rolling around on your back, in puddles doing this. Get yourself a lift, and shelter at least, and if possible a bit of warmth. Everything becomes a load better at that point. It's less to do with age, and much more to do with comfort.
My view anyway.
I'm 53, and will quite happily rip off suspension, change engines, I'm OK with bodywork, and s
t hot on electrics. OK, I know I do it for a living, but I'm at it at least 5 days a week, and during February only had 2 days off in the month. So, come on, sort it all out, otherwise you're all doomed.In our workshop, I'm the youngest. My partner is 63, and our fitter is 73. And we give him all the tricky jobs.
What I think you are tending to lack is sufficient place to do the work. It 'aint no fun rolling around on your back, in puddles doing this. Get yourself a lift, and shelter at least, and if possible a bit of warmth. Everything becomes a load better at that point. It's less to do with age, and much more to do with comfort.
My view anyway.
Well, had a nice experience today. Wanted to clean and paint the rear subframe on my Passat and my son had a new exhaust to fit to his Fn2 civic so I hired a bay at a newly opened local place.
Two post lift, clean and dry place and help if you needed it. Best 40 quid I have spent.
The exhaust swap went well other than a real struggle with the three front pipe to exhaust studs. One of them came off but the other two put up a fight. My son came up with the brilliant idea of cutting a slit in the flange next to the broken and seized studs. They knocked out nice and easy then.
New exhaust was an actual shiny stainless thing of beauty, shame nobody will ever see it. Sounds wonderful.
Two post lift, clean and dry place and help if you needed it. Best 40 quid I have spent.
The exhaust swap went well other than a real struggle with the three front pipe to exhaust studs. One of them came off but the other two put up a fight. My son came up with the brilliant idea of cutting a slit in the flange next to the broken and seized studs. They knocked out nice and easy then.
New exhaust was an actual shiny stainless thing of beauty, shame nobody will ever see it. Sounds wonderful.
I am 68 and freshly retired (yesterday!). Looking forward to spending time in the workshop keeping everything up together whilst looking for the next project.
Fortunate to have a decent workshop at home with a four post ramp and another bay beside it plus plenty of secure garaging.
Last month I replaced rear shocks and rear discs and pads on the Golf daily driver. Did the engine mounts on the 911 a couple of months ago.
Daughter's 207 due for a service and MOT in a couple of months.
The only deterrent is the cold weather and a bit if osteoarthritis in my thumbs. Hoping that the thumbs will improve now that I can not driving a keyboard and mouse for hours every day.
Looking for the next project car to rebuild but everybody seems to think that the rusty wreck in their garden is worth ten times its actual value in lockdown. The problem is that people have been buying them at high prices in the pandemic with thoughts that they could rebuild them.
Hopefully when they can get out again, play golf, go to the pub and go on holiday, they will realise their mistake and want the project out of the way. I live in hope!
Fortunate to have a decent workshop at home with a four post ramp and another bay beside it plus plenty of secure garaging.
Last month I replaced rear shocks and rear discs and pads on the Golf daily driver. Did the engine mounts on the 911 a couple of months ago.
Daughter's 207 due for a service and MOT in a couple of months.
The only deterrent is the cold weather and a bit if osteoarthritis in my thumbs. Hoping that the thumbs will improve now that I can not driving a keyboard and mouse for hours every day.
Looking for the next project car to rebuild but everybody seems to think that the rusty wreck in their garden is worth ten times its actual value in lockdown. The problem is that people have been buying them at high prices in the pandemic with thoughts that they could rebuild them.
Hopefully when they can get out again, play golf, go to the pub and go on holiday, they will realise their mistake and want the project out of the way. I live in hope!
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