New job. Wish me luck.

Looks like returning to college may pay off. I'm in my last term of an associates degree in collision repair and refinishing. My GPA has been a steady 4.0 and I have completed 47, I-Car certifications including structural repair on steel and aluminum.

Included in this program is one year of estimating instruction.

My college program has a very interesting process for those that are willing to learn.

We function as a production body shop.

I, as a student, do the initial evaluation and estimate on real customer cars. Arrange for part replacement. Form a repair plan. Do the repair including painting. This process continues all the way through final inspection and delivery back to the customer.


Last week, one of the larger collision repair chains in the North West contacted the college and requested a student for an estimator, trainee position. I am being placed in that position.

Should be fun.

............Thats great news.........good luck 2 ya.......kim......

Congrats!

Good luck with new job!

congrats and best of luck on the new job!

Congratulations, this is the road I might want to try some day.

i thought about taking collision classes to do body work on my dart...

GOOD LUCK!!!

Well that's all good, But but do they teach you any metal fab ? English wheel, bead roller,
chop roofs? Ole school real body work! I've been doing this since 79 and all the NEW collage tec's are only panel changers, We have been through more then i can count in the past year and there's no skill left in the trade any more! It's sad to say but i guess we are a dieing breed.

Great news! Sounds like a nice opportunity for you. Wish you the best in your new endeavour!

Grant

66 Dartman said:

Well that's all good, But but do they teach you any metal fab ? English wheel, bead roller,
chop roofs? Ole school real body work! I've been doing this since 79 and all the NEW collage tec's are only panel changers, We have been through more then i can count in the past year and there's no skill left in the trade any more! It's sad to say but i guess we are a dieing breed.

Click to expand...

We just had Ron Covell at the school last week. We have a strict focus on metal finishing.

But as you know, if you have been in the business for over 30 years, panels are replaced for a reason.

You can't put 3-5 hours into a fender that costs $140 from the dealer.

Dammaged crush zones or areas of high/super high strength steel can not be repaired.

Aluminium has limited repairability.

I am currently working on a 74 Lincoln Mark IV (Custom car owned by the department head). This is all, pick, file, hammer and dolly work. The right fender took a hit (15 hours of metal finishing before I even thought about touching it with the thinest skim coat of filler) ..... The fenders on one of these is 7' long. I am also doing several other small repairs along with a few small blends to correct the finish. To be honest, it is stressing me the hell out. This thing is arrow straight, the paint is perfectly flat and it needs to be ready for a show next weekend.

Paint still needs to be done, panel alignment corrections need to be made, the car needs to have the trim re-assembled and the hand pin striping needs to be redone in the repair areas.

But your question is really unrealistic. Modern collision repair is not the same as custom or restoration work.

To answer your question directly, those that are willing to learn leave school with a well rounded education including basic metal forming.

It was hard for me to reply to this because I know exactly what you are talking about. I see the same thing every day. You have those that take learning this seriously and those that are there just for grant money and don't really have any pride in what they do or how they do it.

Here are some of the other things going on in the shop (or things that have been recently completed). I need to link some of these, click on the header for pics.

1973 Javelin Project still being worked on.
[ame="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68diecast/6844533682/in/photostream/"]2012 Portland Roadster Show | Flickr - Photo Sharing![/ame]

1957 Corvette finished just before the show.
[ame="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68diecast/6990658077/in/photostream/"]2012 Portland Roadster Show | Flickr - Photo Sharing![/ame]

1968 "Jungle Jim" Nova body was restored at school just before I started.
[ame="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22304485@N04/4283443025/in/photostream/"]jungle jim funnycar 69 nova | Flickr - Photo Sharing![/ame]
[ame="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22304485@N04/4283443381/in/photostream/"]Jungle Jim 69 Nova Funnycar | Flickr - Photo Sharing![/ame]

Just last week we finished the new body for the Tiki Warrior (but I don't have a link to any new pics yet).
http://www.tikiwarrior.com/photos.html

NICE to hear in this current job market ... Congrats and Goodluck !

Congratulations on your new job.

Good for you! Glad to hear it.

Thats great new ! Wish there was a school like that around here.

Congratulations and good luck. You seem to have a real passion for it.

1968FormulaS340 said:

We just had Ron Covell at the school last week. We have a strict focus on metal finishing.

But as you know, if you have been in the business for over 30 years, panels are replaced for a reason.

