Toby Chess is an I-CAR program instructor, training specialist, and former salvage yard operator. Toby is universally known in the collision industry for his work with first responders and advocacy for body shops and consumers. He can be reached at tcspeedster@gmail.com.
This is the first installment of Toby Chess's newsletter, in which he will share more than 100 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for auto body shops, tools, trends in repair and anything he thinks could help shops improve.
From the Ford Model T until the 1970s, dents were a two-sided operation. You would push from the inside with a dolly and hammer on the outside until you had a semi smooth panel.
Recently, I was training in an auto body shop in the Los Angeles area and noticed a used door for a vehicle repair in the technician’s stall.
As you are all probably aware by now, SEMA 2020 went virtual---renamed SEMA360---and it prevented Kye and me from walking the floor looking for those unique items that we would obtain and test out for our Kool Tools of SEMA annual presentation.
Recently, I did an estimating class for a regional MSO. I gave seven estimators a simple estimate to write prior to the class.
Kye Yeung, Amber Alley and I walked the floor of SEMA 2019 to find more Kool Tools. As in the past, we found some interesting and unique tools that can save you and your shop time and money.
I have been conducting I-CAR mobile welding tests for 15 years now.
On July 13, 2018, an Ohio appellate court rejected an auto body shop’s arguments in a $105,462 case where the body shop was convicted for failing to follow OEM procedures during a repair.
It’s that time of the year again (sixth year in a row) for the article that all of you in the collision world have been waiting for—Kool Tools of SEMA 2018.
Recently, I was asked by a shop owner to put on a Squeeze Type Resistance Spot Welding (STRSW) clinic.
Three years ago, Kye Yeung and I walked the floors of the 2012 SEMA show looking for new products that most of us never get a chance to see. When we made a presentation at the Collision Industry Conference, the presentation became an instant hit among the audience. So, for the third year in a row, we walked the floor at SEMA 2015 looking for things that were unique and would make life in the body shop a little easier.
Viewing Fig 11, you will see that the rivet is solid. Like the SPRs, solid rivets need to have access to the backside of the panel. Unlike SPRs, a specific size hole is needed. Solid head shape for solid rivets comes in many forms.
Recently, I was conducting the I-CAR Steel welding certification test at a collision repair center when I saw a 2014 BMW 3 Series having a quarter panel being installed. The tech was welding in the quarter panel instead of using glue and rivets. I asked the tech if he had the OEM replacement procedures, which he produced from his tool box. I showed him that the proper procedure was to rivet and glue the quarter panel in See accompanying photos for the proper installation method and recommended tools.