Auto Body Repairer

Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Auto Body Man; Auto Body Repair Technician (Auto Body Repair Tech); Auto Body Repairman; Automotive Body Technician (Auto Body Tech); Body Man; Body Technician (Body Tech); Collision Repair Technician (Collision Repair Tech); Collision Technician (Collision Tech); Frame Man; Refinish Technician (Refinish Tech)

Tasks

• File, grind, sand, and smooth filled or repaired surfaces, using power tools and hand tools.
• Inspect repaired vehicles for proper functioning, completion of work, dimensional accuracy, and overall appearance of paint job, and test-drive vehicles to ensure proper alignment and handling.
• Fit and weld replacement parts into place, using wrenches and welding equipment, and grind down welds to smooth them, using power grinders and other tools.
• Prime and paint repaired surfaces, using paint sprayguns and motorized sanders.
• Follow supervisors' instructions as to which parts to restore or replace and how much time the job should take.
• Sand body areas to be painted and cover bumpers, windows, and trim with masking tape or paper to protect them from the paint.
• Chain or clamp frames and sections to alignment machines that use hydraulic pressure to align damaged components.
• Position dolly blocks against surfaces of dented areas and beat opposite surfaces to remove dents, using hammers.
• Cut and tape plastic separating film to outside repair areas to avoid damaging surrounding surfaces during repair procedure and remove tape and wash surfaces after repairs are complete.
• Review damage reports, prepare or review repair cost estimates, and plan work to be performed.
• Fill small dents that cannot be worked out with plastic or solder.
• Remove damaged sections of vehicles using metal-cutting guns, air grinders and wrenches, and install replacement parts using wrenches or welding equipment.
• Remove small pits and dimples in body metal, using pick hammers and punches.
• Remove upholstery, accessories, electrical window-and-seat-operating equipment, and trim to gain access to vehicle bodies and fenders.
• Mix polyester resins and hardeners to be used in restoring damaged areas.

Knowledge

• Mechanical
• Customer and Personal Service
• Production and Processing
• Mathematics

Skills

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Monitoring

Abilities

• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Visualization
• Manual Dexterity
• Oral Comprehension
• Problem Sensitivity
• Information Ordering
• Finger Dexterity
• Near Vision
• Visual Color Discrimination
• Oral Expression
• Category Flexibility
• Selective Attention
• Control Precision
• Multilimb Coordination
• Speech Recognition
• Written Comprehension
• Flexibility of Closure
• Static Strength
• Trunk Strength
• Extent Flexibility
• Auditory Attention
• Speech Clarity