Ironracer
Gearhead
LIKEWISE, SIR!
Ya but what field do you get in to work 5 days a week and 8 hours a day and make that kind of dough? I’m old and all busted up so it doesn’t matter to me but I just try to steer people in the right direction. It’s really hard to compete out there. Ya you can open your place but most people don’t have enough cash to pay the rent and bills till it gets going. I wish all the hard working people out there the best.
I average about 3 to 4 cars a day. Efficiency is key. We generally just paint parts now. New parts, and almost always loose parts unless it is a quarter or uni side. I average about 20-25 hours per day. I prep paint and polish if needed for 4 body techs. Generally rule of thumb is 3 to 4 body techs for one painter. Production tools like ultra violet primers and baking booths help with production as well. Standard is 15 hours of paint booth load. And yes I do multiple colors at once.
I'm almost 51, not sure if I'm young enough to learn a lifetime of skills, in short order, to do it. It seems that.way in all the trades... most the young kids just don't wanna work hard. They wanna smoke blunts and " feel the beat"
Eh, I've got over 10g in tools for what I do, just a cutthroat game. Some people don't want quality, and new construction is out for me, has been for years. I hope you well on your New Path!Oh I have some stories of recent times about age and skillset.... I am in the midst of chasing what I hope is a smart career move.... Employers are a fickle bunch and don't believe all the hype about employers are desperate. They are only desperate in the sector of low paying, low skilled jobs. The rest are typically looking for the "Pink Unicorn." But yes, at 51 learning all over again is a different mindset and be ready to get uncomfortable lol.....
JW
Eh, I've got over 10g in tools for what I do, just a cutthroat game. Some people don't want quality, and new construction is out for me, has been for years. I hope you well on your New Path!
What I was really getting at is for anybody interested in this field to ultimately become self employed, over time buy your own specialty equipment and start offering the type of services that are typically only available from the dealers.Specialize in computer diagnosis and repair and you'll be good. Only problem with specializing is, that really ended a long time ago. Now, if you cannot pretty much do it all, you're behind the curve.
Having started off in general auto repair many years ago and then becoming self employed and now exclusively only provide services for body shops I can tell you that the labor rates are lower for a collision repair facility but the times are much better as most seasoned and experienced body techs and painters can do a 2 for 1 quite easily and often even more if the work is there and there are minimal bumps in the road......THAT KIND OF RATIO ALMOST NEVER HAPPENS ON THE REGULAR FOR ANY GENERAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND OR TECHS.Flat rate pay is based on the estimate. Say a bumper pays 5 hours to paint. I get paid 5 hours to paint it. If you're efficient you are generally 200% efficient. That means I turn at minimum 2 hours for every hour I work. 24 years of experience is beneficial. Prep and paint 4 bumpers in the morning you just made 10 hours in 4. Do 4 more in the afternoon and you just made 20 hours in one day.
Many shops need techs, not apprentices. And garbage men.
Of course we will always need auto repair shops BUT what I was getting at is to educate someone as to what direction to go if they ultimately want to make some fairly serious money.......and you will never do it being a general auto repair tech now a days as the spectrum of what a person has to know is too broad.Self employed mechanic. 57 years old and wonder why i hurt so much. Ton of money invested in tools, and have to deal with people every day. People,as in people i dont know. Which has dramatically changed in the last 2 years.
i have my long time customers, and really i dont need the business from strangers.
Many shops need techs, not apprentices. Its hard for lots of shops to keep up.
Specializing is one way to make the money, but requires training and specialized tools.
Way back i was offered work on aircraft,but i knew i didnt have the mindset.
To suggest that the youngins not persue jobs in the automotive sector is wrong. We will always need them.
And garbage men.
I personally am not a fan of apprentices as most of the time it doesn't work out in the favor of the shop....it's unfortunate but that's the reality.Well then a shop will eat itself. Literally. Everybody wants to find the Pink Unicorn. And more than less employers will walk away from an Apprentice thinking their answer is getting ready to call.
