There are a few precautions to keep in mind before you get your bumper repair completed. First and foremost is to choose a plastic bumper repair company you trust. From there, you can take work through the process to get the best finish for you and your car.

• Get an estimate ahead of time. Most bumper repair providers will either allow you to email a picture or come in for a free estimate for the cost of damages. It’s always best to approach bumper painting and repair knowing what you can expect to pay – especially if you want to do a little comparison shopping.

• Clean the area of your car that will be getting the bumper repair done. While your mobile bumper repair provider will certainly still work on your vehicle if it’s dirty, you can save everyone some time and effort by providing a good glimpse at the total damages.

• Consider the weather. Although no one can predict when it will rain, hail, or even snow, you may want to plan for your repairs at a time when the weather is sunny or when you can park indoors (during inclement weather). Although most cars are able to be on the road as soon as the plastic bumper repair work is finished, it’s the best to avoid weather extremes for at least the first day.

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you’re uncertain about any part of the process – from getting your repairs done while you’re at the office to the types of materials used to return your car to a flawless finish – be sure and talk to your bumper repair specialist. They should be able to answer any questions you have about getting back on the road or about what they offer in terms of a quality guarantee.

The entire purpose of mobile bumper repair is making the process easy on you. Remember, though, that there is an element of care involved in ensuring that your perfect bumper paint and repairs remain flawless. Follow these guidelines and you’ll be back on track to a great looking finish.

The Texas Special was a passenger train operated jointly by the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (also known as the MKT or the Katy) and the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (the Frisco); it was the flagship of both these lines. It ran between St. Louis, MO and San Antonio, TX until 1964. In 1947 the

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This High Intensity “Medium Wave” Heat Panel is ideal for curing coatings and adhersives, laminating, thermoforming, heat shrinking and drying. Panel is built to withstand rigors of industrial and heavy commercial applications including auto collision repair shops. Made using 20 gauge steel frame, base and housing. Gold anodized aluminum reflectors and end caps allow 10 faster cure time over polished aluminum reflectors. Adjustable hinges allow the user to direct heat to the target area. Heating elements achieve full temperature in less than 2 minutes and are rated for an average life of 5,000 hours. Includes 20L type SO cable and fused disconnect switches on rear. Features high temperature 200176C rated wiring. Wide steel base includes heavy duty 3″ steel casters for high stability and ease of mobility. 240V. 1 year warranty. 76.00 L. 7.50 W. 7.50 H.

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For pounding auto sheet metal before finishing Use on flat & curved surfaces Includes 3 hammers & 4 dollies Performance Tool hammer and dolly sets contain everything you need for basic bodywork. They feature carbon steel hammer heads and dollies for lasting service life and durability. The hammers also feature hardwood handles.

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COLLISION SHOPS:- We can help you make a professional presentation to Insurance carriers to secure your store on their “Preferred Shop Listing”. How to get Insurance Direct repair programs

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Technorati Tags: beaters, BODY, bodyshop, CALIFORNIA, COLLISION, DO, drp, drp'S, GET, GETTING, HOW, paint, panel, repair, WANT

More info: http://www.metacog.com

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If you have always liked tinkering with the exteriors of cars, giving it a polished finish, then you could make a career out of it. You could do this by first getting the proper training in the collision repair department of a franchised dealership.

Collision repair as a career involves repairing the damaged body and parts of a vehicle. The candidates are trained to handle a range of equipment to repair the damage of individual sections. From using a hammer and anvil to smooth out dents, to using a pneumatic metal-cutting gun and welding equipment to remove and replace damaged sections, collision repair involves all types of restorations.

The following areas of instruction are available in collision repair technology: Computerized frame measuring, which is the use of computer technology to assess frame changes caused by damage. Other subjects such as computerized estimate writing, shrinking and stretching methods, alignment work on doors, hoods, and deck lids, the use of spray painting equipment, computerized mixing and matching of paints, frame alignment and more are also taught.

The goal of the Collision Repair Program is to train candidates with sufficient expertise and know-how to get into the job market. The candidates should be willing to work as heavy equipment repairers. The program provides you the opportunity to develop the basic skills required in auto body repair and refinishing. It offers you in-depth understanding of the underlying theories, the study of technical information, and related practical information to assure that you follow proper procedures in the repairing and servicing of any kind of damaged vehicles body and chassis.

The use of micro and macro tools is also explained during the program. Tools such as the mig welder, refinishing equipment (paint mixing system, paint gun, paint booth, etc.), frame straightening equipment, and various body tools (hammers, dollies, grinders, etc.) are also taught. More attention and focus is put on the use of hand tools.