You can't put 3-5 hours into a fender that costs $140 from the dealer.

Dammaged crush zones or areas of high/super high strength steel can not be repaired.

Aluminium has limited repairability.

I am currently working on a 74 Lincoln Mark IV (Custom car owned by the department head). This is all, pick, file, hammer and dolly work. The right fender took a hit (15 hours of metal finishing before I even thought about touching it with the thinest skim coat of filler) ..... The fenders on one of these is 7' long. I am also doing several other small repairs along with a few small blends to correct the finish. To be honest, it is stressing me the hell out. This thing is arrow straight, the paint is perfectly flat and it needs to be ready for a show next weekend.

Paint still needs to be done, panel alignment corrections need to be made, the car needs to have the trim re-assembled and the hand pin striping needs to be redone in the repair areas.

But your question is really unrealistic. Modern collision repair is not the same as custom or restoration work.

To answer your question directly, those that are willing to learn leave school with a well rounded education including basic metal forming.

It was hard for me to reply to this because I know exactly what you are talking about. I see the same thing every day. You have those that take learning this seriously and those that are there just for grant money and don't really have any pride in what they do or how they do it.

Here are some of the other things going on in the shop (or things that have been recently completed). I need to link some of these, click on the header for pics.

1973 Javelin Project still being worked on.
2012 Portland Roadster Show | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

1957 Corvette finished just before the show.
2012 Portland Roadster Show | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

1968 "Jungle Jim" Nova body was restored at school just before I started.
jungle jim funnycar 69 nova | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Jungle Jim 69 Nova Funnycar | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Just last week we finished the new body for the Tiki Warrior (but I don't have a link to any new pics yet).
http://www.tikiwarrior.com/photos.html

Click to expand...

It's good to read that your into it, I wish there was more that have your passion to learn, You will do well, Just enjoy it and you will gain a wealth of knowledge along the way. I wish you good luck on your new career in the auto body trade.

Good luck in your new career.....

Congratulations, and good luck!

Update:

Estimating for a large production shop has to be, the most soul destroying experience of my life.

1. Write a poor estimate on only the direct damage.
2. Submit the estimate to the insurance for approval to start the repair.
3. Get 3 price quotes for every serviceable part that needs replacement.
4. Photo and document everything.
5. Wait for supplements form the production side.
6. Add supplemental damage to the original estimate, get more price quotes, photograph, document and get another authorization from the insurance.
7. Contact and update the customer.

9 hours a day, 5 days a week.

It is a very thankless job.

??
are you payed by the hour, estimate, contract?

Im self employeed in the Autobody business, I do my own estimates I do my own work and paint and my own supplements when needed. I have zero problems because all I have to worry about is me and the best for my customers and im busy all the time. I have people ask to do restorations for them all the time but don't want to be tied up with that kind of work i rather do the insurance work and i will not fix rust anymore for customers its to time consuming and no money to be made doing it. I learned my trade by practice makes perfect and I payed attention to detail. I always figured you have it or you don't and no school can teach you that. Have you ever considered starting your own shop? I did after working for every thief bastard you could imagine. Good luck and I hope it gets better for you.

1968FormulaS340 said:

Update:

Estimating for a large production shop has to be, the most soul destroying experience of my life.

1. Write a poor estimate on only the direct damage.
2. Submit the estimate to the insurance for approval to start the repair.
3. Get 3 price quotes for every serviceable part that needs replacement.
4. Photo and document everything.
5. Wait for supplements form the production side.
6. Add supplemental damage to the original estimate, get more price quotes, photograph, document and get another authorization from the insurance.
7. Contact and update the customer.

9 hours a day, 5 days a week.

It is a very thankless job.

Click to expand...

Can you hang in there long enough to get some good contacts and a job you really want? God bless and hope something works out for you.

I don't know how I missed this. I don't think you need luck. You got yourself. You're a smart ****, you'll do very well.

SpikeWills69 said:

Can you hang in there long enough to get some good contacts and a job you really want? God bless and hope something works out for you.

Click to expand...

That's what I am doing now. It is just so truly, mind numbingly, dull. 4404spd sounds like he is in a more reasonable situation. He has a bit of variety.

I like being active and taking a full interest in all operations. Unfortunately, I sit at a desk, on the computer or on the phone.

I question myself daily. I have zero debt. House, cars, everything is fully paid off. I think I am in a situation where I should at least be, somewhat, enjoying what I do.