Panel Bonding?

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deadbeat

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At 36 years of age, I don't know any younger people in my area that do auto body repair. It truly is a dying art, one that I never perfected, but did learn a lot from my old man over the years.
 

Hipster

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In the 2 shops I'm around all the techs are over 40. Two are not far from collecting SS. The owner hires helpers in apprentice/helper type positions trying to get younger people involved but a lot of these kids don't last 2 weeks. Most, but not all of the Vo-Tech grads don't fair much better. There's a lot of interest in a pay check by the younger crowd but not a lot of interest in working.

A decent tech or painter that hustles can easily do 6 figures a year,
 

SUBURBAN5

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In the 2 shops I'm around all the techs are over 40. Two are not far from collecting SS. The owner hires helpers in apprentice/helper type positions trying to get younger people involved but a lot of these kids don't last 2 weeks. Most, but not all of the Vo-Tech grads don't fair much better. There's a lot of interest in a pay check by the younger crowd but not a lot of interest in working.

A decent tech or painter that hustles can easily do 6 figures a year,

Yup heard that a lot. Especially in any trade. Hard to get younger guys.
 

Hipster

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I'm not sure what the vo-tech curriculum is these days. The manufactures beat the door down of these schools for exposure to their epoxy bonding products. Again most, not all, of these grads think they're custom car builders because the can bond a recessed license plate pocket in a tailgate at a 45 degree angle and they stand around discussing how great they are while waiting for the Discovery channel to call them.

Junior, nobody cares how you did it in school. This is how and why and the pitfalls of doing it in the real world. In the real world the tech himself can be sued for a substandard repair that falls apart or gets someone hurt.

BMW has a fantastic school at the plant in South Carolina and when you grad they place you at a dealer for 60k/yr until you're ready to go on commission.
 
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letitsnow

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In the 2 shops I'm around all the techs are over 40. Two are not far from collecting SS. The owner hires helpers in apprentice/helper type positions trying to get younger people involved but a lot of these kids don't last 2 weeks. Most, but not all of the Vo-Tech grads don't fair much better. There's a lot of interest in a pay check by the younger crowd but not a lot of interest in working.

A decent tech or painter that hustles can easily do 6 figures a year,

I don't mean any disrespect to you or your fellow workers, but it sounds like all of the fun has been taken out of the autobody industry. I am glad that I changed paths.
 

TechNova

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I'm not sure what the vo-tech curriculum is these days. The manufactures beat the door down of these schools for exposure to their epoxy bonding products. Again most, not all, of these grads think they're custom car builders because the can bond a recessed license plate pocket in a tailgate at a 45 degree angle and they stand around discussing how great they are while waiting for the Discovery channel to call them.

Junior, nobody cares how you did it in school. This is how and why and the pitfalls of doing it in the real world. In the real world the tech himself can be sued for a substandard repair that falls apart or gets someone hurt.

BMW has a fantastic school at the plant in South Carolina and when you grad they place you at a dealer for 60k/yr until you're ready to go on commission.

You are talking about the big independents like Wyotech and UTI. My program is setup and kept current by collision shop owners and industry people. They advise on what the tasks should be. We just made major changes starting last fall. There is still alot of fun parts to the industry, but it is nearly impossible to be full combination tech these days. It is an industry for specialists. I have them for 9 months and can only give them entry level skills, it is up to them to want more when they get to the job. We have excellent placement but some decide they don't want it for a career. We do have some time for an 88 K1500 they may work on if they get their other tasks done and are waiting for others to catch up. BTW, no manufacturers are beating our doors, I rarely see or even know a rep except for PPG once a year for 6H training.
 

TechNova

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I don't mean any disrespect to you or your fellow workers, but it sounds like all of the fun has been taken out of the autobody industry. I am glad that I changed paths.
SOmetimes I feel that way because I have to stay current on all topics. It is too much. I can spend as much time keeping current as I do working.
Techs need to specialize, it can be in a few areas and is very rewarding once you gain some experience.
 

Hipster

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I don't mean any disrespect to you or your fellow workers, but it sounds like all of the fun has been taken out of the autobody industry. I am glad that I changed paths.
It depends where you work. At the dealership level some have a mechanic/alignment guy in the bodyshop or cars get shipped to the service dept. to handle the high tech systems a lot more independent shops have to send to the dealer now as well.

I still enjoy it but I always liked the artisan craftsman part of the business metal and mudwork, and really in my element with a paint gun. It's one of those jobs you have to like what you do.
 

Hipster

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SOmetimes I feel that way because I have to stay current on all topics. It is too much. I can spend as much time keeping current as I do working.
Techs need to specialize, it can be in a few areas and is very rewarding once you gain some experience.

X2, Some shops run teams where one guy goes does frame work and fits sheet metal , and a second guy does finish and mudwork. A third/helper does tear downs and builds. There are many different ways to find a niche and do the part the one likes.
 
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