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Auto body repair
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TR6oldtimer
Darth Vader
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/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gifDrEntropy said:
Skilled mechanics/technicians are hard to find and paid very well. Also a trade skill that is in demand just about everywhere.
https://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2006/04/10/focus1.html?jst=s_cn_hl
Banjo
Yoda
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production collision work is tough, dirty, tedious.... Working with all the chemicals and dust dosen't help your health much, sanding all day long wears at yer jo=ints, and in general the pay isen't all that great.
Mechanical work is a tad better. But all of it is limited unless your exceptionally good.
Also there is the investment in tools. and schooling. Both the mechanical and body fields are in rapid change right now. It takes constant classes and such to keep at the front.
Then there's certifications. Here in NY for the average Tec, there's Inspectors licence, ASEs, MACs or other A/C certification....
If it's what you really like, then at least try it. But if it's just for the sake of a job, I bet you'll not stay there.
It also makes going home and playing with a car as a hobby a bit less appealing..... but then some of us have 20-50w flowing in our veins.
Mechanical work is a tad better. But all of it is limited unless your exceptionally good.
Also there is the investment in tools. and schooling. Both the mechanical and body fields are in rapid change right now. It takes constant classes and such to keep at the front.
Then there's certifications. Here in NY for the average Tec, there's Inspectors licence, ASEs, MACs or other A/C certification....
If it's what you really like, then at least try it. But if it's just for the sake of a job, I bet you'll not stay there.
It also makes going home and playing with a car as a hobby a bit less appealing..... but then some of us have 20-50w flowing in our veins.
rick_ingram
Yoda
Offline
Do what will make you happy.
Sometimes you don't know until you try. And if you don't try, you'll NEVER know! If for some reason it doesn't work out...you can always return to your original profession.
Just remember to NOT burn any bridges.
Sometimes you don't know until you try. And if you don't try, you'll NEVER know! If for some reason it doesn't work out...you can always return to your original profession.
Just remember to NOT burn any bridges.
ecurie_ecosse
Luke Skywalker
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PAUL161 said:
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif
Stuart. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif
Have any of you guys worked in the field or are you just speaking from the experience of working on your own cars?
I definitly expect that sanding filler will be hard on the joints and dusty, dirty, and boring. However there is more to it than that. In Canada (and maybe the US) there is 2 main categories of auto body work:
Collision repair, which is repairing the strucure of the car, removing the dents, replacing body panels ect.
The second is the painting prep which is applying the filler, sanding and surface preparation for painting, and applying the paint.
You can either choose one or the other or both to do. I was thinking that I could do both, that way I would always be doing something different.
As for the pay I have heard that locally the auto body guys are making reasonable pay, as much as 70 or 80 grand a year.
The reason I'm asking is so that I can talk to some people who work in the industry and see if my thoughts and what I've heard are correct.
I am lucky enough that my wife is working and making enough money to support us while I go back to school. However I don't want to make a big student loan for trade school, only to find out that I don't like working in the trade. I should also add that I'm unemployed for many months and haven't been able to find a job in my current profession of software developer. I am thinking of doing something completely different!
So if anyone out there has first hand experience working in the trade or know one one who does, I'd certainly like to hear from you!
I definitly expect that sanding filler will be hard on the joints and dusty, dirty, and boring. However there is more to it than that. In Canada (and maybe the US) there is 2 main categories of auto body work:
Collision repair, which is repairing the strucure of the car, removing the dents, replacing body panels ect.
The second is the painting prep which is applying the filler, sanding and surface preparation for painting, and applying the paint.
You can either choose one or the other or both to do. I was thinking that I could do both, that way I would always be doing something different.
As for the pay I have heard that locally the auto body guys are making reasonable pay, as much as 70 or 80 grand a year.
The reason I'm asking is so that I can talk to some people who work in the industry and see if my thoughts and what I've heard are correct.
I am lucky enough that my wife is working and making enough money to support us while I go back to school. However I don't want to make a big student loan for trade school, only to find out that I don't like working in the trade. I should also add that I'm unemployed for many months and haven't been able to find a job in my current profession of software developer. I am thinking of doing something completely different!
So if anyone out there has first hand experience working in the trade or know one one who does, I'd certainly like to hear from you!
Opa
Jedi Trainee
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Why not try and hire on at a body shop as clean up guy or something,that way you could get a feel for things hands on so to speak.My grandson did this for awhile and decided to take up welding,fabrication etc.He also wants to get his pressure welding ticket and underwater welding ticket(ship yards and pipeline stuff)
Healeysince59
Jedi Warrior
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I know that in this area, the really good shops have a tough time hiring good painters (and keeping them) that they will trust with their restoration work.
Banjo
Yoda
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Yes. I'm curently a professional Auto Technician I also have a degree in auto body and have limited experience in the field.rooster said:
If it's somthing you want to try, I'd go with the above suggestion and try to do a stint in a local shop and see what you think. Then if it's your thing, go ahead and get schooled.
As for $$$$$ I must live in the wrong area. Most body guys I know are lucky to be seeing mid 30K per year. Maybe some of the skilled "seasoned" guys pull in a bit more than that, but 70-80K is Very rare (like shop owner).
But again, I can't speak for your local.
14dna
Luke Skywalker
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/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/savewave.gif
As Ben said, I too am a professional auto technician with 34 years licensed in Ontario.
Having worked in a few shops that also have body shops, I can say, it is tough work. The dust and fumes are bad for the respitory system, and Painters are at a premium as the paint fumes are very dangerous. That having been said, it is hugely improved in the last few years as Governments regulate air supplies now.
If you must, then take a run at it. I've never been out of work, unless I wanted to be. Oh, and btw, I've made 70K per on flat-rate consistently until the last couple of years, when I went to a smaller dealership and way less hours.
It does make your hobby less enjoyable though!
Dave
As Ben said, I too am a professional auto technician with 34 years licensed in Ontario.
Having worked in a few shops that also have body shops, I can say, it is tough work. The dust and fumes are bad for the respitory system, and Painters are at a premium as the paint fumes are very dangerous. That having been said, it is hugely improved in the last few years as Governments regulate air supplies now.
If you must, then take a run at it. I've never been out of work, unless I wanted to be. Oh, and btw, I've made 70K per on flat-rate consistently until the last couple of years, when I went to a smaller dealership and way less hours.
It does make your hobby less enjoyable though!
Dave
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Oh boy... The last two fellas are my brethren. I hold (NI)ASE Certs, factory Porsche Certs, and more than two decades of independent shop experience... but my favorite work is making pre-75 Euro-trash into viable examples of what they WERE. A "niche" profession, but personally rewarding. Monetarily it sucked. My LBC experience is far deeper than the "Certs". I've been an LBC afficianado from age four (1954, apporximately)
It's all in what you find personally rewarding. If it also gains you a decent living, you're ahead of the game.
"PRESS ON REGARDLESS!"
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif
It's all in what you find personally rewarding. If it also gains you a decent living, you're ahead of the game.
"PRESS ON REGARDLESS!"
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif