Tech Says There’s Two Types Of Mechanics. Then He Reveals How To Tell If Your Mechanic Is Good

"Type 1: James May. Type 2: Jeremy Clarkson."

Tech Says There’s Two Types Of Mechanics. Then He Reveals The Difference

Photo by: jordhendo

Chad Swiatecki

By: Chad Swiatecki

Sep 22, 2025 at 9:00pm ET

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Some mechanics lay their sockets in perfect rows, gleaming like soldiers. Others toss them into a drawer where the 10mm socket vanishes into legend. Which one would you trust with your car? A popular TikTok video has people picking sides.

The viral clip from mechanic Jordhendo (@jordhendo) couldn’t paint a more stark difference between the two personality types found in repair shops. Type 1 opens their top drawer to show every possible socket attachment gleaming and organized in ascending sizes. Type 2, on the other hand, shows us what looks like a toolbox and kitchen junk drawer had a one-night stand, with the resulting offspring jammed into a tool bench in complete disarray.

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Jordhendo, a self-described “main dealer tech,” posted the clip to spark a laugh, but the internet quickly turned it into a referendum on mechanic culture. “Type 2 will fix ze car better ngl,” one commenter joked, capturing the belief that messy workers are sometimes the fastest. Another shot back, “The trick is to stay organised so you don’t spend 5 minutes looking for a socket,” echoing Jordhendo’s own defense of neat drawers.

The replies reveal more than just shop humor. Some insisted the chaos has a method: “I bet #2 knows EXACTLY where anything is in his box.” Others weren’t so sure. “I bet you he spends half his time looking for something and swearing at everyone,” one viewer wrote. The conversation even veered into Top Gear territory, with one fan declaring: “Type 1: James May. Type 2: Jeremy Clarkson.”

Organized Tools = Professional Edge?

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For many technicians, tool organization isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s tied directly to how they earn. Flat-rate pay systems, used widely across dealerships and shops, reward mechanics for completing jobs quickly rather than by the hour. Wasting 20 minutes digging for a lost wrench can literally eat into a paycheck. That’s why tool manufacturers like Snap-on and Matco market entire product lines around modular drawer systems and shadow foam inserts.

Safety is another factor. Misplaced tools can damage vehicles or injure workers if left inside an engine bay. Shop management experts often stress that clean, well-laid-out benches signal professionalism to both managers and customers. In fact, ASE training programs encourage apprentices to build good organizational habits early.

Still, plenty of seasoned mechanics argue that tidy drawers don’t guarantee skill. “Trust me, a messy mechanic knows where everything goes,” one commenter said. Another added, “Some days half my tools are lucky if they go back into the toolbox.” Anyone who has worked a busy shift knows that bouncing between multiple cars often leaves piles of sockets strewn across the bay.

That sense of “organized chaos” has some logic. Psychologists have found that people often create personalized systems that outsiders see as clutter but are internally consistent. For a veteran tech, muscle memory sometimes matters more than labels. “If you take one of my tools, I fuggin know,” one commenter wrote, admitting his drawers are loosely grouped but far from showroom perfect.

There’s also a cultural divide at play. Apprentices and hobbyists often pride themselves on showroom-ready setups, while older techs with 40+ hours a week in the bay lean pragmatic. “Type 1 is hobby, Type 2 is real hustling,” one viewer bluntly summarized.

The Eternal 10mm Problem

No debate about toolboxes would be complete without mentioning the most famous lost part in automotive culture: the 10mm socket. Dozens of commenters brought it up, from jokes about buying 20-packs on Amazon to comparisons with “finding a loyal girlfriend.” The 10mm has achieved meme status precisely because of how often it vanishes, whether from messy drawers or clean ones.

That shared frustration gave the thread an everyman appeal. Even casual car enthusiasts could relate, making the TikTok a crossover hit beyond just shop culture. It became less about one mechanic’s video and more about a universal truth: everyone has their own way of keeping or losing track of tools.

The clip works because it isn’t really about sockets. It’s about personality. Do you crave order and efficiency, or do you thrive in chaos and improvisation? Car culture has always balanced those opposites, from the meticulous restorers who catalog every bolt to the track-day tinkerers who make magic with whatever’s lying around.

What do you think?

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Even mainstream culture picked up on the dichotomy long ago: think Clarkson’s slapdash enthusiasm versus May’s methodical precision. Both approaches have their place, and both types of mechanics keep cars on the road. The TikTok simply distilled that into two drawers and let viewers argue it out.

Motor1 reached out to the creator via direct message. We'll update this if he responds.