One of the main advantages of the program is that it offers an opportunity to begin working “hands on” during the second semester of the first year. Thus, you will do various jobs ranging from detailing to helping with a complete paint job in the first year of the program. The program also offers training with an up-to-date paint booth that can bake paint at temperatures of up to 140 degree F. Candidates are also offered a practical course on frame straightening equipment and the operation of HVLP refinishing equipment.

Apart from basic reading ability, skills in mathematics (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions and percentages) are essential for this program. Physical abilities such as good eye-hand coordination and motor skills will help the candidate to progress quickly in the program.

Being a certified collision repairer opens up a whole range of job avenues. Positions such as a body shop and paint shop helper, automotive refinisher, auto body technician, fiberglass technician, the sales of paint and automobile body supplies, insurance appraiser, or auto body shop manager, are some of the jobs available in this field.

The program lasts for two years with a year of apprenticeship. A candidate can expect a 40-hour work week, and salary depends on the specific job, shop size, and the size of town in which the shop is located.

With the growth in the number of motor vehicles, which inevitably results in more accidents, there is no dearth in the demand of collision repair technicians. The US Department of Labor expects the employment prospects of automotive body repairers to grow about as fast as the average for all other occupations through to the year 2012.

Kris Koonar
http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/heavy-equipment-collision-repair-careers-124014.html

If you have traveled on the highway, you might have come across accidents involving two or more vehicles that have collided with each other. Such vehicles are either disposed of as scrap or sent for repairs, depending on the extent of damage caused by the crash. An automobile body repairer’s job is to work on damaged cars, make modifications to improve appearance and lend it an entirely new look. A career in auto body repair technology can be fascinating if you have a flair for fixing things and an eye for the design of cars.

The following article will help you understand the distinguishing characteristics of a career in auto body repair technology.

Job Qualifications And Training

Companies that hire auto body repair technologists typically prefer candidates with prior training in the field. They supplement the knowledge of newly recruited technicians with a well defined, on-the-job training. Additionally, the technicians are expected to lay efforts on constant updating of their skills as new vehicles are introduced. It is advisable for them to spend personal time reading technical manuals, and attending seminars and classes.

The National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) offers a certification in repairs, which though a voluntary program is considered as a standard of achievement for automotive body repairers. The institute conducts four tests, twice a year. A work experience of two years is an essential criterion to qualify for the test.

Due to the rapid improvement in technology, vast differences exist in the make, spare parts, build and quality of material used by manufacturers in the production of cars. Therefore, in addition to the practical training provided by employers, new technicians are also encouraged to attend supplementary courses organized by various auto manufacturers.

Skills

To be a talented automotive body repairer, reading, arithmetic and computer skills are essential. To restore the body of an automobile, a repairer should be able to understand diagrams so that the correct positioning of a certain part can be measured with respect to the other parts. New repairers are expected to fix dents and other minor problems, after which they start working on more complex problems such as straightening and realignment of body parts.

Nature Of The Job

The different job opportunities in this field range from painting and glass replacement to specializing in only one type of repair. For instance, a technician can focus on fiberglass car body repair that is usually done only in bigger shops. Other jobs include fixing of large dents using anvils, heating of plastic to attach it back to the car, and the filing and grinding of machines to lend it a desired shape. After gaining a few years of experience, some auto body repairers also take up management jobs that involve tasks such as supervising technicians, purchasing of supplies, hiring, keeping track of income, expenses, and payment of bills.

Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the year 2002, automotive body repairers made a median hourly wage of $15.71 including incentives.

Future Of The Job

The number of job positions in this field is expected to increase through the year 2012. To meet the demand, auto body repair jobs may have to be contracted out to repairers from other fields or retired automobile designers working in other areas. Repairers who have undergone formal training and certification will benefit from the enriching job opportunities expected to arise. Other than simple repairing jobs, the redefining aspect of automobile technology will be a sought after skill to counter the increasing demands for new and innovative designs. The big shops will look at increasing their ability to provide quality service to more customers as a team is would be recruited to cater to the varying needs of different customer profiles, to decrease the repair time and improve overall efficiency.

As the number of vehicles on the road increase, so will the need to repair and add new features to them. The auto repairing industry is here to stay, and if you vie to be in an innovative and challenging field, the auto body repair industry is the right career option for you.

Tony Jacowski
http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/career-in-auto-body-repair-technology-70665.html

I was hit in the front fender. My fender is smashed, the headlight assembly was smashed out, and the tire is wobly. It is almost touching the wheel well now. The steering wheel is turned 45 degrees but it goes straight. What do you think is wrong with it? The blue book value of the car is $3000
It’s a 1999 Grand Prix SE 3.1 with 135,000 Miles

well knowing the year make model of the car as well as the milage would be very helpful.

From what you wrote, I am guessing there is about 1200 or so in damage, less if you use junkyard parts which a lot of bodyshops can do under insurance jobs now adays