In reply to The auto body classes, I believe it is a very good idea, I need a refresher course. Being a 1978 Vo Tech Auto body graduate myself, Things have changed since then. When I started they taught you to use every grade of sandpaper, And let me tell you, You get plenty wore out sanding everything with about nine different grades of paper, We were NOT allowed to use a new tool called an "Air Sander", Hand Sanding was the first thing taught. And one of the things you couldn't get away from. Now days it is done allot faster using roughly five grades and quite an assortment of air tools, From there I went to work in the body shop, And after about seven years of eating and breathing paint fumes and bondo dust I got out of it. But I still like to play around with a torch, We were taught in school how to work lead and to metal finnish without the use of heat, I don't think they teach LEAD anymore, Bondo or Alumalead and something called "Tiger Hair" took its place in the body shop. But it hasn't changed, The last thing you do to a car before paint is wet sand. And let me tell you, For those that have never wet sanded before! Put your hands in chilly water for about two hours till your finger prints are about a quarter inch deep, Then tap them on a brick for another two hours and you will feel what it is like! Your hands and fingers will cramp up and be so raw and tender from sanding, you will never want to see another piece of sandpaper in your life! I Guarantee!!!!! Well maybe a little exaggeration thrown in, But true! Anyway Im going to take a refresher, just to learn all the up to date stuff, Gives me an excuse to buy new tools!!!!! Good Luck to those of you that do, Its a good learning experience, It also will help in the long run when you have a fender bender and yell about the bill! ( learning crash estimating is a very helpful thing to know ) Mark & Don Forward Look~Kansas Chapter "Tiger Hair" A combination of bondo and fiberglass..... |