WANT TO GET STARTED IN THIS REWARDING CAREER but not sure where to start? Check out my CAREER ADVICE playlist on my channel. A great resource for answering your most common questions! Playlist link: th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=TljlRCYoGTugDROg Thanks for watching! Comment down below if you have any questions. I’d love to hear from you. - Garrett
@@AdamHerzallah Good like kidda it’s a class trade to get into if you’re going to the right body shop just be eager ask to look around and talk to some of the people who work there. Ask about what they’re doing and how they do it to show you’re interested and build the conversation up from there. Be friendly and smile and always, always shake thier fucking hand! Everyone you meet!
It’s a great way to make a living! Thank you very much for watching. I have an auto body/ paint playlist on my channel, if you’re interested in seeing more videos check them out! - Garrett / SLA’S GARAGE
For those of you searching for the song at 8:45, it's "Ice & Fire" by King Canyon. Thanks for the content and music, Garrett! I enjoyed the window into your world.
Sweet dude! Good luck and welcome to the industry. I’ve made some auto paint career videos all put together in a playlist, check it out by tapping here! th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=dCdKfpHdKMAGQ3-0
I'm 41 and have an interview in this today even though I'm six months away from finishing my business degree I always LOVED physical work and especially I'm a right-minded person.
Wow, now that’s pretty cool! I love stories like this. It’s never too late to change career paths. Check out my auto body and paint career advice playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=7bPfhfhNOMJb8R8a It may answer some questions you have! It can be a very rewarding field but it definitely isn’t for everyone. You could start as an hourly apprentice. Then, once you’re on your own, work your way to a percentage based pay and NOT FLAT RATE! Flat rate pay structure is corrupt! It’s very easy for managers to make flat rate sound so great and enticing. Good luck and let us know what happens! - Garrett / Sla Automotive Art
@@Kim-oh9ng i didnt take the job i got a job working alongside my wife and ill save $500 a month by not riding uber. also they are encoraging me to finish my degree and im probably going into HR there after. im praying it goes right and if it doesnt God will provide.
I’m an Artist and one of my favorite parts of making art is actually the basecoat and I use shimmery paint that is similar to car paint but more mat. I have really struggled in the jobs department, over many years but this looks like something I might have the base skill set/talent. I love cars but am not mechanically gifted. Painting cars I suppose has always been on my mind but I thought I had to be mechanically gifted too.😅 Thanks for posting. It means a lot.😊
Wow, welcome, welcome! Thanks for reaching out. To paint cars, one does not have to be all that mechanically inclined. Being on your toes, working in a fast paced environment, good communication and heavy attention to detail are all items a paint tech needs to excel in. Which, from you have said, sounds like may be a great fit for you. It’s fairly easy to get started in this career, it can be rewarding with great earning potential. Please check out my auto body & paint playlist here: th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=F4XXmCZvPTSEWpFQ This playlist answers many questions on career requirements, experience and job training, how to get started and what steps to specifically take. AND MORE! Good luck with everything, please comment back and keep us updated on your journey if you choose to pursue. - Garrett
@@wagonworks803 Thanks for your reply. I’m probably a few years away from working, my mental health is a priority for now. I am doing overall well but not ready for the workforce quite yet. Having a potential future job that works me is exciting though. Thanks for having a playlist. 😊
I just got an email on Indeed to become an Auto Body Paint Technician which is something I’ve never done before! Just checked out your vid & it seems pretty smooth once you get the system down! Appreciate the day in a life 🔥
That’s great! It can be a very rewarding career however it’s not for everyone. Check out my autobody and paint career advice playlist. Might be able to answer some questions you have through the videos! Whether you want to do auto body or paint, both are great! Playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=7bPfhfhNOMJb8R8a
You’re never too late to start! I created an entire playlist about how to get started in auto body/ paint. Check out some of my videos here! th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=5QGLy3agAztPt0fO I hoped straight into the trade with no experience and no schooling. It was the best decision I made. Try to get your foot in the door at a dealership. They have the best training/ pay, benefits, PPE and more. Check out my auto body paint career advice playlist. Keep us all updated on your progress. Thanks so much for commenting and watching! Best of luck - Garrett / Sla Automotive Art
Thanks for the feedback on the video, hope you enjoyed. Subscribe for more auto body and check out my body & paint playlist for more: th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=F4XXmCZvPTSEWpFQ - Garrett
Hi! I have a question for ya, as a new autobody apprentice! In the paint booth, your spray technique is great. I believe that around 10:15 you're spraying a clear coat? Do you prefer to not wear overspray protection (despite the downdraft) while working with hardeners/isocyanates? Or are you spraying something else? Also, what is your preferred travel speed when spraying clearcoat? I am used to spraying in a horizontal position (from school) but I found you have to be much more heavy handed with clearcoat, and start medium-wet and really lay it on thick for a nice coating. Thanks!
