Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Veteran Tool Spotlight: Slip Joint Pliers (Hogs)
I'm trying to spotlight the tools that all line mechanics should carry. These spotlights are from my observation of what the senior guys carried when I first got here. If I didn't have one of these when I started to work line maintenance then I made sure I picked one up as soon as I could. This time we will be talking about "Hogs". I'm not sure why the older, senior guys call slip-joint pliers "hogs" but thats what they call them.
Once again the slip joint plier is not the coolest looking tool around. It's funny how the tools that are not the sexiest, first thought of tools are often the most useful.
Hogs are available in several different sizes. Some guys carry a small 6" size along with their leatherman to every gate call. Hogs allow you to do several jobs with one tool. They are really handy for getting cannon plugs off and on in hard to reach places. They can hold lines, "adjust" sheet metal, act as jack handles, hold nuts and bolts, even crimp wires. I'm starting to sound like a butcher but hogs are often used as hammers as well. Most hogs have jaws that open nice and wide for any of a number of applications. I carry two with me, a six inch and a ten inch. These are new to me and I'm still getting used to them. My old pair of hogs was a very old Craftsman pair that I had for a long time. The jaws opened to about 4" wide and they were nice old steel, nothing fancy. I was working on an APU one rainy night and they got lost. I did not remember to look for them until two days later and by then they were gone. I took this particular tool loss very hard as they were one of my favorite tools. Since that catastrophe I purchased a new pair. I decided that I would get the newer type of slip joint pliers, these have a button that locks the plier into whatever size you want it in. Knipex was the first one who made this type I believe. I bought a set of Vise-Grip pliers from Sears a that came with both the six inch and ten inch pliers.
The new type of hogs are pretty good but it took a while for me to get used to them. Being used to my old pliers made the new type difficult to use. Over the last few months I have gotten used to them and like them a lot. They are not as good as my old ones at bashing things but thats why I have my Ford wrench and my MagLite.
Once again the slip joint plier is not the coolest looking tool around. It's funny how the tools that are not the sexiest, first thought of tools are often the most useful.
Hogs are available in several different sizes. Some guys carry a small 6" size along with their leatherman to every gate call. Hogs allow you to do several jobs with one tool. They are really handy for getting cannon plugs off and on in hard to reach places. They can hold lines, "adjust" sheet metal, act as jack handles, hold nuts and bolts, even crimp wires. I'm starting to sound like a butcher but hogs are often used as hammers as well. Most hogs have jaws that open nice and wide for any of a number of applications. I carry two with me, a six inch and a ten inch. These are new to me and I'm still getting used to them. My old pair of hogs was a very old Craftsman pair that I had for a long time. The jaws opened to about 4" wide and they were nice old steel, nothing fancy. I was working on an APU one rainy night and they got lost. I did not remember to look for them until two days later and by then they were gone. I took this particular tool loss very hard as they were one of my favorite tools. Since that catastrophe I purchased a new pair. I decided that I would get the newer type of slip joint pliers, these have a button that locks the plier into whatever size you want it in. Knipex was the first one who made this type I believe. I bought a set of Vise-Grip pliers from Sears a that came with both the six inch and ten inch pliers.
The new type of hogs are pretty good but it took a while for me to get used to them. Being used to my old pliers made the new type difficult to use. Over the last few months I have gotten used to them and like them a lot. They are not as good as my old ones at bashing things but thats why I have my Ford wrench and my MagLite.
A Typical Gate Call
While there is no such thing as a typical gate call I wanted to give you out there an idea of what can happen on a gate call. One of the things that I like about this job is that everyday is different. You may even get the same gripe from two different crews but the outcome will be different or the attitude of the crews will be different which in turn changes your results.
So here we go: Lets say we get a call for a broken coffee maker in the aft galley. Sounds innocent enough. So we go up when the plane arrives and wait until the passengers get off, run to the back and check out the coffee maker. Hopefully you can fix the coffee maker, if not you will have to call for a new one. In the mean time there is a crew change and the new First Officer has just finished his walk around and spotted some fuel leaking out of number 2 engine. Slam the coffee maker in and leak check, run down stairs to check the engine. Possibly open the fan cowl to see where the fuel is leaking from. Call for a hand to run the engine, go back upstairs and start up the APU while waiting for a fellow mechanic to help you run the engine. While the APU is starting run to the aft galley to make sure the coffee maker is still working ok. Once your helper arrives and you have clearance turn and burn #2 eng. If all works ok shut her down and close up the engine fan cowls. When you get up stairs to talk to the captain, you find out that a tray table is broken, or the #1 ADI is inop, or the crew asks for oil, etc. Finish up with that, hopefully the captain did not delay boarding, if so tell Ops that they can board, grab the logbook and sign off the coffee maker and fuel leak, tell the crew to have a great day, and book out of there.
