Primary rules

1. Don't be a jerk.
2. Don't borrow stuff without permission.
3. If you break it, own fixing/replacing it.
4. Lock the door when you leave.

Comms

• If you're going to inconvenience the shop as a whole (which sometimes happens, that's okay), be communicative.  Send an email to rathackers@googlegroups.com (and post in rathack.slack.com if you want to be extra awesome).
  • Examples of inconvenient things:
    • Your car is unexpectedly unable to be completed and is "stuck" on the lift (even overnight).
    • Your car is not safe/street legal and left in an aisle/common area.  (also either leave it unlocked or put the key in the keybox)
    • You broke a group tool and are waiting on the repair part.

Space

• Group space should be equally shared (roughly, over time) by everyone.  If you're occupying group space more than your share, you should be renting that so the rest of the shop benefits (by jv buying more group tools or refreshing shop supplies).
  • If there's some random empty space that you've managed to find, please don't just dump your stuff there and hope for the best.  If you want your newly found space to be permanent, discuss the logistics with jv/philikon - if you're taking up valuable space all for yourself, we should figure out some additional rent duties (which will go to overall shop supplies/improvements to make up for everyone else in the shop not getting to use that sweet, sweet open space).
• If you rent a space, try to keep your stuff reasonably within your space.  We're not aggro about this, but please try and keep the blimping to a minimum.

Cleanliness

• Do not leave common areas or common tools in a messy state.  We have more than enough supplies / cleaning tools and garbage cans to make cleaning up possible.
• If you work on your vehicle (or other thing) in the common area, once you've thoroughly cleaned up whatever liquids you've spilled, please sweep the area and the surrounding vicinity both with the rolling magnetic sweep (for collection of spikey metal objects that puncture tires, such as bolts and nails, which are worth, like, $0.00000001 in scrap money!  Free money!) AND a normal broom (for grossness reduction).
• While doing any "spray inducing" work (especially on the lift) such as grinding, spraying solvents, sticking your hand in a radiator fan, etc, be mindful of the cars in the vicinity or across the aisle.
  • If you can't "re-aim", there's always the option of making a cardboard shield to protect folks' cars.
• Pay it forward
  • If you see something out of place, put it back.  If you see something messed up, fix it.  If you see something in a dangerous way, email the group about it -- someone obviously doesn't know better!
• Only oil goes in the oil drum
  • If it's too contaminated, they won't take...and then wtf do we do with it?
  • Emptying the oil drum costs money.  Please pitch in when it comes time to have it collected.
  • If you don't want to participate in that cost (it's >$150 split among us), take your oil elsewhere for disposal.  Adding to the drum for convenience but not paying your share is super uncool.
  • If the oil drum is close to full, alert the shop (both to discourage large deposits and get the ball rolling on arranging collection which can take some time)
• Do not abandon random fluids (including next to the oil drum).
  • It's understandable that you can't always take it with you RIGHT THEN, but it's your responsibility to dispose of it.
  • Small quantities (like a gallon or two) can be take to Recology (right on the other side of 101) or even just an auto parts store for disposal.  Be the hero and take your juices away.
• The back yard is not a garbage dump. please talk to us before disposing of or storing bulky items there
  • Tires and large scrap metal are stored out there in queue for Cleanup Days.  Please sort your metals and group them with like metals.
  • If you contribute to the junk piles, you need to contribute to the disposal fees when the time comes.
  • Cars CAN be stored back there, but there is a cost associated to support the full shop rent.  Arrange with jv before just parking your non-op back there.
  • Like the other common areas, keeping the back yard clean is everyone's job.
• We try to arrange a Big Group Cleanup Day periodically to get rid of lingering scrap/junk and generally tidy up the shop.
  • Ideally this happens quarterly, but when we get behind on that we'll do an even more massive shop event.
  • Often these events also have additional tasks (lugging tires, scrap, etc somewhere) and/or costs (junk truck, tire disposal fees).  Please contribute to at least one of: day-of labor, tasks, or money.

Internet/AirPlay music

• The shop WiFi (with internet) is +$20 on your rent.
  • Do not coax the WiFi password from another member; that's not cool.
• The shop internet is not great, but it's good enough to stream music and Google what's wrong with your POS.
  • If you want it to be super awesome internet, we are more than happy to let you either convince everyone who currently pays their $20 monthly to pay more or sponsor the difference in cost yourself to afford better service.
• Using the AirPlay systems (there's one by the lift and one back in the alcove + jv's space) is bundled with the Internet fee.