I have been on all sides of that conversation. It's literally picking your lane and holding to it hoping things work out.
JW
Of course we will always need auto repair shops BUT what I was getting at is to educate someone as to what direction to go if they ultimately want to make some fairly serious money.......and you will never do it being a general auto repair tech now a days as the spectrum of what a person has to know is too broad.
I personally am not a fan of apprentices as most of the time it doesn't work out in the favor of the shop....it's unfortunate but that's the reality.
I think that was what I have been getting at all along.SPECIALIZED!
I said it was an unfortunate situation but after looking at it for many years I would just look to hire someone that someone else has helped learn the trade and would be considered fairly experienced so that when he came to work for me he could hit the ground running and we both could hopefully make money.And going with that mindset how do you think a company will continue? Aging workforce, a shift in society, and a empty hole that is just starting to really grow because kids are now taught to sit behind a desk. It has to start somewhere. Just like you or I we didn't know what we didn't know. Somehow you had to learn.....
JW
I told my son in law this very thing and I echoed the list of complaints seen here as his future. Being a mechanic myself, some car, some heavy industry. So, I told him to become a boss. Not to loose touch with the wrenches or the technology being introduced. As he should always be ready to take over or show the way to his coworkers, but be a boss and be for the men under him. Joke around and have fun, never belittle!I actually would be very hard pressed to ever recommend this type of work for a career to any young person but if you so feel the need and desire to do so then 100% DO NOT GET INTO GENERAL ACROSS THE BOARD AUTO REPAIR if you ever want to make any kind of serious money and specialization is the only way to seperate yourself from the crowd and be able to command good money.
I can only speak of machine shops from what the shops I use tell me but they say it's not a hugely profitable business and for the time I imagine they have to invest to do R&D on the projects plus unpaid time sourcing parts I would believe them, front end work I have always heard and can see how it's quite profitable but then again ask that same guy 30 years later as he is more than likely a cripple if it was all worth it....some specialties are :
machine shop
transmission
front end work
Convertible top /upholstery
paint and body
electrical/electronics
As far as being cripple I understand, but what job doesn't take its toll, even a desk job will kill you from being sedentary, sitting, using a keyboard etc. And, no its never worth it. I maintain my cars, and work on my Mopar, but when friends aske me to look at theirs, Its just a blank stare or "I'm retired" I put in my 20. Another thing, if you aren't out of it by the age of 40,you are pretty much sticking it out till the end. Machine shop, in a big city ? maybe. I would think you'd specialize there also, maybe race engines. OR engine remanufacturing. Still probably isnt a get rich thing, you just make a living. Folks these days dont fix anything its all disposable throw away .I can only speak of machine shops from what the shops I use tell me but they say it's not a hugely profitable business and for the time I imagine they have to invest to do R&D on the projects plus unpaid time sourcing parts I would believe them, front end work I have always heard and can see how it's quite profitable but then again ask that same guy 30 years later as he is more than likely a cripple if it was all worth it....
As far as being cripple I understand, but what job doesn't take its toll, even a desk job will kill you from being sedentary, sitting, using a keyboard etc. And, no its never worth it. I maintain my cars, and work on my Mopar, but when friends aske me to look at theirs, Its just a blank stare or "I'm retired" I put in my 20. Another thing, if you aren't out of it by the age of 40,you are pretty much sticking it out till the end.
You will lose money as a business owner at that kind of wage plus providing medical benefits.......it's just the harsh reality.The biggest issues are most young people are not interested. Second is no one is willing and patience of new people learning. Third as there are a lot of 30-40 year olds looking for a job but they have families now and can,t possibly work for low $$$. If you want a good man for life it’s going to cost you in the beginning. Hourly rate are going up Mc Donald’s starting at 15.00, Amazon 22.00, shops at 19.00. Get a 40’s year old guy and be very patient start him off at 20.00 (remember he has a family) have decent medical insurance pay for some classes give regular raises and you’ll get a loyal 20/30 year employee.