I ask this question because of a resent post "Jackstands are not enough" and we just had someone killed locally by that very thing. I learned awhile ago to never work by myself, and this really piss's some folks off cause I call and ask them "hey come help me on my car" they'll come over and Watch. Why? Because I need to know the bolts are tite the measurements are correct and so forth. By the end of the day (often sooner) they'll ask me "What the hell did you need me for?" I'll look em in the eye and tell em....................................................... "Your there to dial 911!"
Thats a little over the top for me, I hear what your saying but you will never get anything done if you need somebody to "call 911" before you can work? You need to have some confidence in your self to get thru the day with out "hurting yourself"...
I have confidence But ever since that damned hammer fell of the top od the 12" ladder and beaned me I've thought it usefull to have someone else around. I get Plenty done there's Lots of folks around that just like to B.S. while I work.
Do like me and keep your cell phone close by. I don't really do it for safty reasons (all the lady's just can't wait to talk..maybe not) but it's usually close by. Then your friends will start answering their phone again when you call.
I agree, I always prefer to have somone else there just in case anything does happen. I never go under a car on jackstands if I am the only one in the garage at the time and I always leave the jack under and A tire if I have them off.
I'll do pleny of things above the car, but for major monkeying I keep the cell phone near by. Ever since i got pinned under a squareback for 45 mins as a teen, I make sure all my stands and jacks are doing their job before I go under.
sheesh...how did I ever live to be even 43 years old? I guess the buddy system would be a good excuse for how lazy I've been lately (I didn't do the work because I was by myself), but I'm generally careful enough to not get hurt. Although lately I've thought more about what would happen IF
I hear ya guys i'm not paranoid myself but hey, we all fuck up when were working sometimes.I'm no exception . You can never be too safe .All ya have to do is miss once.I usually lay a set of steel rims with tires under the car too incase it does happen . 8 inches is 8 inches. swaZZie
I know what you mean...my shop is like a battlefield...press, grinder, chop saw, drill press, lathe, torch, welder, BFhammers, jacks, air tools, you name it. and thats not to mention all the crap on the floor I need to put away so I won't trip over it.
If nothing else maybe these two threads will get everyone to tinking more seriously about safety. I'm a testimony to the fact 2 seconds or less can change you life. Everyone, take a little time to prepare for what you might not think will happen, 'cause sometimes it will. Frank
Yeah, if hurting yourself was intentional, it'd be called a "plan," and not an "accident." I don't go under the car without someone there. While working on getting my shop wires run (not hooked up yet), hanging peg board and insulation, and hanging old signs, etc. I'm usually on a 12-foot ladder. I hate that ladder, and I keep thinking "what happens when I fall off this thing?" The kicker is that I'm doing the work at night, and my wife is always in bed asleep when I'm doing that stuff. It does keep me focused on what I'm doing, and I'm especially carefull. It isn't the fall to the concrete that's going to hurt--it's landing on an engine block, cylinder head or corner of a steel table that's going to cause the problem! Thinking about it constantly may seem paranoid, but it makes me double check that the ladder is solid, and I know what is below me. -Brad
Yup, and believe me when I tell ya this post was NOT to start some kind of pissing contest. I'm a relitively bright person I make some Stupid moves. I call them really good ideas that didn't work. But accidents happen and sometimes you just can't use a phone yourself or even think where the phones at when it does.
Buddy system in the garage is almost always a good idea. Aside from the safety factor, it helps to have extra hands at times or someone to hand you that socket that's 1 size bigger than the one you have under the car with you. Comments like "What's this loose wire supposed to be hooked to?" can save you time troubleshooting at the end of a long thrash!
[ QUOTE ] I never go under a car on jackstands if I am the only one in the garage at the time and I always leave the jack under and A tire if I have them off. [/ QUOTE ] Jeez, I always work under my car when its up on jackstands, I dont have a choice; I dont have a lift, and I dont have a lot of friends that would want to "hang out" while Im wrenching. I always try to double up on the stands; 2 on each corner. I also leave the hydraulic jack in place as a backup too. Hell, if I didnt get under there, shit wouldnt get done! This is how I worked on my 51 most of last winter.
i can't ever get any work done unless i'm alone...i do get nervous about some situations though,but a couple of beers usually clears that up
I don't have a problem with working alone under my car on stands. I do have a problem with climbing a ladder when nobody's around. Just me but I really don't want anybody bugging me when I'm working on my hot rod. The few brain cells I have left are for concentrating on the task at hand. If somebody's talking to me, I lose my train of thought.