Money

• Rent is due absolutely no later than the 5th of the month.
  • That's when jv has to pay the landlord.  There's no additional buffer other than jv personally covering for you.  Uncool.
• Rent can be paid by:
  • check (ideally bank autopay, but manual is okay)
  • app (preferred: Venmo, Square Cash, PayPal  Acceptable: Facebook)
  • credit card (with additional processing fees - I think it's 3%)
  • cash (not preferred, but okay occasionally/for incidental things)

Tools

• Primary Rule #2 again: Do not borrow other people's tools (or anything else) without explicit permission.
  • If you have a standing agreement, that's fine.  That's between you and them and is explicit enough.  Just don't assume "I've borrowed other things from this person a few times and it's always been fine...I'm sure they won't care about this, too"  There are lots of reasons (not that a reason is required) that they may not want that tool used/borrowed.  So ASK.  That's why there's the #borrow channel on Slack.

• Primary Rule #3 again: If you break it, own the process of fixing/replacing it.
  • If you accidentally broke it, it's on you to get it fixed/replaced.
    • If you think "but that's too expensive!" that should be the consideration before you use it.
  • If it wore out while you were using it, discuss with the shop/owner as to $$ contribution and own the process of getting it back to working order.

Group Tools:

Keeping these things in excellent condition for everyone to use is everyone's job. Leave it as least as good as you found it.  If you were the one using it when it broke, discuss it with the group but be prepared to have to pay to fix/replace it.

Mostly this list is to confirm "yes, that thing is a group tool" but there are some safety/usage notes in here, too.

You should not assume that *because* something is in the common area that it's a group tool.  Mistakes happen (like leaving a tool somewhere).  If it seems weird, just ask in #general in Slack or send an email.

• The lift
  • Orientation is required.  It is the most dangerous tool in the shop by far.
    • Orientation punchlist doc is here.  This must be done in person, however.  Reading it not enough.
  • 9,000 lb limit.  If you're unsure if your car is lighter than that, DON'T USE IT.
• Parts cleaner
  • Verify the water level before you use it.
  • Give a glance to the filter pressure gauges when it's running (they should not be significantly different from each other).  If they are, suck it up and clean out the filter.
  • Add detergent sparingly if it doesn't seem soapy enough.
    • Note: that shit is expensive.  Don't just dump it in.
  • Don't leave the oil skimmer on when you leave the shop or you're going to dump an oil slick into Zandr's spot.
  • The timer functionality doesn't work.  Sorry.  It never has.
    • If you have good electrical skillz, feel free to wire it up.
  • Make sure you turn it off when you leave (the heater is like 60A and we don't want to burn it out much less waste the electricity)
    • suggestion: leave your car keys on top of the control panel so you can't forget!
• Air compressor
  • If you need an air drop, trace the blue tube up on the wall and look for the vertical drop.  There'll be one there.
    • jv's air connections (both on his tools and in his space) are different (high-flow), but there are adapters around (if you have permission to use his stuff).
• Tire changer / tire balancer
  • There is both a skill and a finesse to using these things.  They will fuck up you and/or your wheel.  Get oriented by someone who knows before using them.
  • Note: the tire balancer shield is somewhat janky.  Be extra cautious with this tool.
• Media blaster
  • Read the laminated card with it.  Try not to crap it up too much, the media isn't free.
• Shop press
  • Read the laminated card with it.  If you're not familiar with it, ask for help.  With the pnuematic/hydraulic conversion jv did, it's much faster, but it's also much faster to get into trouble.  It can hurt you.
  • Safety squints are not sufficient.
• Gantry crane
  • DO NOT position any parts of yourself or anything you care about under the suspended load.  You are not a pro-rigger, so whatever you're lifting is about to crash to the ground.
• Drill presses
  • Read the safety card for the one (it applies to both).
• Lift accessories:
  • Underhoist stand (looks like this) is used for:
    • a "helper" if you're dealing with something long and heavy (like exhaust)
    • anti-tip support if the car on the lift will suddenly be unbalanced (like you're dropping the rear axle)
  • Impact gun, air nozzle/blaster, air chuck ("tire filler"), lug sockets
    • All live in that little bookshelf against the lift post
  • Magnetic nut/bolt dish stuck to the lift post
  • LED hook work light / extension reel behind the oil drum
  • High-lift oil drum thing
  • Transmission floor jack (green. flat. weird)
  • Transmission high-lift jack (orange and black. tippy.  be careful)
• ShopVac
  • There are two drums (because when the original motor burned up, we bought the exact same model) - one drum is labeled for dry, one is labeled for oily/gross.  Don't oil up the dry one.  Don't dust up the oily one.
• Rolling magnetic sweeper
  • Use it.
• Brooms / dust pans near the door
  • Note - the red box dustpan-on-a-stick is mostly for OilDri/kitty litter.  The OilDri/kitty litter should not be thrown out until it's saturated.
• Bolt/nut sizer (next to the roll-up door).
• Band saw
  • If you need to use it in vertical mode, take the time to swap out for the little table.  It's much safer that way.
  • If you burn through the teeth on the blade, buy a new one.  They aren't expensive.
• Engine hoist
  • I think the grey one is the Group one.
• Oil pans near the lift
  • Wipe them down after use, don't just dump them in the drum and leave them all oily.
• Foosball table
  • spinning the dudes is against the rules.