Now obviously that is one of the more busy examples that I could have come up with. Most calls are quicker but believe me when I say that they can and often do go a lot worse than that. Add all those problems to the pressure that you get from Ops and the flight crew as well as Maintenance Control, if you get them involved, and your heart starts to race. Factor in that we typically have about 20 minutes to finish our work so that we do not take a delay and the day gets pretty busy.
All this goes toward my belief that working Line Maintenance is an art form that, when done correctly, is a beautiful thing to watch.
So here we go: Lets say we get a call for a broken coffee maker in the aft galley. Sounds innocent enough. So we go up when the plane arrives and wait until the passengers get off, run to the back and check out the coffee maker. Hopefully you can fix the coffee maker, if not you will have to call for a new one. In the mean time there is a crew change and the new First Officer has just finished his walk around and spotted some fuel leaking out of number 2 engine. Slam the coffee maker in and leak check, run down stairs to check the engine. Possibly open the fan cowl to see where the fuel is leaking from. Call for a hand to run the engine, go back upstairs and start up the APU while waiting for a fellow mechanic to help you run the engine. While the APU is starting run to the aft galley to make sure the coffee maker is still working ok. Once your helper arrives and you have clearance turn and burn #2 eng. If all works ok shut her down and close up the engine fan cowls. When you get up stairs to talk to the captain, you find out that a tray table is broken, or the #1 ADI is inop, or the crew asks for oil, etc. Finish up with that, hopefully the captain did not delay boarding, if so tell Ops that they can board, grab the logbook and sign off the coffee maker and fuel leak, tell the crew to have a great day, and book out of there.
Now obviously that is one of the more busy examples that I could have come up with. Most calls are quicker but believe me when I say that they can and often do go a lot worse than that. Add all those problems to the pressure that you get from Ops and the flight crew as well as Maintenance Control, if you get them involved, and your heart starts to race. Factor in that we typically have about 20 minutes to finish our work so that we do not take a delay and the day gets pretty busy.
All this goes toward my belief that working Line Maintenance is an art form that, when done correctly, is a beautiful thing to watch.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Recycle Reuse
When it comes to buying tools I want you all to remember that a used 3/4' open end wrench is often times just as good as a brand new one. Things like wrenches and the like do not wear out if they are taken care of. I mention this because I am a fan of the Used Tool Store. You will find these used tool stores in working class neighborhoods and they are a gold mine for finding good quality tools at discount prices. Often times these tools come from estate sales or are even simply given to the store by widows when their husbands pass and they need to get rid of his toolbox full of stuff.
When I first got out of school I thought that I would simply buy new tools as I needed them. This worked well when I was at Delta Airlines as they had a payroll deduct system that allowed you to pay for things over time. Once I got laid off and was still working but needing even more tools I had to change my approach. While I was working at Ameriflight I learned to shop at the swap meets they have out here in California, also known as flea markets. I soon found out that I liked looking for cool old tools. To me they seemed to have a history and a life all their own. When I took home an old heavy metal ratchet or tin snip I was proud to include it in my growing inventory. Saving money all the way, I was able to increase my tool inventory with out going broke.
Sure there are some things that are almost impossible to buy used-like a Snap-On ratcheting screwdriver-best to buy new. There are however a lot of guys out there who cared for their tools and simply passed away, or sold them on the cheap to the used tool stores. These tools are not junk, they are well cared for and work just as well as new.
The more I went mining for old tools the more I enjoyed it. It not only gives you an opportunity to amass a good amount of tools, it also helps you appreciate the craftsmanship of tool manufacturers that are no longer around. Some of those old tools I found have to be 50 years old and they work just fine after a little cleaning. You will find yourself wondering how all those nicks and scratches got on that wrench you just rediscovered.
The used tool store and flea market are great ways for all you new mechanics to get some great tools and not go broke doing it. I wish I had thought of it when I was fresh out of A&P school. Do not get caught up in that "all my tools are Snap-On" thing. New tools are great but you show up to a job and have a couple of screwdrivers and one ratchet set because you only buy new stuff and the older guys are going to think you have some marbles loose.
