Handling and Repairing Ford F-150 Magnesium Radiators
One of the most requested pieces of OEM documentation in the collision industry today is “new materials, locations and procedures.” Why? Because advanced materials are becoming more popular with almost every vehicle maker due to the never-ending quest for fuel efficiency, ease of manufacturability, performance and styling. Magnesium is but one of the advanced materials
Working with Boron Steel
Ultra high-strength steel alloyed with boron is lightweight and hard – really hard! But there are some tradeoffs to its strength and weight savings that repairers need to be aware of.
Aluminum Dent Repair – with a Stud Welder
Aluminum is not a new metal to the collision industry. The Model T Ford had an aluminum hood. The 1925 Pierce-Arrow was all aluminum. And many classic cars of the 1930s had aluminum parts on them. Why? Because aluminum allowed low-production automobile manufacturers to hand-form parts without the use of the costly stamping process. The
Strategies for Preparing – and Presenting – Your Estimate
The insurance industry’s reluctance to pay what I consider to be fair and proper damage appraisals concerns me greatly. It also concerns me greatly that many shops aren’t doing anything about it.
Inverter MIG Welders:Turn Your World Upside Down
On a mission to learn how to better repair lightweight panels, I began investigating inverter welders. And was pleasantly surprised.
Apathy
A massive segment of repairers – wallowing in yesteryear’s thinking and uninterested in learning anything new – are driving themselves out of business. Do you fit this description?
Aluminum Is Coming
Conceptions and Misconceptions
Mastering the Mig
When I was faced with writing about MIG welding, it brought back memories of a friend who has long since passed on to the other side. What my friend Bernie lacked in luck (hence his early demise from an untimely car accident), he made up for with good intentions.
Collision-Related Alignments: It’s All in the Angles
Bad habit No. 1: not checking the important diagnostic angles and assuming everything is correct. Bad habit No. 2: sacrificing one alignment angle to fix another. Don’t react to a symptom. Fix the problem!
Two Words: Plastic Refinish
As plastic components become more prevalent on auto exteriors, it’s becoming crucial to know how to properly refinish these parts.
