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3M provides a few tips in this ABRN HOW2 video for removing and applying automotive foams.
This video also covers one of the problems when applying flexible foam and how to prevent it.
Daimler Destroys 300 SL Replica
by Allen B. Ury
When does car customization become copyright violation? At least in Europe, it’s when you copy the shape and form of an automotive classic.
Creating fiberglass replicas of famous car bodies is nothing new. For decades, car buffs have built spot-on replicas of out-of-production vehicle shells to place on contemporary chassis. But when it comes to replicating a classic Mercedes, look out. Daimler AG is highly protective of its designs, even those no longer used in its production vehicles.
Recently, German Customs found a fiberglass Mercedes-Benz 300 SL replicate being shipped into the country. Created in 1952 as a race car, the 300 SL become a production vehicle in 1954. Production of the car, with its distinctive “gullwing” doors, continued until 1963. In all, 3,258 300 SLs were built. Today, the car is a high-priced collector’s item with well-preserved originals routinely fetching $600,000 or more on the open market.
Sensitive to their land’s most famous car maker’s interests, German Customs alerted Daimler AG in Stuttgart. Claiming that the design is “a work of applied art” that remains under copyright, Daimler took possession of the shell and destroyed it in an industrial crusher.
A photo chronicle on the car body’s destruction can be found here:
What can we take away from this event? Creating customized cars is a wonderful occupation, but just make sure the designs you create don’t belong to someone else!
Learn Car Customizing Skills at WyoTech
If you’d like a career creating original works of automotive art, you can get the skills, experience and confidence you need to be an industry pro at WyoTech.
WyoTech offers a Street Rod and Custom Fabrication specialty as part of its Automotive Technology program. The specialty provides hands-on training in key car customization skills, including:
- Custom and specialized sheet metal shaping and fabrication
- Application of lead (body solder)
- M.I.G., T.I.G. and Oxy-Acetylene welding
- Chop tops including Carson-style tops
- Hidden pin hinges (suicide doors)
- Body construction including firewalls, floorboards and transmission tunnels
- Custom paint techniques including special effects, airbrushing and pin striping
You’ll learn to use a range of power tools, including grinders, sanders, power hammers, bead rollers and the louver press.
Street Rod and Custom Fabrication is offered at WyoTech’s campuses in Blairsville, Pa.; Laramie, Wyo.; and Sacramento, Calif.
For more information on this and other automotive career training programs, contact WyoTech today!
Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
Collision Repair: That’s What We Do
We’ve been busy at the collision repair program at Butler trying to complete all of the projects be schools ends in May. However, we did manage to catch a few clips of what we do in the program.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgUAT1gyhZ8[/youtube]
If you are interested in a career in collision repair now is the time to get enrolled. Many colleges are enrolling for Fall 2012. There are many community colleges and technical schools that have excellent collision repair programs to consider. However, these types of programs fill up fast.
Preparing Your Resume’ – Will It Ever Be Read?
It’s time for students to start getting ready for the world of work. They’ve spent hours in training awaiting graduation so they can go make their mark in the world. May is almost here graduation is approaching, now what?
One of the first thing students will need to do is to prepare their resume’ for potential employers to see. Hours may be spent crafting the perfect resume’ spotlighting all of the student’s abilities and knowledge. However, all of this training, knowledge, the and resume’ is useless, if it’s never read.
Just because you prepare a resume’ does not mean an employer will see your credentials according to this study. Your resume’ can be thought of as a speech. Don’t they say, it not what you say, but how you say it?
A resume’ is all about looks. It’s not about what you write, but how it looks. This study shows that it must be clear and easy to read. If it is a page crammed full of words, it may not be read. It’s what you say in 6 seconds that counts. Read the full article and think about it before preparing your resume’. Read The Full Article Here
If you are looking for a job in the collision repair industry check out these listings Collision Repair Jobs.
BCC Takes Another Step Towards Teaching Green Technology and Providing a Cleaner and Safer Learning Environment
Last week a big shipment arrived at the collision repair program at Butler Community College. It was a new vacuum system for the collision repair program. I know, a vacuum does not sound like much to rave about, but this piece of equipment is going to provide a much cleaner and safer learning environment for the students.
The Eurovac vacuum system will be placed in our one of our storage areas and hose drops will be ran and installed at each work station. This will allow the students to connect an air hose and vacuum line to the tools being used. With all the sanding of paints and fillers and grinding we do, this is going to eliminate much of the dust and dirt in the shop. Not only will this provide a cleaner shop, it will also help produce cleaner paint jobs.
We’re excited to get this hooked up and start using it and to be teaching green technology. One of the first steps towards teaching green technology was when we started using Aquabase paint last year ago. This is a waterborne paint system owned by PPG. Waterborne paint produces less volatile organic compounds (VOC). VOC’s is what ends up polluting our environment and is what the EPA is concerned about.
A greener training facility is awesome, but the color matches waterborne paint has is amazing. The color matches have been more accurate, which requires less time tinting and/or blending paint. The Aquabase system also eliminates the need for a paint mixing system that agitates the paint, which saves time.
With or without the green factor, it has been a positive experience moving this direction. Less dust flying around cleaner paint jobs, and better paint matches is what I see beneficial. A cleaner and safer learning environment is an added bonus for teaching green technology.