Why would anyone leave a hammer on a step ladder?....and what could it hurt falling 12 inches to the ground?... Were you sleeping on the floor?....that still wouldn't be much of a fall....someone help me...
[ QUOTE ] i do get nervous about some situations though,but a couple of beers usually clears that up [/ QUOTE ] Ahhhh beer, sweet, sweet beer, the cure for everything!
[ QUOTE ] Why would anyone leave a hammer on a step ladder?....and what could it hurt falling 12 inches to the ground?... Were you sleeping on the floor?....that still wouldn't be much of a fall....someone help me... [/ QUOTE ] That was my tpyo 12' I left it on top when I went into the house for a drink and forgot so when I went to move the ladder WHAM! right on top of the old bean.
I work alone most of the time. I can space the machines closer together, I can leave my tools lying around if I want to, and I can listen to the Music I want to hear. I have actually gotten hurt once or twice when a guy I worked with did someting unexpected. Sometimes its cool to have a buddy come over to hang out or work on his car, but I dont do that for safety reasons...
Cards, I've been wallered more than once in my time. Once I had to lay under a '55 Vic for a couple of hours waiting for my mom to come home. Note to self: never ever work with bumper jacks holdin' one up. I don't recommend it to anyone, and the Ol' Lady don't like me under the car when no one is around. But, it has to get done. If you had to depend on 911 here you'de be in a world of trouble. In KC you call 911 and get a police dispatcher. if you need the fire dept after you give all your info they transfer you and then you can start all over again. if you need an ambulance the first dispatcher can handle that. but you have to wait for the cop to show up first and then call for an ambulance. they won't dispatch an ambulance without a police verification. I said all that to say this. Make damn sure that you have it blocked up properly. Use as good of equipment as you can afford. If a friend can come by then more power to ya. But if not you just got to wing it and rest assured, no one checks out without paying the bill. If it aint time you aint leavin'. Be safe my friend.
If you do things properly, they will work right. Buy some cheap ass autozone jackstands and be prepared for them to break. Spend your money where it counts, and you'd feel safe sleeping under the car. In the garage at home are some nice heavy Craftsman stands and some cheap sorta heavy guage formed and welded ones I could easilly damage with a mallet. I'll only use the Craftmans, and thats why my shit doesn't fall down. *edit: Nothing against the pin type stands...these are just cheap... But if you want to work on cars regularly, you'll never get anything done worrying about your jackstands. I know some could say it's taking a "risk" but if you're not being a retard with your tools, there shouldn't be any problems, ever. And I personally also like working alone when I'm working on my car. I've done it many a time and I'll keep doing it. ...this, coming from a guy who replaced a gas tank sending unit with a $15 hydraulic jack to lift half the car (the wheels were still on the pavement and I can fit under the back of the car at normal height anyway.)
I'm with K&R on this one boys............. I have been self employed,working BY MYSELF,in automotive repair, for over 10 years now(I have over 30 years under my belt total time). One of the best parts of my job,is trying to figure out a way to do something,by myself,safely.For those times I HAVE to have some here,I call my body shop buddy up the road........He's been doin' the all alone,self employed thing,for 20 years! In my shop,beer-o-clock is at 5:00PM
I've been working under cars by my self for many years. I have real good jack stands, real heavy duty suckers. If I'm only using two stands, the wheels are blocked. I perfer to put a car on 4 stands. I always give the car a shove before I get under it, if its going to fall, I'd rather fix what ever got screwed up instead of having to fix myself. BTW, I give it a shove everytime before I go under it. I also have a lot of dangerous things in my shop, I always try to keep in mind what can go wrong, and look for ways to prevent or at least lessen the inpact. Sometimes I goof, but all my body parts are still intact and still work. The only jackstands that have ever failed for me were the cheap pin through ones, I have thrown all of them into scrap cars years ago. I have two of the heavy built step teeth ones that will soon be replaced, they are getting a little wobbly when extended all the way out. I'm only using them all the way down right now. If your in my shop the standing rule is, if something is starting to go bad, get the hell out of the way. We will fix what ever is f****d up after everyone is safe. Be alert, think safe, be safe. Gene
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