What Do Automotive Body Repairers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Automotive Body Repairers repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames. They also file, grind, sand, and smooth filled or repaired surfaces, using power tools and hand tools.

Other tasks include:

• Inspect repaired vehicles for proper functioning, completion of work, dimensional accuracy, and overall appearance of paint job, and test-drive vehicles to ensure proper alignment and handling.
• Fit and weld replacement parts into place, using wrenches and welding equipment, and grind down welds to smooth them, using power grinders and other tools.
• Prime and paint repaired surfaces, using paint sprayguns and motorized sanders.
• Follow supervisors’ instructions as to which parts to restore or replace and how much time the job should take.
• Sand body areas to be painted and cover bumpers, windows, and trim with masking tape or paper to protect them from the paint.
• Chain or clamp frames and sections to alignment machines that use hydraulic pressure to align damaged components.

We asked Automotive Body Repairers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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58% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 35% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Automotive Body Repairers follow supervisors’ instructions as to which parts to restore or replace and how much time the job should take. They review damage reports, prepare or review repair cost estimates, and plan work to be performed.

A typical day for an Automotive Body and Related Repairer will also include:

• Clean work areas, using air hoses, to remove damaged material and discarded fiberglass strips used in repair procedures.
• Mix polyester resins and hardeners to be used in restoring damaged areas.
• Fit and weld replacement parts into place, using wrenches and welding equipment, and grind down welds to smooth them, using power grinders and other tools.
• Read specifications or confer with customers to determine the desired custom modifications for altering the appearance of vehicles.
• Prime and paint repaired surfaces, using paint sprayguns and motorized sanders.

We asked some Automotive Body Repairers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	30% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	29% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	46% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	25% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	6% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	52% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Automotive Body Repairers also remove damaged sections of vehicles using metal-cutting guns, air grinders and wrenches, and install replacement parts using wrenches or welding equipment. They may also replace damaged glass on vehicles.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Automotive Body Repairers Fill small dents that cannot be worked out with plastic or solder. They might also Position dolly blocks against surfaces of dented areas and beat opposite surfaces to remove dents, using hammers.

In addition, they Cut openings in vehicle bodies for the installation of customized windows, using templates and power shears or chisels.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Chain or clamp frames and sections to alignment machines that use hydraulic pressure to align damaged components.

To some Automotive Body Repairers, it is also their responsibility to Soak fiberglass matting in resin mixtures and apply layers of matting over repair areas to specified thicknesses.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Automotive Body and Related Repairer, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/installation-maintenance-and-repair/automotive-body-and-glass-repairers.htm

http://www.asashop.org/

http://www.natef.org/

http://www.ase.com/