An auto body repair technician performs a wide range of tasks on the job, ensuring that each new day brings something unique and interesting. From restoring damaged vehicles to breathing life into a dull old car, the jobs auto body technicians perform aren’t always necessary from a practical perspective, but rather done for cosmetic value.
Cosmetic repairs can be done for aesthetic reasons or to preserve the resale value of a vehicle, covering a wide range of tasks, from paint chips to fading, dents, and more. Read on to learn about some of the most common cosmetic repairs an auto body repair technician can expect to perform.
Auto Body Technicians Can Repair Dents
Dents are some of the most common cosmetic repairs an auto body repair technician handles in the shop. Dents can vary widely in size, with some being tiny and localized, and others taking up a significant part of the vehicle’s body. Regardless of size, this type of damage is often purely cosmetic, and will typically not impact the performance of the car.
A dent can frustrate car owners, however, as they may be very noticeable and diminish the appearance of the car. Auto body technicians can fix these blemishes using a variety of different techniques, depending on the severity of the bash. Panels with significantly deep dents must be fully replaced rather than repaired. Shallower dents can be fixed either using paintless or conventional dent repair materials.
Conventional dent repair requires that the paint be touched up afterwards, whereas a paintless approach won’t disturb the coat of paint. Different dent repair techniques will require different kinds of tools. Technicians can hammer, pull, or push the dent out to a smooth finish, depending on the nature of the body damage.
Buff Out Scratches as an Auto Body Repair Technician
Scratches are another very common cosmetic issue that those with auto body technician training can fix. The way technicians approach these cosmetic repairs depends, again, on the severity of the damage. Small scratches can be buffed out rather easily.
On the other hand, larger scratches require a combination of filler and paint to effectively seal the groove. Technicians will electronically match the new coat to the car’s paint in order to provide a seamless fix.
Handle Minor Windshield Repairs as a Technician
Windshield repairs can often be a bit more complex. Though minor chips and scratches can be viewed as cosmetic issues, it’s important to treat them quickly so that they don’t spread throughout the glass and become a more serious issue. Windshields are designed to be strong so that they can withstand the pressure of driving, but they do on occasion chip or crack when coming into contact with stones and other road debris.
A small chip in a windshield can be treated easily by an auto body technician by injecting it with a kind of resin that seals the area and restores strength. Without this repair, it’s possible that the chip will spread into a major crack. It’s important, therefore, that technicians advise their clients of this possibility.
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