A person who specializes in auto body repair is known as a panel beater. A panel beater’s job is to return automobile body panels to their original shape after a collision. Even for an experienced panel beater, many jobs, such as repairing damaged chrome trim and aluminum grills, are difficult. A panel beater’s primary responsibility is collision repair, though many workers in this field prefer to focus on restoration rather than collision repair.
A panel beater is typically required to work as an apprentice for several years in order to best perform his job. Only a few of the many methods of repair that a panel beater must master include welding, metallurgy, and painting technique. A good body repair technician must also have a basic understanding of automobile mechanics. In order to work on an automobile body panel, it is frequently necessary to remove it from the vehicle.
A panel beater’s abilities aren’t limited to automobiles. Many people specialize in motorcycles, exotic cars, and even planes. Because the majority of aircraft are skinned entirely with aluminum, a body repair technician must be well-versed in alloys. Anyone who wants to work as an auto body repairman should be able to use an English wheel, a metalworking tool that creates smooth curves in sheet metal.
Cutting with an oxyacetylene torch, brazing, and welding are also useful skills for a repairman. A skilled auto body repairman employs both his hands and his eyes. The ability to sense when a body panel is just right is a skill that requires a lot of trial and error. A good panel beater can stretch and shrink metal body panels with a body hammer and a dolly, making dents virtually impossible to detect.
A skilled body technician must be able to work with a variety of materials in addition to steel and aluminum. Body panels are made of fiberglass and composites such as carbon fiber and plastic. To become certified, you must be able to work with body putty, various adhesives, and fiberglass. Certification testing also covers disposal methods and the treatment of toxic waste materials.
The cost of tools is one of the most significant expenses for a panel beater. Specialty hammers, cutters, and grinders, as well as a variety of other specialized tools of the trade, are required. As well as gloves and boots, safety equipment such as protective eyewear and coveralls is required. One advantage of the lengthy apprenticeship is that it allows an aspiring panel beater to acquire all of the necessary tools for the job.