The emergence of a rust spot can strike fear into any car owner’s heart, but with the right amount of auto body training, it doesn’t need to evoke the same feelings when the car rolls into your garage. Rust often leads to the early demise of many vehicles that should still be hugging the road. If drivers start to see the threatening creep of rust, they don’t necessarily need to bid their car farewell. In fact, they can take action, find an auto body shop or garage, and fight back—keeping their car on the road where it belongs.
With 500 million cars on the road, you are bound to encounter rust more than a few times during your auto body career. As an auto body training student, these tips will help you resurrect your future customers’ cars, and ensure they leave your shop rust-free.
1. Auto Body Training Teaches Students to Blast Rust Spots Away with Sanders
During your auto body training, you’ll learn through hands-on courses how to deal with rust using sanders, blasters, and grinders. Surface rust can begin with something as small as a nick in a car’s paint or a scratch on the surface, but can balloon into a bodily disaster. Sometimes it is necessary to use physical means (like sanders and grinders, for example) to get rid of rust.
Sandblasting is one effective option for ridding a car of rust, though it can be expensive. It’s important to remember that heat is produced when using high-energy power tools, which means this procedure can warp the metal you are working on if it is thin enough. That’s why it’s a good idea to take breaks if things get too hot, and make sure you’ve completed all of your auto body training before attempting this yourself!
2. Auto Body Training Grads Use Acid Dipping & Painting Techniques to Remove Rust
Another option for ridding a client’s car of rust is to saturate the rust with chemicals that break it down and make it disappear. For example, phosphoric acid can be applied to rust spots in order to break down the rust. This method requires a professional to dip an entire section of a car in acid (often referred to as ‘acid dipping’). Once this step is complete, an auto body expert may need to give the car a brand new paint job—one of the many skills taught in top auto body schools.
3. Auto Training Grads Use Rust Sealers and Rust Converting During Their Careers
Rust occurs when metal becomes oxidized, so keeping oxygen away from rust spots will limit spreading. Covering patches of rust with special ‘rust sealers’ can significantly slow the process of oxidization and help your future clients leave the shop happy. If you (or your client) don’t want to cover it, another option is to convert it.
Rust converting substances can take rust and change it into a durable substance through chemical processes. However, experts know that this method should only be used when the rust isn’t affecting the structural integrity of the automobile. Afterwards, you might be required to use your auto painting skills, giving the car a fresh new paint job and making it look good as new.
Top Auto Body Schools Can Help You Hone Your Craft!
There are numerous auto body schools that can educate you about taking your rust removal and general auto body work skills to the next level. Thankfully, oxygen is here to stay – but so is the constant creep of rust. On the upside, this means those who can prevent and treat rust are always in high demand amongst motorists. Becoming a practitioner of rust prevention and perfecting your auto body craft will lead to a career that pays well, is practical, and keeps you busy.
Want to know more about how keeping cars moving could be your next big career move?
Visit ATC for more program information, or speak with one of our friendly advisors.
