Former mechanic getting back in the game

[D60]

Personally I'd carry my favorite headlamp. Anymore GOOD lighting is super important for me, even in conditions that aren't considered "low light", I REALLY want and NEED to see for any detail work -- even something as simple as wiring up a receptacle or inspecting a breaker box, etc.

For reading a dipstick my headlamp is a godsend as it illuminates the oil.

 

[skyactiv]

Get your EPA 609.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

I was a mechanic working in a city garage up until the early 90's, Worked on everything from lawn equipment/police/fire/construction equipment.Then I became a Firefighter for the same town and from then on just worked on my own vehicles and sometime hung around my friend's restoration shop to help occasionally. Retired from fire dept in 2016 and just enjoyed retirement until now.
Originally planned to go back to work in 2020 after a move to Missouri but covid and my newborn granddaughter stopped me from taking any chances of getting her sick. Now it's much safer to work so I applied with a local town and got a job working in the shop (maintenance more than mechanic). starting soon so I'm wondering if anyone can recommend things I will need to make life easier. Got steel toe boots, Looking for work gloves and durable disposable gloves and other must haves. Maybe a back brace to help with tire rotations lol because I'm 57 and want to preserve what I have physically. Any recommendations?

Main one. Take it slow and do not think you are still 37 as opposed to your current 57. Quite a difference. Be careful , take it slow and easy to start and try not to get injured. It is a lot easier to do as we age and a lot harder to recover from injuries. Good for you though wanting to get back into it and good luck.

 

[LenZee]

Get your EPA 609.

I used to have refrigerant cert but lost it long ago and probably long expired. This job is going to be mostly basic maintenance.

 

[LenZee]

Have you an idea on what you will be working on?

Training or education.

Don't work on certain things until you have had training. Like high voltage electrical or the refrigerant side of HVAC. Probably more than that.

Set a retirement date. Are you working to still be useful to society or bored or for the $$?

Basic preventive maintenance with maybe brakes, This is a new position mostly to take workload off full mechanics in shop.
They help with certs and each cert is more $$ per hour. I would like to see some ev work but this position definitely states no high voltage work. Bored cause all my retired friends are on the east coast and I'm in Missouri. May work to 65 depending how my body feels. Would be good to add another pension as mine has no cola.