EDC: Mechanic Edition

EDC, or “everyday carry” has become a popular topic of conversation. At first I thought people’s interest in this was a zeitgeist, but I think it’s got more staying power than I originally surmised. I used to (and still) roll my eyes when someone posts a beautiful picture of items that clearly have never seen a lick’s worth of use or the inside of a pocket, but I do really enjoy seeing half-whupped items that clearly mean a lot to the owner and have lots of miles on them. I also appreciate learning new stuff I might want to have in my own pockets. I think you see where I’m going with this—what items do you keep around?

There’s always some crossover, it seems, between personal and professional life, and items do get replaced as time progresses, but mechanics are mechanical people, and it’s been my experience that many of us carry more tools around than your average bear.

Early in my life as a counterman, I learned how annoying it was to get caught without a pen, and that carried through to my life writing service and turning wrenches. I still rely on ballpoints most of the time since in my own shop I still use carbon paper for writing up work orders. A Sharpie also rides shotgun. A small pen light of some form is also always on my belt.

I think all of us have a knife, and many of us have a lighter. I have, of course, carried around the requisite cheapy flathead screwdriver-slash-valve-core tool in my shirt pocket, which later became a full-size 6-in-1 screwdriver. Recently, screwdriver duty has been handled by a little pocketknife I found that has a tiny bit holder.

Way back when, I also carried a pen-style tire pressure gauge in my shirt pocket, but as digitals have become inexpensive and ubiquitous, I rely on those. Fellow Shop Press author Pete Meier said, “I don’t really keep much in my pockets anymore. I use a rolling tool cabinet in the shop that is a mini version of my big box, and keeps the tools I use most often in easy reach, but before that? It was just the usual: Pen, tire pressure gauge, tire tread depth gauge, tire crayon, and combo pocket screwdriver/Schrader valve tool.”

Nick and Luke in Dorman’s Proving Grounds both own non-marring belts, and I think those count as gear that’s pretty specific to repairing automobiles. (I don’t need one. I’ve found my pudgy middle has done a good job protecting fenders over the years.)

Andy Greaser, lover of all things tool, had a characteristically inclusive description of his daily haul. “Would stuff that rides in my bag with me every day to work count? In my pockets, it’s a ballpoint pen, small knife, and a Bic lighter. My bag always has work gloves, flashlight, a multitool, spare contacts and lens cleaner in case I do something dumb and get stuff in my eye, tire pressure gauge, water, Sharpie, charging cables for whatever devices I have, small power bank, and reusable utensils for lunch. Oh, and snacks.”

So you know what to do. Snap a pic or shoot us a link to the “gotta have it” stuff for the automotively inclined.