Pseudo-group tools:

• Abrasive cut-off saw
  • (actually jv's, but I let everyone use it)
  • You don't need to pull down as hard as you think you do.  Let the abrasive do the work.
    • If it slows down or the lights dim, you're pulling too hard.
• 12" disk sander
  • (in jv's space)
  • Thumb-eater.
• The Hobart Handler 110V MiG welder
  • (didn't start out as general use, but it's been borrowed more than jv uses it, I think)
  • Please contribute to consumable / broken stuff purchasing when it comes up.
• The Miller 220V MiG welder
  • Jim's
  • Please contribute to consumable / broken stuff purchasing when it comes up.
• Plasma cutter
  • (not actually group-use, but people borrow jv's a lot.  Please get permission because there are some side-rules to not ruin it.)
  • Consumables are not long-lived.  When it comes time to buy new, please pitch in.
• Other engine hoists
  • One is apparently Judgebusters'
• Engine support bar
  • (This thing)
  • Dmitriy's
• Ladders
  • jv's
• Metal Shrinker/Stretcher
  • jv's
• Pan brake
  • Pete's
  • Read the manual first (it's on it).  If you try and bent too-thick metal, you will break the fingers and they are not easily re-gettable.
• English wheel
  • Philipp's
  • Understand this tool and watch some videos on its use.  It can smash your fingers like a hammer, except it doesn't bounce off.
• 200A charger
  • Pete's
  • Get instruction on its use first.  That's a lot of amps.
• Grinder in the machine room
  • Pete's
  • DO NOT grind non-ferrous things on there, it loads up (and possibly ruins) the wheels.
  • If you need to do grindy things on aluminum/brass/copper/etc, pick a different tool (one with disposable abrasives or your own non-ferrous-dedicated grinder with appropriate wheels)

Parking

Parking is, unfortunately (due to some of our neighbors in the plaza), more contested/congested than it once was.

Be the nicest person in the parking lot.  While the parking situation can feel rude, our neighbors keep an eye on things for us when we're not there (which is most of the time).  Plus, there's the whole "you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar" adage.

(But, yes, we're all annoyed and we liked it more when our immediate neighbors were all but vacant.  Still.  Be the Good Guys.)

• If you don't need to park in / in front of the shop, park on the street.
  • "Need" includes:
    • You're working on that car.
    • You have an EV and need to charge on the shop charger.
    • You have a pet in the car and need to keep an eye on them or it's too sunny to leave them outside.
  • Drive up and unload is fine, of course -- don't hurt yourself lugging stuff up from the street.
• If a neighbor is blocking the door to the shop, ask them (nicely) and they're usually very quick to move.

Ye Olde Ratte Hacke Shoppe

Various supplies you might need for sale at (basically) cost - used to be much more well-stocked when the shop was newer and folks didn't have a routine down for consumables.  Now mostly for aluminum drip pans.

• Pay the posted price by dropping money in the clear bin on the right end or Venmo/SquareCash/Paypal jv right then.  Don't try and remember to add it to rent, everyone will forget.
• If something's out that you think should be topped up (or something you'd like to have added), let jv know.

Misc

• First come, first choice on the music.  If you don't like Blizzard's 80s Booty House Mix, get there first next time.  For now, suck it up or pop in your AirPods.
  • DO NOT play your music louder.  Super uncool.
  • That said, if jv's listening to Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" on repeat is putting you over the edge, you could nicely ask him if he could choose another genre/mix/whatever.