When you host a wrench a day, you know it is very important to have proper beer selection and proper food available...DUH. But, did you know it is also important to have proper tools, parts, and knowledge? You should know what you want to do and generally how to do it, what tools are needed, and which parts you need. The helper should be an extra set of eyes/hands. If needed/requested, the helper should offer an opinion or provide a different perspective, but
you should be the final decision maker.
Keep in mind you are borrowing
someone else's time, so use it wisely and efficiently. General guidelines for wrench day, and pretty much any garage are:
- Have your tools organized, at least at the beginning of the wrench session.
- Have complete sets of tools. If you have 1/2" sockets, you need to have 1/2" drive ratchets and 1/2" extenders. It is also useful to have appropriately sized breaker bars for the socket set you have.
- Have quality tools. The HF special that seems so cheap is likely cheap for a reason. A rusted out adjustable wrench that your gramps used in WWII should be replaced with a quality adjustable wrench.
- Have proper tools. If there is a nut that has 12 points, use a 12 point socket/wrench.
- Have a cheater pipe and breaker bar.
- Have rubber/latex gloves available.
- Have proper lubricants, fluids, and other shop supplies readily available. If you run out of PB Blaster, but some before wrench day. If you need blue lhread locker, go to the store and get some blue thread locker.
- Have fresh/new consumables available. If you are using a 4" cutoff disc, make sure it is nearly 4" in diameter, not burned down to 2.5". Have sharp drill bits, saw blades, etc.
- Have paper towels, wet wipes, etc available.
If someone who is assisting you tells you to get a specific part, fluid, tool...freakin' get that thing before wrench day, unless you tell that person to not help. If they give up their time, which has a cost, then you should go over the top to do what they say. Nothing sucks more than having to stop doing the job to run to the store while you are using your time to help someone else who did not plan properly. There is no excuse to be out of stuff or not know what you are doing; The Internet, and more specifically, YouTube and forums, have almost every possible activity covered. You should know the tasks of the job prior to wrench day; If you cannot master that, you need to have a shop do the work, or delay the wrench day while you study until you know everything you need to do and what you need to do it.
I am sure there are more things that could be listed, but hopefully you get the point: Treat someone's time as if you were paying for it...at a very high rate.