Clark’s Corner: Hulk Smash Water! Water Physics in the Shop
Poor-quality, moisture-laden compressed air has been a potential body shop problem since the day I started in 1970.
Vehicle Technology and Driverless Cars
I’m confident that our industry will adapt to the electronic-nanny revolution currently underway and will be ready to replace and recalibrate whichever devices the vehicle manufacturer incorporates to keep me safe.
Custom Paint Lessons From My ’74 Suzuki TS-250 Scrambler
Last month, I talked about my first acrylic enamel complete on a ratty MGB. This month, I’ll tell you the story of my 1974 Suzuki TS-250 scrambler (a style currently called dual-sport) that was my first personal effort at a three-stage candy paint job.
Clark’s Corner: Three Spray Guns
Three DeVilbiss spray guns tell a tale of how I learned to paint cars.
Reader’s Choice: Why Doesn’t Our Industry Itemize Paint and Materials Just Like Parts?
Why doesn’t our industry itemize paint and materials just like parts? Is it only because it has always been based on paint hours? Or is it because insurers won’t change?
Clark’s Corner: Wise Advice from (Really) Old Collision Industry Veterans
In a series of conversations with some old friends and customers, we generated a non-inclusive list of ways to save labor time, get organized and produce better work faster.
Do the Facility Math
Comparing your shop to industry benchmarks is a great way to identify areas to fix or improve.
Keep Those Customers Coming Back!
I recently shepherded two far-flung friends through having their vehicles repaired after non-injury collisions, and I’m sad to report that their experiences will not lead them to recommend their body shops to others.
PBE and Body Shops – A Partnership
This year, plan to get some advice from your paint, body and equipment (PBE) vendors to help ensure you return your customers’ damaged vehicles to pre-accident condition.
Comparing the Collision Industry of the Past to Today
I hunted down a bunch of old friends and customers who were still repairing or repainting collision damage every day to get their take on what industry changes have been good and which things were better back in the day. Here’s what they had to say.
Color Trends with the Pros
When the next Acura NSX ($200K) or the next 3T5 Lexus/Toyota or KAB Nissan/Infiniti colors show up at your door, don’t despair. First, catch it on the damage appraisal, and second, get advice from your paint jobber.
Wishful Thinking
One sure way to improve both morale and work flow is to talk about what you need to improve your operations. Start a similar conversation in your shop at the next coffee break. You might be surprised what you can learn.
