The auto body trade

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I have less then a week to pick the shop I want to spend then next three years of my life in, and most likely my career<br /><br />At me school we spend one week in our shop and the next in classes, all year.<br /><br />I've gone threw 14 different shops for a week at a time in each. I only hated one of them, out of the 14 I got accepted into 11 of them. I didn't get into Electrical(hated it) or pluming, (which I liked)<br /><br />Next Wednesday I'll have to fill out a card with the shops I what, I have to put down three, 1st,2ed and 2ed picks.<br /><br />Most everyone gets into their first pick, the only exception is the very popular shops, like hairdressing and electrical.<br /><br />As of right now I'm planing to fill the card out like this:<br />1st:Auto body<br />2ed:ACR<br />3ed:Culenary<br /><br />I'm positive I'll get auto body, I got a 100% in the shop and a 95% in the related classes.<br /><br />Many people, like my parents and non-shop teachers are trying to talk me out of taking Auto body, they keep talking about how it messed up your health because of dust, and paint ect....<br /><br />What is your option of the auto body trade?<br /><br />If anyone is a Auto body man I'd like to hear from you!<br /><br />Thanks in advance,<br />Ryan.

 

[bluewater19]

Re: The auto body trade

Autobody is a great trade. <br />My brother used to own a shop and I helped out from time to time. It is true that you can mess up your health if you don't take the proper steps to protect yourself. You will learn all about the health risks in your class. It sounds like you show serious aptitude if you got 100 percent.<br />The work can be back busting but the pay is very good (at least on the west coast). <br />Good luck!

 

[boatneck]

Re: The auto body trade

You should do what you enjoy doing since you'll be doing it for a long time. Auto body work means you'll be dealing with hazardous materials which, if not properly treated, can kill you or make you very sick. The paints, solvents, welding gases, etc in an auto body shop have to treated respectfully with proper ventilation, etc. Unfortunately, not all shops do the right thing. <br /><br />The skills you learn in auto body shop are transferable to fiberglass repair and refinishing so you can work on boats (naturally) and shower and pool enclosures. Good luck!

 

[jee70611]

Re: The auto body trade

Ryan, <br /><br />Dittos on what has already been said. If it was me, I would choose the ACR(I'm assuming this is Air Conditioning and Refrigeration). Nothing's wrong with Autobody, just in my opinion it isn't worth the risk unless you REALLY like it. I wish I knew how to do that kinda work. That way I could do body work for myself. ACR is also a very good trade. Job security in this field it good too. If you could get into working on the industrial side of things, you could really make it big. Hospitals and factories pay big bucks to keep their refrigeration equipment operational. What I think is so nice about ACR is that the concepts are soooooo simple. You would be surprised how simplistic your home or car's AC is for example. That is a field that will be around for as long as people populate this planet. It can have its downfalls too, like crawling in attics and under houses if you choose residential. Autobody is good too, especially if you can get into the custom shops where the real money kicks in. You have to be REALLY GOOD though. In the end, you should go with what YOU will enjoy. Money shouldn't be your only incentive for the job. I would rather make less at a job I love than a little more doing something I hate. Here's a site with more info on ACR: Air Conditioning Contractors of America <br /><br />Good Luck,<br /><br />James

 

[LubeDude]

Re: The auto body trade

Ok, Im the prime example. I was into Auto Body for 25+ years, I cant remember not painting cars. I loved it and made a better than average living off it for that amount of time.<br /><br />Now, All of a sudden I got very sick, to make a long story short, I had to leave the trade and couldnt prove to anyone that it was the trade that made me sick. I do know that After leaving it, I slowly got better and after trying to go back into it as a test, I started getting sick again.<br /><br />When I got sick, I wasnt even painting anymore, I was a frame man, but being around it finnaly got to me.<br /><br />There are better resperators now and fresh air systems, but you are around the dust and fumes continually! I vote no!

 

[rodbolt]

Re: The auto body trade

hello<br /> well lets see<br /> so far I was a certifieted tech in suzuki,merc/mariner/mercrusier/yamaha/force and volvo penta, spent almost 6 years in the navy as an FC(thats a electronics tech with ordanance quals) I have been a machinist I programmed and set up CNC lathes and mills. I trained as an automotive machinist for some years. I worked for porcshe,mazda,volkswagon,chevolet and olds.<br /> I have had training with HVAC I have done some framing and drywall work, I tried pulling nets and pulling crab pots, never worked at food service well 72 days on the mess decks but as a 2nd class I got moved off.<br />now my artheritis is making work more difficult each year. now my goal is to learn spanish move down south and try to get a job teaching outboard repairs. my advice is to learn. learn as much as you can. read, read a lot never quit. only belive 1/2 of what you read, odds are the author never really did it except in college. belive only 1/4 of what you hear. I have friends that did well calibrating medical equipment.I do well repairing outboards and stern drives. I tried the autobody gig as a teen. did not like it. the welding and such was killer. most shops were not very good. the trick is and it took me a long long time to find this out, work for the best. do not work at schmoe's bangum center. if beer cans are half the daily trash stay away. same with framing and HVAC. work for only the best, do not work for less. sometimes that means working for yourself. and if your in need of some training both for your self disipline and technical their is always the military. the military has some unique training avalible. <br /> anyway sounds like your trying something.<br /> good luck and keep posting

