TECH FEATURE: Power with Plasma
The plasma cutter may be mysterious to many, but its functions are undeniable, especially when it comes to cutting heat-treated alloys like boron steel.
Stuck On You
Repairers are bonding more with adhesives because, used properly with welding, they can lead to better repairs than welding or adhesives alone.
Addressing Water Intrusion in the Volkswagen Taillight Area
Vehicle manufacturers regularly publish Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs), which are updates to repair procedures, techniques, part numbers, equipment and materials, as well as repair information for known issues reported from repair facilities and customers. Without prior knowledge of these updates, you and your team may service or repair a vehicle with outdated information. Or you
Long Live the Oxyacetylene Torch
Some think the oxyacetylene torch is dead. But more than a few master techs consider it a vital tool in their arsenals, and you may too once you understand its versatility.
On the Spot
Due to the misconceptions and lack of knowledge regarding squeeze-type resistance spot welding and its equipment, we conducted a welding machine challenge — a test that would simulate working on a vehicle and help shop owners make
better decisions when purchasing a machine.
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
Heat Shrinking Metal
Lots of controversy surrounds heat shrinking, yet I’ve successfully used this process for 40+ years. It not only makes a damaged panel repairable (and can save a job from totaling out), but it’s also a less invasive repair.
Play It Safe: “Culture of Safety”
Establish a “culture of safety” in your shop and insist your techs wear
(and properly use) safety equipment. Their families will thank you.
Skinning a Door – Without Using Filler
Remember the physician’s oath: “First, Do No Harm.”
Inside an Old-Timer’s Toolbox
In the early days when a bodyman faced a repair problem, he couldn’t just buy what he needed. He had to conceive a tool that would repair the problem- and then forge it himself.