Auto body repair & detailing/Expert Profile

Expertise

22 year veteran, 2 years of vocational training. A.S.E. certified Master collision repair/refinish technician. I-CAR certified. 17 yrs. GM experience. I can answer most questions related to automotive body repairs, ranging from small scratch repairs all the way up to the most extensive collision repairs. I can expertly advise people on what to expect from their body shop experience, right down to what self repairs should, and should not, be done. Lastly, I can advise tricks and tips for classic car restoration, such as lead repairs. SORRY, I DO NOT DO ONLINE ESTIMATES OR GIVE PARTS PRICES!! BE PREPARED FOR THE CORRECT ANSWER- NOT THE ONE YOU WANT TO HEAR. I won't B.S. you, or sugar coat answers. Just plain, hard facts.

Past/Present Clients

Just about every major insurance company in NW Ohio

What do you like about this subject?

I enjoy taking peoples wrecked cars and returning them back to the owner, in a better shape than the were in before being wrecked. Nothing is more satisfying than hearing them say "Wow, you cant tell it was wrecked!"

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

I hope to learn 1 thing every day untill my time comes to put down the paint gun, and let the next generation take over. Hopefully, I can guide a few of these young people to be caring, professional technicians.

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

Most bodymen make under 40,000. a year. We are paid by the job, not by the hour. We're usually paid no overtime, yet almost all are required to work over 40 hours. We tend to get 6 paid holidays a year. It's a dirty, stressful job, requiring at least 20,000 dollars worth of tools that we purchase out of our own pockets. There is no gold watch at the end, either.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

Insurance companies insist upon using used, welded panels from salvage vehicles, such as quarter panels and unibody structure. These parts are almost always damaged. (90% of these parts come from vehicles that were totaled out by an insurance company.) The parts are difficult to remove from the donor car, and they usually contain rust, undercoat, and seam sealers that interfere with welding.