Hey Shannon let me start off by saying thank you for commenting and watching my video. It means A LOT to me that I can show people what I do and encourage them to get into the field. I created this video a little over a year ago when I was a combo auto body paint guy. I was just starting out painting when I made this video! I no longer work at that specific place and have moved to a different place of employment where they have provided me a paint suit and more PPE! (Upcoming video in near future- please subscribe!) To answer your question when spraying clear coat, in the video I was using PPG, DC2021 now at mt current job we spray BASF RM 5335. Both those clears I have had to luck with and are east to work with. RM is a really great high quality clear. I do like to apply medium wet but obviously that doesn’t always happen. Hope all this helps! Let me know if this answers your questions. I do have a video I’ve been working on for over a month now, talking about body and paint work, my experience and day in the life of type video. Stay tuned and please subscribe! Thank you for taking time out of your day to watch and comment. I upload a new video every Wednesday on my 1986 Jeep Grand Wagoneer restoration project! WAGONEER WEDNESDAY’S @ 7PM. Cheers! -Garrett - SLA’S GARAGE
I know this isn't the correct name for it but some people call in a slap spoon or a ding or dinging spoon. I like to use them when I put on a fender or door, see how the gap, fit and finish is looking. Just have to be careful not to scratch fresh paint with it. You can buy them on their own or in a dolly block set usually they come with one. I got that specific one in a dolly block set from eBay I believe. $50 for the whole set two years ago. Thank you for watching my video and commenting!
Hello there! Im currently looking for an automotive apprenticeship ideally as a painter. Is there any advice or recommendations you could give if you dont mind. Also is it possible say for instance you got chosen for the apprenticeship and you lack on there expectation, can they just kick you out or will they support me until im successful? Thank you!
Hey Adam let me start off by saying thanks for watching my video and commenting. To cut right to chase and answer your question, yes, you can start and get into the field as a paint tech helper/ painter helper/ painter apprentice. I started off in this field in 2020 with ZERO knowledge, zero trade school, tech school, college degrees, certifications. Nothing. It is VERY possible to hop right into this field and make GOOD money. I hopped right into it starting out sanding cars at a Maaco, sweeping floors, etc. working my way to collision repair and learning how to paint as well (at a different job at a dealership). If I were to do it all over again, I’d go to a dealership and not an independent shop. No collision shop or dealership are ran the same, however, dealerships have typically offer better benefits for their employees, healthcare, PTO, Paid Training, provided uniforms along with washing and drying service for the uniforms. Nice big, clean, bright, well lit dealership. Go on indeed, monster, start looking for autobody apprentice (just to start off as, to get your foot in the door) or if you’re lucky enough, your area might have a dealership looking for a painter helper. (Typically there is a need for more auto body techs and apprentice than auto painters and helpers). If you have no success, it can be nerve racking, walk into dealer collision centers and tell them you’re looking to get started, you’re eager to learn and willing to do What it takes. Once hired in, it all depends on the management (no matter where you’re at), if they’ll help you succeed if you’re struggling. HOWEVER, MOST places will help you succeed and provide paid training, but you have to make it known you’re willing and eager to learn. I’ve seen apprenticeships and helpers come in, drag their feet, be sick all the time, not care what they do… and get fired. If you act like that, you will get fired. 90% of these shops will help you succeed when getting started. I hope this helps. GOOD LUCK, you can do it! Please let us know what happens, comment back. Please check out my auto body collision and paint career advice playlist. I answer LOTS of questions in all those videos! Thanks much! Good luck. - Garrett COLLISION REPAIR & AUTO PAINT CAREER ADVICE PLAYLIST: th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=-JC5_LHlVF9e_mQs
@wagonworks803 Thank you very much for the response and helpful feedback indeed I strongly appreciate it! Will do, I'll let you know immediately once I've been put in and share my personal experience with such a kind, generous person! Thanks again and we shall chat again! 🙏❤️
I’m gonna go to school for automotive collision. Is there a big difference between a collision tech and a body shop/painting cars ? Obviously one is more concentrated on crashed cars but I want to paint classic cars and learn to restore them. And I feel like collision tech would open the door or teach me everything I need to know
