Fife, Washington-based property manager with extensive experience in sales and accounting, Phil Giboney has served as the owner of Trojan One Properties since 2014. Prior to establishing the firm, Phil Giboney managed a Snap-on Tools franchise for nearly 20 years. During that time, he supplied professional tools and equipment to a varied clientele, including military bases and mechanic shops.
Manufacturers of auto repair tools have designed various products to streamline processes in modern auto workshops. Some of the critical mechanical and diagnostic tools in such shops are screwdrivers with hex bolsters, creepers, locking pliers, and a diagnostic code reader.
Hex bolsters typically come with heavy-duty screwdrivers and serve to add more torque to the turning force for highly resistive screws. Using a hex bolster, the mechanic connects a wrench to the shaft of a screwdriver and turns it. The additional length enables extremely tight screws to loosen in response to minimal turning effort.
Also called vise grips, locking pliers enable strong gripping of nuts and bolts that are highly resistive to turning force or located in difficult-to-reach parts. There are three variations of this hand tool.
Creepers are low-profile rolling platforms with padded surfaces. With a creeper, a mechanic can avoid getting their clothes dirty or lying on rags or cardboard boxes when working under a vehicle. Modern creepers feature adjustable headrests that make work more comfortable.
A diagnostic auto code reader is handy when looking to troubleshoot and repair a modern vehicle. Most newer vehicles have onboard computer systems that are connected to sensors for collecting diagnostic information. The code reader retrieves this diagnostic data and can help the mechanic evaluate the cause of a malfunction faster.