When I first got out of school I thought that I would simply buy new tools as I needed them. This worked well when I was at Delta Airlines as they had a payroll deduct system that allowed you to pay for things over time. Once I got laid off and was still working but needing even more tools I had to change my approach. While I was working at Ameriflight I learned to shop at the swap meets they have out here in California, also known as flea markets. I soon found out that I liked looking for cool old tools. To me they seemed to have a history and a life all their own. When I took home an old heavy metal ratchet or tin snip I was proud to include it in my growing inventory. Saving money all the way, I was able to increase my tool inventory with out going broke.
Sure there are some things that are almost impossible to buy used-like a Snap-On ratcheting screwdriver-best to buy new. There are however a lot of guys out there who cared for their tools and simply passed away, or sold them on the cheap to the used tool stores. These tools are not junk, they are well cared for and work just as well as new.
The more I went mining for old tools the more I enjoyed it. It not only gives you an opportunity to amass a good amount of tools, it also helps you appreciate the craftsmanship of tool manufacturers that are no longer around. Some of those old tools I found have to be 50 years old and they work just fine after a little cleaning. You will find yourself wondering how all those nicks and scratches got on that wrench you just rediscovered.
The used tool store and flea market are great ways for all you new mechanics to get some great tools and not go broke doing it. I wish I had thought of it when I was fresh out of A&P school. Do not get caught up in that "all my tools are Snap-On" thing. New tools are great but you show up to a job and have a couple of screwdrivers and one ratchet set because you only buy new stuff and the older guys are going to think you have some marbles loose.
Another Thing About This Industry
There are people who work here that feel like they must have the weekend off. I understand wanting the weekend off, but these guys act like it would be an impossibility for them to show up on the weekend. For some it is OK, those with seniority can hold weekends off. I'm talking about the guys who complain about being broke and then when I tell them that there are plenty of shifts available on the weekend they balk at the idea.
I have pretty good seniority and I work the weekend because I need the money. I miss out on all the kid activities and some social gatherings but hey, it is what it is. This industry is not one that you can typically pick and choose your work hours in. You want the cash, you make yourself available, even on the weekends. It's getting a little tiring listen to those guys. Come and join the party! Work a Sunday or Saturday with minimal staffing and low seniority pilots afraid of their own shadows! Now that's living!!
By the way thanks to SpininB for the pic.
Friday, January 1, 2010
My Line Tool Boxes and Bags
When I first started to work line maintenance my only experience had been hangar related work. Because of this I had a large roll away tool box (mine is a Waterloo) that I've used since my Delta Airlines days. When I brought it over to Southwest the guys liked to call it a "Taco Wagen". I quickly learned, I mean like in a day or two of working the line, that I need a more portable tool box to carry from plane to plane.
My first line box was a Craftsman two drawer tool box. It worked well and I would guess that it lasted about 2 years. I got another and even made a dolly for it so I could tow it behind a tug. I liked the Craftsman boxes but still I needed more portability, something I could carry up into the plane. Most of the guys at the time were using Gator Bags so I bought one of those. The Gator bags are good tough canvas bags with lots of storage compartments and a big beefy zipper to close them up. Once zipped up the bag was even water resistant but all the tools you had in the outside pockets were in trouble once the rain came. I would say I have used two or three Gator Bags and maybe two of Craftsmans variety.
I ended up taking my roll away tool box home as all the stuff that I needed I kept in my line bag and all the tools in the roll away were just being ignored. I never used my 1/2' drive stuff and all my hangar do-dads where just collecting dust.