Hey Newmoneymarc, thanks for watching my video and commenting! You ask a good question, I’m going to answer it to the best of my ability. To start, the industry as a whole can be looked at as, 1 being the collision side. And 2, the restoration side. The collision side is what I got into and what I currently do now. To break it down one step further, the collision side consists of 2 departments, body and paint. Collision/ body tech repairs a vehicle back to factory standards. Our job is to repair, replace damaged areas, remove and install parts, welding, as well as suspension work, steering, brakes if necessary. If you’re working a dealership or body shop that deals with very heavy hits, going as far as removing a transmission and or engine can be necessary to make correct repairs. Especially if you’re replacing frame rails. Next, paint department is responsible for, you guessed it, painting. I started out at a Maaco sanding cars and prepping them for paint. No experience prior of any kind. Then moving up for a auto body apprentice, then paint apprentice. I now know how to do both sides. On the other side of it all, there is restoration work, which is not my specialty, but I would like to shift towards one day! From my knowledge, a restoration shop only deals with old, classic vehicles. These shops are set up with MANY different departments. Such as metal working, body & paint, engine and service, interior dept, electrical department and so on. Depending on where you’re located and jobs available, if I were you, I’d go in indeed, see what’s available for an apprentice entry level position at a dealership or restoration shop. Start walking into shops, tell them you’re eager to learn (no one wants to work today so hearing this will be music to the owner’s ears). tell them you’ll do whatever it takes to get started, tell them you’re interested in going to school. Whether or not you go to school for this can be decided later after getting into a shop. I had zero collision experience before starting, zero schooling. It is possible to start with zero. I hope this helps! Comment back and keep us all updated. Thanks for watching, best of luck. - Garrett
@@wagonworks803 Wow thanks for this nice comment. I have a question. When you get your license it is worth to open a small own shop? I know most of the vehicles are in insurance claim so what do you think work with just private vehicles is worth?
Thanks for reaching out! If I could do it all over again, I’d skip the schooling and go straight to a dealership. Dealerships take better care of you, better pay and benefits, more training free of cost usually, unifmorms, better shop environment, a clean well kept shop. I could go on and on! Please check out my collision and paint career advice playlist! Here: CAREER ADVICE ~ COLLISION & PAINT th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html I’ve created a video and dedicated playlist answering common questions and so on! Please take a look at the videos I’ve made covering the career field. Hopefully all of this helps. Good luck! Let us know what happens in your career path. - Garrett / Sla Automotive Art
Honestly, the learning never stops. With new cars coming out all the time, car manufacturers are always changing their designs. As collision tech, we must adaptive to the times and keep learning how to work on these newer vehicles. Check out my auto body and paint career playlist her: th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html Thank you for taking time out of your day for watching and commenting on my video! - Garrett / Sla Automotive Art
My local dealership has an opening for auto body. My concern is my health in the long run. How do you feel about being exposed to paint fumes and dust? I know I sound like a sissy. Thanks anyways.
Definitely something to be cautious about. Wear your PPE, mask, respirator, gloves, ear muffs. Safety glasses if necessary. Try it out, see how you like it. Ps, generally, dealerships do take better care of you, versus small independent shops. They’ll have ppe ready for you, some small shops don’t always like to spend the coin. In my experience that’s what I have found. Good luck!
You’re welcome, thanks for commenting and watching! I have tons of other body work videos on the channel. There’s a body work and paint playlist if you’re interesting in seeing what it’d be like to get into the field. Good luck!
You'd start out as a "painter helper" or painter apprentice. In the US you could make any where from $10-$20 per hour helping and learning the paint trade with no auto paint certificate or education required. When you step up to becoming an automotive painter you can make any where from $50k-$100k per year depending on location and shop you work for. Best of luck! Check out my auto body and paint playlist on my channel for more videos just like this. I'll be releasing more videos, like how to get into the trade whether to attend school or not, what kind of tools you need and more, within the next few weeks. Stay tuned and subscribe! Thank you for watching and commenting! -Garrett / SLA'S GARAGE
@@wagonworks803 I live in Miami Florida 33033 I’m in trade school now for auto body I’ll be done in about a year from now I just want a realistic time line I can set for my future and I got u bro I’ll subscribe lol
Slow down a tad when applying your clear really watch your material lay out.Pull that bag tighter and you will notice less dirt keep up the good work !
