Beating Sexist Mechanic’s: A Girl’s Introduction to The Grease Gun

If you’re like me and all car-related tools are rocket science to you, you might want to read this article. Tools in general have always been a theoretical concept to me, so when a few days ago my five year old cousin asked me what her father’s breaker bar was used for, I realized I have no idea. Of course, I did invent a funny story that didn’t have anything to do with breaking loose tight fasteners because I didn’t know that at the time, but as soon as I got a chance, I googled it simply to satisfy my curiosity.

The only close contact I’ve ever had with auto garages was the time I had to drop my sister’s car at the mechanic’s because they had to change the I don’t know which part because of which her car was making an annoying and loud sound. Now I don’t say girls shouldn’t know about these stuff, on the contrary, I’m actually the feminist that drives everyone crazy with the women need equal rights talks, but tools were never really my thing. However, I decided that I had to put an end to my “tool ignorance” and for the sake of general knowledge and curiosity, I asked my father to teach me everything he knows about the most frequently used tools in auto garages.

Besides the wrenches, the screwdrivers, the hammer and a few other tools that I was already familiar with, my father introduced me to the grease gun or every workshop owner’s best friend in need. Obviously, all machinery must be lubricated to ensure smooth operation. Not just because they will do their job properly, but it turns out lubrication maximizes machinery’s life as well. Now this is where the grease gun steps in. This tool prevents any grease from being wasted and provides better saturation of the lubricant in needed areas. Although there are other tools for lubrication like the lithium silicon for example, the grease gun has proven to be the most effective of them all. That, as my dad puts it, is definitely the tool no garage should go without.

But in these environments safety should always come first. It turns out the grease gun can be kind of a devilish tool to work with if you don’t use it properly. An accidental high pressure injection can cause serious pain and damage your skin, so one must be really careful with this seemingly innocent gun.

You see? It wasn’t that hard! And that was only my first day at the mechanic’s. I wonder what will be the next tool my father introduces me to. However, if I start showing off my clumsy skills and make a total mess out of the store, I won’t judge him for not agreeing to take me to the mechanic’s ever again.