Flashback to my past... Bodywork was worse than I remember.

I haven't done any bodywork, or painting for a few months over 2 years. I am not set up to do it, and I just plain have so many bad feelings about doing it. I haven't touched bodywork in a long time. I just don't do it anymore.


Right now, I am sore. VERY sore. I used muscles I forgot I had and had to do it all in a rush.

Without getting into too many details, there was a hit and run on a company truck. It left the driver of the hit truck in a situation where he was responsible for the damage without having much fault in the collision. He was parked and a tanker truck side swiped him and kept going. Being a company truck, and him being responsible for it, his company gave him 2 options.

1. get the truck fixed within his 1 day off.
2. get fired and turn in his log book.

I won't get into the specifics, but it was a bad situation for him, as this happened twice to him within a few weeks. just bad luck...



I haven't done any bodywork in a little over 2 years. I swore off the stuff. I was having sensitization headaches, and I just had so many bad experiences, I quit doing it. I have been delaying a lot of my tractor and farm machinery projects because of it. I have plenty of my own stuff I don't do.


I made time, for the first time in 2 years to do this one.


Here's the damage... It popped the taillight and peeled back the metal from the sideswipe. It also left a kink in the wheel arch and back bedside. 2011 Chevy.




The metal was actually ripped in one spot and peeled off. He got off work at 9am, and by noon, I started metal work.

By 4pm, I had the bulk of it pulled out and the bodylines back in place and the ripped metal realigned and welded.




After another 9 hours of filler work, primer, sanding, masking, painting and blending, I had it all done.







That is the first time in a long time I had to do this kind of work. I'm sore... very sore...

Thank the Lord for fast drying primer, paint, and chevy dealers with the 4x4 decal in stock. 26 hours after the incident, it was right back to normal.


Now, if only I can find the same kind of urgency, I could have some really really shiny tractors and equipment. But wow... If you don't do this every day, and try to put a full scale rush on it, it definitely will leave a mark on your health.



I wish I had the fire again. I miss doing it, but I hate doing it.


wish I could get everything done this quick, but not sure If I would last long in this world!

Looks good, Company sounds like a real piece of "work" not the 4 letter word I was thinking of , or there is a lot more to the story.

WOW...looks good and done fast, just what the insurance company's want in todays body shops. You should go back to work..lol.

BTDT and have the t-shirts, but never guessed there was another "retired" bodyman/farmer on this board. So I know exactly what you mean by flashback and sore muscles. How's your hands holding up from all the pounding and vibrating tools?

Nice!

yea, you do good work, i can paint and i enjoy doing it as a hobby. but i've never had the courage to take a dent out. but i guess im gonna have to muster some courage up because i bought a 9n and a MF TO-35 that i want to pretty up some day. if i try and fail i may have to pay for the body work and paint myself or trade my skills for someone who can do body work.

Nice work, Wish I knew how to do bodywork.. But sounds like a crummy company to work for.. Glad the truck did not get stolen, or I guess he would have had to buy a new one for them.

Looks very nice!

Looks great!

John
you are a good friend to pull this off for the guy. Rest next day or so and maybe you will find a little extra push for one of your projects

I get the "I love , I hate it" thing. When I was in the bodyshop I used to have to lock the doors and work from 6 or 7PM till 9 or 10 a lot of days to make up for all the time I spent wasting with people who just had to come in and gab. Drove me nuts. That and the guys who would bring in a car that we told him would take at least 3 weeks to do and he'd be there 3 days later asking if it was done.

Your work looks good. The company sounds like they have some issues.

Great job! Wish I could do that, not that I want to, just wish I could when I have to...

I hate body work, never been good at it, it's an art that I just don't have.

Always thought, instead of sending drivers to defensive driving, let 'em spend a day doing body work!

Wow! That does look Great!
So did the company hold up their end and not fire
the guy?

John_PA:

Beautiful, you do great work. Somebody's gonna owe
you BIG TIME ! Was this kid a relative ?

Doc :>)

I hated body work so I did not get into restoring up cars instead I did tractors. Not near as much body work but still a lot.

Now with the classic car market where it is I wish I had a garage full of restored cars instead of tractors !
If I'd of did Mopar muscle cars I could of sold out and been RICH !

Really nice job.

Sometimes we just have to quit or reduce how much we do the things we like doing in order to keep seeing tomorrows.

Tough choice, but you made the right one.

Looks nice!

Would like to see the process in action to learn it. I think like you would hate it but it sure would be a useful skill.

Very Nice. I had a small body shop when I was younger. Worked the shop after my day job so I can appreciate what you are saying. I always took pride in the finished job but then allergies kicked in and that was the end. You did good.

Man, John, You do nice work!

Gee, that is incredible work. It looks like brand new!

Even if you don't get rewarded for that fine
looking work, somewhere you will be for being a
good friend.

Nice job I don't like doing body work I don't feel
I could get it to look like that no mater how
much time I was given.....as far as being stiff
how about holding onto the counter and doing a
few deep knee bends then while holding onto
the counter do a few push ups ...I'm no fitness
guy I'm just suggesting maby it would work for
you ..it works for my dad

Next time I get a booger I gotta get fixed, I guess
Allentown ain't really all that far.......

Yeah, there is more to the story. I mean, it is just bad luck, but it looks really bad when you get hired and have a hit and run, then a few weeks later, another hit and run. At that point, the company thinks he is lying... If you were the boss and your new hire who has only been there for a month has 2 unexplainable occurrences this close together, you would probably fire them, too.

Yeah, my hands are toast... Glad to see another bodyman on here.

As far as I know, no one got fired!

Thanks for all the kind words. He was not a relative, but I've known him since he was 4 years old. It's one of those deals where he has an older brother who is 10 years older and my best friend, so it has been like he is my younger brother. Except he listens to me and takes my advice!

Excellent job! I am exactly where you are. Started my career in it back in 1971. Loved it. Had a passion for it. In 2003 went to work for a heavy equipment factory running their paint shop and that was even worse. very hard on the body and joints and general health. I'm glad I learned it and excelled in it and know I can still do it if needed (albeit slow). I am retired from the "factory" and will only do body/paint on my own stuff from here on out. No deadlines , no ins. co. telling me how to repair and how much I can charge , NO unruly/defensive/know it all customers to deal with and I do it only if I want , when I want and how I want and I have only ONE customer to please and he is pretty easy to deal with these days.

Yep, that's the problem. It's a very hard job, and if you do it right, it is very stressful. I'm glad I'm not doing it, and I'm glad you are not doing it anymore.

The biggest reason I got out of it was the people. Well, that, and the township sending me cease and desist letters. But that only came about because of people trying to squeeze me, people skipping out on thousands in repair bills, had a guy bring a gun to negotiate a price, had impatient jerks yank me around, make me feel bad about myself, and all so that they got cheap quality work. No more. It's not worth my health and sanity.

Perhaps he should invest in a dash-cam.

(quoted from post at 03:29:06 02/22/14) Perhaps he should invest in a dash-cam.

Click to expand...

Good thnking!

I have locked the doors and went at it more times than you could imagine. Glad you know the feeling! It is too much stress. If I wanted stress and pain I would still be milking cows. Glad I don't do that either!

Thanks for all the kind words! I wish I could do this type of work again, just for the accolades, but, my mental well being is more important, and I have a life skill to carry around with me.