auto body class
#11
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Re: auto body class
For home use, Harbor Freight is the best place for tools to start out.
Lots of folks rag on them for a number of reasons (made in China, not
Snap-On, etc), but for someone working on their own vehicles they'll
last as long as anything 4x the cost if you just maintain them properly.
Too many people buy low-buck tools to start, don't take care of them
(because they don't know how & air tools of any brand are particularly
sensitive to neglect), then convince themselves that high $$$ tools are
the only way to go.
If you use an impact wrench 3+ hrs./day - 5 days/week, buy the best you
can afford, and having a truck come to your place of employment with
nearly unlimited credit isn't bad for someone who uses those tools at
work every day for their livelihood. If you use it 10 weekends/year, buy
a heavy duty one @ HF and put a couple drops of air tool oil in the air
inlet fitting before & after every use and it'll last for years. Same
goes for hand tools and body tools are no exception. Put them in a
toolbox off the floor and they'll last a lifetime. Lay them on the floor
overnight and they'll fail real quick.
Personally, I prefer hand tools for filing and sanding. Power/air tools
are OK if you're real experienced, but it takes a real soft touch with
an in-line air file to not just grind right through everything you just
laid up. Learn on manual procedures and move up to power when you feel
you have a good touch and eye for smooth level surfaces, including
compound curved surfaces. Nothing looks as good as real hand work.
It can be tempting to let the instructor take over with welding, but
don't give in to it. Do it yourself even if it means cutting off a
crappy weld to re-do it. You'll see why as you get into it. If you have
to have him do something like weld around a corner or inside a curved
surface, stick your face right in there (properly protected, of course)
to watch exactly what he's doing and don't feel like a dork asking a
million 'stupid' questions. You're paying for his time and any decent
instructor will be more than happy to explain every boring little thing
about how/why he's doing something. Most will use your questions to help
everyone else in class as well.
Cheers,
- Jeff G
Fletcher wrote:
> That is just the info I was looking for. The instructor said that he can
> put us on a bench and let us practice weld all we want before we weld on our
> own cars, and if we get nervous working on our own welds he will take over
> if we need. I plan on spending a few hours just letting him be my coach
> while I weld patches into a piece of scrap metal.
> The other key I picked up on the first night were some of the tools that are
> used for the basics. I have never regretted buying any tool, and I can see
> a few tools such as a palm orbital DA sander, an in-line sander, and a kit
> of assorted hammers and dolly's would go along way and pay for themselves
> very quickly. Anyone have suggestions for other "starter" tools that I
> should look for? I think that time spent in class will help to answer that
> question, but I like to hear from others with home experience.
>
> <<snip>>
Lots of folks rag on them for a number of reasons (made in China, not
Snap-On, etc), but for someone working on their own vehicles they'll
last as long as anything 4x the cost if you just maintain them properly.
Too many people buy low-buck tools to start, don't take care of them
(because they don't know how & air tools of any brand are particularly
sensitive to neglect), then convince themselves that high $$$ tools are
the only way to go.
If you use an impact wrench 3+ hrs./day - 5 days/week, buy the best you
can afford, and having a truck come to your place of employment with
nearly unlimited credit isn't bad for someone who uses those tools at
work every day for their livelihood. If you use it 10 weekends/year, buy
a heavy duty one @ HF and put a couple drops of air tool oil in the air
inlet fitting before & after every use and it'll last for years. Same
goes for hand tools and body tools are no exception. Put them in a
toolbox off the floor and they'll last a lifetime. Lay them on the floor
overnight and they'll fail real quick.
Personally, I prefer hand tools for filing and sanding. Power/air tools
are OK if you're real experienced, but it takes a real soft touch with
an in-line air file to not just grind right through everything you just
laid up. Learn on manual procedures and move up to power when you feel
you have a good touch and eye for smooth level surfaces, including
compound curved surfaces. Nothing looks as good as real hand work.
It can be tempting to let the instructor take over with welding, but
don't give in to it. Do it yourself even if it means cutting off a
crappy weld to re-do it. You'll see why as you get into it. If you have
to have him do something like weld around a corner or inside a curved
surface, stick your face right in there (properly protected, of course)
to watch exactly what he's doing and don't feel like a dork asking a
million 'stupid' questions. You're paying for his time and any decent
instructor will be more than happy to explain every boring little thing
about how/why he's doing something. Most will use your questions to help
everyone else in class as well.
Cheers,
- Jeff G
Fletcher wrote:
> That is just the info I was looking for. The instructor said that he can
> put us on a bench and let us practice weld all we want before we weld on our
> own cars, and if we get nervous working on our own welds he will take over
> if we need. I plan on spending a few hours just letting him be my coach
> while I weld patches into a piece of scrap metal.
> The other key I picked up on the first night were some of the tools that are
> used for the basics. I have never regretted buying any tool, and I can see
> a few tools such as a palm orbital DA sander, an in-line sander, and a kit
> of assorted hammers and dolly's would go along way and pay for themselves
> very quickly. Anyone have suggestions for other "starter" tools that I
> should look for? I think that time spent in class will help to answer that
> question, but I like to hear from others with home experience.
>
> <<snip>>
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