Thanks for the tip! I’ll take this into account. Thanks for watching and commenting! Subscribe for more auto body paint and follow my 86 Wagoneer project on the channel! - Garrett / Sla Automotive Art
Hey Richard, thanks for watching and commenting on the vid! I skipped all the school and the debt that comes with it, and went right into a shop sweeping the floors and sanding cars and I never looked back. I’m glad I skipped the schooling and went straight into the shop. Real world experience, paid training, getting paid to learn, all perks of skipping the schooling. Check out my career advice auto body and paint playlist. The videos I created may help and answers some questions you have! Check it out here: th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=7GzYs6lGot1w_lRb Subscribe for more auto body and paint, follow my 86 Wagoneer project on the channel! - Garrett / Sla Automotive Art
@@wagonworks803 nice man my friend did the same kinda they asked him for a job and he good now but I’ll see what I can do to get in but I appreciate your time
No I did not. I started out at a Maaco as a “paint line tech”. I’d sand cars before they’d get to the maskers, the people who taped off the car before it went to the paint booth to be painted. Maaco is a fast pace production shop. After about a year I worked my way up to do collision repair, I got payed to learn. That was my main reason for not going to school. Real world experience is what you need. Since then I’ve moved up to a dealership. Thank you for watching and commenting. It means a lot! -Garrett / SLA’S GARAGE
I worked at a maaco for 20 years doing body work and painting i must say i like the collision dealer ship world much better! To be honest i hated the cobbling up rust work it just worked on my ego on a daily basis.Make sure you try to stay in dealership work you will stay happy.
Hey @johnconnor210 if you’re interested in getting into the field, it’s a great career. However, a lot of HARD, dedicated work is required. Time and patience play a big part in it too, with some big reward to come later $$$. Please check out my auto body paint career advice playlist on the channel. Some of the videos I made, might be able to answer some questions you may have. CAREER ADVICE ~ COLLISION & PAINT th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html Please let me know if this helps and if you have any questions, right me back here. Best of luck! - Garrett / Sla Automotive Art
wish the body shop i worked at looked this clean and relaxing, i got the dirty shop with a couple angry techs day to day. 😂 grumpy techs --> oh i should quit i hate my life blah blah blah.. for fuck sakes where's that god damn tool
I can relate, the first shop I started at was just like that. Very dirty and nasty. Every shop is different, it can make or break you. To anyone reading if you’re in a shop that isn’t all that great, there’s better out there. Good luck!
I have the opportunity to buy a Auto Body & Paint business. I would love to ask you if you would be able to help me with some questions or tips before buying it? I would appreciate it! 🙏🏻
You can hop right into a shop like I did, with no experience, as an apprentice. Check out my auto body and paint career advice playlist here: th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=7bPfhfhNOMJb8R8a Thanks for watching and commenting! Subscribe for auto body and paint! - Garrett / Sla Automotive Art
WANT TO GET STARTED IN THIS REWARDING CAREER but not sure where to start? Check out my CAREER ADVICE playlist on my channel. A great resource for answering your most common questions! Playlist link: th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=TljlRCYoGTugDROg Thanks for watching! Comment down below if you have any questions. I’d love to hear from you.
- Garrett
Just got an apprenticeship doing this found out today‼️‼️
Congrats and good luck! I have a playlist on the channel dedicated to auto body and paint career advice, check it out. Best of luck!
- Garrett
@@wagonworks803 Thank you so much! I’ll make sure to have a look. I appreciate the kind words 😁
i got an interview for an apprenticeship and im 17 wish me luck!
@@AdamHerzallah Good like kidda it’s a class trade to get into if you’re going to the right body shop just be eager ask to look around and talk to some of the people who work there. Ask about what they’re doing and how they do it to show you’re interested and build the conversation up from there. Be friendly and smile and always, always shake thier fucking hand! Everyone you meet!
@@SyrIllz will do, thanks for the advice!
I'm thinking about getting into an automotive career because I detail my car at my own home every month as I learn something on my own.
It’s a great way to make a living! Thank you very much for watching. I have an auto body/ paint playlist on my channel, if you’re interested in seeing more videos check them out!
- Garrett / SLA’S GARAGE
For those of you searching for the song at 8:45, it's "Ice & Fire" by King Canyon. Thanks for the content and music, Garrett! I enjoyed the window into your world.