 

[Spidybot]

Re: The auto body trade

Also give a thought to the fact, that your initial training/education probably will not be what you actually end up doing. Consider what kind of work your education may lead or allow you to get into at a later state.<br /><br />The Auto Body line of industry creates (mostly) skilled craftsmen that can do with their hands what the majority can only dream of.<br /><br />So if the creative side means something to you, also in the longer view, you should go for this (and make sure to utilize modern methods re. personal protection etc.) <br /><br />In todays worklife personal protection etc. is much more in focus than it was only a few years back.<br /><br />The Auto Body shop has a better chance of keeping normal working hours (no emergency calls like refrigeration providers have) and - on top of it - a skilled guy in this line will always get offers doing jobs 'off record'.<br /><br />Good luck!

 

[pjc]

Re: The auto body trade

Ryan, almost any trade is a wise choice in todays economy as I see it. And go Union if possible.<br />Very hard to outsource trade jobs to Mexico or China for example. <br />HVAC (ACR)or Pipefitter (plumber) should be real good to you and you can pretty much choose where you want to work regionally.<br /><br />BTW, lottsa chemicals in body trade. Be safe and good luck.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: The auto body trade

I went to school for auto body myself. Worked in the trade for a few years. You asked our opinion..... Unless you can do nice custom bike work ,,,, Dont do it!!!

 

[oddjob]

Re: The auto body trade

Ryan, I started out in vocational (high) school in welding. Then gained more experience in the Navy Seabee's. I also worked part time for a Master Carpenter in while in high school. Worked for my fathers businesses. He also did autobody and truck/auto repair but I didnt do it because I was needed doing My fathers construction jobs. I invested alot of time in the Steel Fab business but I didnt like the idea of losing my sight at an early age. I also developed Carpal Tunnel syndrom at an early age (26).<br /><br />Took a pay cut and started working as a Structural steel detailer(Draftsman of shop and erection drawings) Trainee and went to night and learned autocad. Did that 3 years and due to the autocad skills landed a job with the company I work for now as a process manufacturing technician. 6 years in the extrusion dept. making catheters, designing and building tools fixtures and automating extrusion equipment. Was weak in electronlcs and went to night school again and got the 2 year college Vocational Electronic Specialist Certificate. Now I work strickly as a process tech/engineer and I keep my tools at home or in the truck. Cause no matter how well I could perform all the skills I aquired over the years the appreciation for it is short lived and the work never ends. Often I reported to folks or kids that had no skill whatsoever (even at my dads business) simply because they dont need the skill to delegate. And they got the credit for my work and planning. Today I make more money thinking and delegating the work to other dept. resources. I still use my experience, but avoid doing the trade skills first hand even if I know I can do a better job. Live and Learn.<br /><br />Words I live by:<br /><br />My vocational welding teacher (Mr. Dale Cook) advised the whole class not to think you have to settle into what your doing at the moment, You may and can change your mind, life at any moment and dont be afraid to.<br /><br />My father told me this as his father(also a auto-bodyman) told him," son you aint never gonna make any money with your hands. I didnt like it when he told me that, but I understand now. <br /><br />Now, if this company decides to lay me off I would start my own business in some sort of service industry. Then I wouldn't mind getting my hands dirty once in awhile. But it would be the exception and not the rule. <br /><br />Of all the trades you listed..air conditioning is the bigest bang for the buck (IMO). And you can easily start your own business if you choose. And if you choose later you can grow it. I moonlighted for an AC guy after I watched how easy it was for him to repair my frig several years ago. I quit after two weeks when he got mad cause wasn't overcharging his customers like he routeenly did. The rule was to estimate and charge a bit less than it would cost to just replace the unit. Even if all that needed done was cleaning the filter, fan and coils. <br /><br />Sorry to be long winded Ryan. Good luck whatever choose. Dont be afraid to make a descision you may decided to change later. Apply yourself in school subjects that your telling yourself you will never need anyway, math, english and writing(sp). I wish I had.