Now that I have been on day shift for quite a while I use tool bags exclusively. My current bag is sort of an electricians tool bag. It has a large single opening that can be zipped up and shut. It has a long strap and is meant to be carried over the shoulder. Picture electricians working on power wires up on poles, they typically have a bag hanging off one shoulder, open with easy access to their tools. I liked the idea of the bag because it allows me to swing the bag behind me and walk down the aisle of the plane without whacking people in the head. When I first got it it had a hammer ring on it which I removed and a pocket on the side for a spool of wire which I use to hold my safety wire. The flap of the bag hangs down when the bag is open and has a pocket for small stuff. In addition the back of the bag is flat and has a large pocket for more stuff. I have managed to keep an incredible amount of stuff in this bag and it has held up very well. In addition to my line bag I keep my large wrenches in another canvas bag which stays in the back of the golf cart until I need it. So here is my list of things that are in my bag right now:
Dykes
7" Vice Grips
Duckbill Pliers
Large pair of Hogs (slip joint pliers)
safety wire pliers
wire crimper/stripper
6" Crescent wrench
knife
two 1/4" ratchets
1/4-5/16" angled dog bone
Large demolition flat blade srewdriver
can of .032" safety wire
set of 1/4" deep sockets
set of 1/4" shallow sockets
set of 1/4" wobble sockets
various drill bits
various apex bits
small container with cotterpins of different sizes
small container with various small cabin parts
Snap-On ratcheting stubby screw driver
flat blade screwdriver
#2 phillips srewdriver
flip flop screwdriver that I use as a nut driver
Craftsman apex bit driver thing
Husky apex bit driver dog bone looking thing
Husky jeweler type screwdriver
set of allen wrenches
set of flip-out style allen wrenches
1 hydro-lock
pigtails for landing lights
one reading light lens
one emergency exit light lens cover
one auto-pilot disconnect switch
2 or 3 life vest seals
two long ty-wraps
small zip lock bag with electrical splices in it
As I mentioned before I have in my golf cart smaller canvas bags with wrenches, jumpers, pin extractors, BITE books. Of course I have my ball peen hammer and speed handle and more apex bits in this holder I got one Christmas.
My first line box was a Craftsman two drawer tool box. It worked well and I would guess that it lasted about 2 years. I got another and even made a dolly for it so I could tow it behind a tug. I liked the Craftsman boxes but still I needed more portability, something I could carry up into the plane. Most of the guys at the time were using Gator Bags so I bought one of those. The Gator bags are good tough canvas bags with lots of storage compartments and a big beefy zipper to close them up. Once zipped up the bag was even water resistant but all the tools you had in the outside pockets were in trouble once the rain came. I would say I have used two or three Gator Bags and maybe two of Craftsmans variety.
I ended up taking my roll away tool box home as all the stuff that I needed I kept in my line bag and all the tools in the roll away were just being ignored. I never used my 1/2' drive stuff and all my hangar do-dads where just collecting dust.
Now that I have been on day shift for quite a while I use tool bags exclusively. My current bag is sort of an electricians tool bag. It has a large single opening that can be zipped up and shut. It has a long strap and is meant to be carried over the shoulder. Picture electricians working on power wires up on poles, they typically have a bag hanging off one shoulder, open with easy access to their tools. I liked the idea of the bag because it allows me to swing the bag behind me and walk down the aisle of the plane without whacking people in the head. When I first got it it had a hammer ring on it which I removed and a pocket on the side for a spool of wire which I use to hold my safety wire. The flap of the bag hangs down when the bag is open and has a pocket for small stuff. In addition the back of the bag is flat and has a large pocket for more stuff. I have managed to keep an incredible amount of stuff in this bag and it has held up very well. In addition to my line bag I keep my large wrenches in another canvas bag which stays in the back of the golf cart until I need it. So here is my list of things that are in my bag right now:
Dykes
7" Vice Grips
Duckbill Pliers
Large pair of Hogs (slip joint pliers)
safety wire pliers
wire crimper/stripper
6" Crescent wrench
knife
two 1/4" ratchets
1/4-5/16" angled dog bone
Large demolition flat blade srewdriver
can of .032" safety wire
set of 1/4" deep sockets
set of 1/4" shallow sockets
set of 1/4" wobble sockets
various drill bits
various apex bits
small container with cotterpins of different sizes
small container with various small cabin parts
Snap-On ratcheting stubby screw driver
flat blade screwdriver
#2 phillips srewdriver
flip flop screwdriver that I use as a nut driver
Craftsman apex bit driver thing
Husky apex bit driver dog bone looking thing
Husky jeweler type screwdriver
set of allen wrenches
set of flip-out style allen wrenches
1 hydro-lock
pigtails for landing lights
one reading light lens
one emergency exit light lens cover
one auto-pilot disconnect switch
2 or 3 life vest seals
two long ty-wraps
small zip lock bag with electrical splices in it
As I mentioned before I have in my golf cart smaller canvas bags with wrenches, jumpers, pin extractors, BITE books. Of course I have my ball peen hammer and speed handle and more apex bits in this holder I got one Christmas.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)