Anthony Harlin, master technician at University Automotive in Sacramento, CA, never thought he would be working on cars. His work life had been an assortment of jobs spread out across industries including retail management, roofing and construction. Fixing cars? That was never on his radar.
One ordinary afternoon, while eating lunch at home, a commercial flickered on the TV that would change everything. “I had no interest in working on cars,” Harlin recalled. “I tried one time, got stuck in the middle of the night, and vowed I’d never work on a car ever again. But something about that commercial called to me. It was so weird because I had no interest in working on cars. But it just pulled me in.”
University Automotive
Sacramento, CA
916-488-6710
www.universityautomotive.com
Company At A Glance...
Type: Auto Repair
Facility Employees: 16
In Business Since: 1998
Number of Locations: One
Production Space: 10,000 square feet
That commercial showcased a local automotive training program. Curiosity piqued, Harlin visited the program’s website and read every word. Something resonated deeply within him. “I went down there within the next couple of days and signed up,” he said.
Harlin’s decision 20 years ago led him to a new path. For the first time, he felt he had a career. The work was challenging, but he found himself thriving in the environment. He enjoyed the hands-on nature of the job and the satisfaction of solving mechanical problems.
Anthony Harlin uses the Mini Ducter Venom HP to work on a vehicle.
University Automotive is a sprawling 20,000-square-foot facility with 10,000 square feet dedicated to production space. The shop boasts 14 car bays and employs 16. According to Harlin, University Automotive is unique in that it cultivates a culture where mistakes don’t become habits, focusing on continuous improvement and employee development.
Over his time working at University Automotive, another passion emerged as he delved deeper into the auto repair world.
One day, Harlin searched YouTube for videos on repairing EcoDiesel engines and found only a couple of videos that weren’t particularly relevant to what he was looking for. “There was nothing,” he said. “So I thought, I’m going to make my channel and teach people how to do this.”
With the support of his wife, Harlin started recording his first video. But initial attempts were shaky. “I went in Monday morning and started recording, but I thought I sounded stupid and threw my phone in my toolbox,” he said.
A week later, with some components still visible on an engine he was working on, he decided to give it another shot. This time, he imagined he was teaching a coworker named Darren, whom he had been mentoring since Darren started as an oil change guy. Pretending to explain things to Darren made the process easier. He hit “upload.”
Fast forward four years, and the Nuts & Bolts with Tone YouTube channel boasts tens of thousands of followers and hundreds of videos, with some short-style videos racking up millions of views each. His content ranges from detailed tutorials to quick tips, all aimed at making car repair more accessible.
University Automotive employs 16, including Anthony Harlin, center.
One of the standout tools Harlin showcased is the Mini Ducter Venom HP from Induction Innovations, which he aptly named the “best tool to remove rusted nuts and bolts” from the name of the video review. This tool has revolutionized how quickly and safely stubborn bolts, nuts, bearings and fasteners can be removed by removing rust without the danger of an open flame.
“Before, dealing with exhaust bolts or nuts was a nightmare,” Harlin said. “You’d have to go to your drawer full of expensive tools, risk breaking things, and end up drilling and tapping for hours trying to fix a broken bolt.”
With the Mini Ducter Venom HP, that hassle disappeared. “You heat it up, and in about 40 seconds, the bolt is red hot, he said. Grab your gun, zap it right out, and everything comes off. The best part is, when you’re done, everything goes back in the same way. No misaligned threads, no extra drilling. It’s like magic.”
Harlin’s enthusiasm for the tool is evident. “The key is that when you’re done, everything goes back in. Same bolts, bolted back up. Usually, threads misalign, but with this product, you take them out and they go right back in.”
The tool has become a favorite in the shop, with other mechanics frequently borrowing it. “It’s quicker to heat up the bolt and take it off than it is to get the tool out and put it away,” Harlin joked. “And when you re done, the threads look brand new. There’s no discoloration. It’s amazing.”
Harlin’s journey from a man who vowed never to touch a car engine to a skilled mechanic and trusted voice within the auto repair industry has taken years of work. Over these years and among the hundreds of tools he has reviewed, the Induction Innovations Mini Ducter Venom HP tool stands out as an essential piece of equipment in his arsenal. It has transformed hours of frustrating labor into a quick and easy task, and Harlin loves sharing its benefits with others.
As Harlin continues to grow his channel and share his expertise, he remains dedicated to helping others navigate the often daunting world of car repair along with the help of companies like Induction Innovations, which continues to push the industry forward with its products.
Induction Innovations
877-688-9633
www.theinductor.com
Facebook: @InductionInnovations
X: @invisibleheat
Instagram: @induction_innovations
LinkedIn: @induction-innovations-inc
YouTube: @InvisibleHeat
To read more auto body shop profiles from the October 2024 Shop and Product Showcase, click here.
