| Most of us never would want to see the inside of an | | | | been changed by modern technologies. Overhead |
| auto body repair shop. At the most we can often | | | | vacuum lines are connected to the grinders and |
| smell the solvents being emitted by automotive body | | | | sanders to pull dust and dirt away from this part of the |
| vehicle repair shop as we drive by and wonder how | | | | shop. Modern body shops can remain very clean and |
| those people can make it through a work day never | | | | dust free- indeed modern electronics , and even the |
| being precise and accurate in both matching the color | | | | most modern hi tech electronics of hybrid vehicles |
| of car panels and repairing auto, truck and S.U.V | | | | demand this. |
| bodies after vehicle collisions. | | | | With the entire metal straight, it's on to the paint |
| It is only by accident - car accidents that most of us | | | | preparation area, commonly referred to as "paint prep". |
| end up inside the premises of our local, dealer or a | | | | Quality shops will use dust extraction systems to |
| chain auto body shop. | | | | remove the dust when sanding and spraying the paint |
| Most shops now bear little relation to the | | | | primers. Infrared lighting systems may be used to cure |
| establishments you may remember as a child - dark | | | | primer paint quickly and properly. These infrared lights |
| and dusty surrounded by both piles of used and new | | | | can shorten the cure time from 24 hours remarkably |
| car parts as well as a mean guard dog in the yard. | | | | to as little as 20 minutes. All of these procedures both |
| There may be a few of those still around but they are | | | | help you to get a higher quality assured job and get |
| a dying breed. Repairing cars now, especially with the | | | | you back on the road in a minimal time span. |
| electronics in today's vehicles, requires both skill, | | | | Painting the final colors and clear coats is done in a |
| education and training, sophisticated tools and an ultra | | | | paint booth. There are many types and brands of paint |
| clean, modern shop. | | | | booths, however it is generally accepted the best are |
| Modern body shops now seem to be uniformly clean, | | | | the "downdraft" units where fresh filtered air enters |
| well laid out and well lit. As well many body shops are | | | | the top of the booth and any underspray is pulled |
| laid out in several distinct separate staging areas. | | | | downward and out through grates in the floor. The |
| Vehicles are estimated in one area, body work done in | | | | downdraft procedure of paint booths can produce the |
| another, electronic repairs in yet another area, painted | | | | best and most consistent of paint finishes. In addition a |
| in a very separate area, and finally detailed and | | | | well trained operator can make a great difference in |
| presented to the customer in a display area. | | | | final paint and appearance quality and consistency. A |
| If the vehicle has major damage, then it is moved to a | | | | dust free paint booth of any design is better than a |
| disassembly area and onto a frame machine. Unibody | | | | dirty and dusty paint booth of the highest end. Before |
| construction is utilized by most autos today. Unibody is | | | | spending your money or committing yourself to the job |
| a an automotive and mechanical body term which | | | | or repairs it is always best to ask to examine several |
| describes how sheet metal is stamped, formed and | | | | examples of the shops work on several vehicles. In |
| welded together to form the structural portion of the | | | | addition ask to see finished examples of several |
| car or truck body. | | | | different body types - cars, trucks, vans and SUVs. |
| The purpose of the "frame machine" is not to | | | | Look for smooth finishes with minimal dust specs and |
| straighten the car frame now - rather it is to straighten | | | | colors that match from panel to panel. These are the |
| the unibody construction of the vehicle. | | | | signs of a quality paint job done by a skilled and |
| Measuring the vehicle body for correct unibody | | | | professional painter. |
| alignment is more than critical. As little as one millimeter | | | | It goes without saying that a professional paint shop |
| error is all that is allowed by most car, truck and S.U.V. | | | | will be proud of their faculties- the layout, equipment, |
| manufacturers. Laser measuring systems are used by | | | | training of their staff - and most of all their people. |
| many body shops along with the frame machine to | | | | Such a shop should have no trouble, barring practical |
| ensure that everything is straightened accurately to | | | | logistics, of allowing you a tour of their facilities. Indeed |
| the decimal point. | | | | after all of their careful efforts they should be most |
| With the unibody of the vehicle straight, the car, truck | | | | proud to give you a tour and point out their strong |
| or S.U.V. moves to the metal work area where new | | | | points and capabilities as well as examples of their |
| sheet metal is mounted and damages area | | | | finished product. |
| straightened. This work is still done by skilled | | | | After all it's your vehicle that is being repaired - |
| technicians and tradesmen using hammers and dollies, | | | | whether it is your new S.U.V, car, truck, van or bus. |
| but even the work done by body shop technicians has | | | | |