Super appreciative for you watching and commenting 😁
Start my painters apprenticeship at a collision body shop tmr! Wish me luck on this journey
Sweet dude! Good luck and welcome to the industry. I’ve made some auto paint career videos all put together in a playlist, check it out by tapping here! th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=dCdKfpHdKMAGQ3-0
I finished college for collision repair a couple years ago..hard to find work and ended up in detail. Still working to get where you are
Fuck a job start working and reflipping your own cars!
I'm 41 and have an interview in this today even though I'm six months away from finishing my business degree I always LOVED physical work and especially I'm a right-minded person.
Wow, now that’s pretty cool! I love stories like this. It’s never too late to change career paths. Check out my auto body and paint career advice playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=7bPfhfhNOMJb8R8a
It may answer some questions you have! It can be a very rewarding field but it definitely isn’t for everyone. You could start as an hourly apprentice. Then, once you’re on your own, work your way to a percentage based pay and NOT FLAT RATE! Flat rate pay structure is corrupt! It’s very easy for managers to make flat rate sound so great and enticing. Good luck and let us know what happens!
- Garrett / Sla Automotive Art
so any updates?
@@Kim-oh9ng i didnt take the job i got a job working alongside my wife and ill save $500 a month by not riding uber. also they are encoraging me to finish my degree and im probably going into HR there after.
im praying it goes right and if it doesnt God will provide.
tack cloth is a must
I’m starting as a dismantler in a collision shop and than a apprenticeship
I’m an Artist and one of my favorite parts of making art is actually the basecoat and I use shimmery paint that is similar to car paint but more mat. I have really struggled in the jobs department, over many years but this looks like something I might have the base skill set/talent. I love cars but am not mechanically gifted. Painting cars I suppose has always been on my mind but I thought I had to be mechanically gifted too.😅 Thanks for posting. It means a lot.😊
Wow, welcome, welcome! Thanks for reaching out. To paint cars, one does not have to be all that mechanically inclined. Being on your toes, working in a fast paced environment, good communication and heavy attention to detail are all items a paint tech needs to excel in. Which, from you have said, sounds like may be a great fit for you. It’s fairly easy to get started in this career, it can be rewarding with great earning potential. Please check out my auto body & paint playlist here: th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=F4XXmCZvPTSEWpFQ
This playlist answers many questions on career requirements, experience and job training, how to get started and what steps to specifically take. AND MORE! Good luck with everything, please comment back and keep us updated on your journey if you choose to pursue.
- Garrett
@@wagonworks803 Thanks for your reply. I’m probably a few years away from working, my mental health is a priority for now. I am doing overall well but not ready for the workforce quite yet. Having a potential future job that works me is exciting though. Thanks for having a playlist. 😊
I just got an email on Indeed to become an Auto Body Paint Technician which is something I’ve never done before! Just checked out your vid & it seems pretty smooth once you get the system down! Appreciate the day in a life 🔥
That’s great! It can be a very rewarding career however it’s not for everyone. Check out my autobody and paint career advice playlist. Might be able to answer some questions you have through the videos! Whether you want to do auto body or paint, both are great! Playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=7bPfhfhNOMJb8R8a
Good luck! Let us all know what ends of happening!
- Garrett / Sla Automotive Art
@@wagonworks803 I will still tap into those vids even tho I wasn’t able to get the position.
@@wagonworks803 I ended up getting a job as a delivery associate at Amazon for momentarily just to get sum $ in my pocket ‼️
That’s a great gig, congrats and good luck!
I know I’m about a year late on this but I’m thinking about becoming a body tech after high school. Any advice on how to do so?
You’re never too late to start! I created an entire playlist about how to get started in auto body/ paint. Check out some of my videos here! th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=5QGLy3agAztPt0fO I hoped straight into the trade with no experience and no schooling. It was the best decision I made. Try to get your foot in the door at a dealership. They have the best training/ pay, benefits, PPE and more. Check out my auto body paint career advice playlist. Keep us all updated on your progress. Thanks so much for commenting and watching! Best of luck
- Garrett / Sla Automotive Art
Good job guy. Very nice.
Thanks for the feedback on the video, hope you enjoyed. Subscribe for more auto body and check out my body & paint playlist for more: th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=F4XXmCZvPTSEWpFQ
- Garrett
Hi! I have a question for ya, as a new autobody apprentice! In the paint booth, your spray technique is great. I believe that around 10:15 you're spraying a clear coat? Do you prefer to not wear overspray protection (despite the downdraft) while working with hardeners/isocyanates? Or are you spraying something else?
Also, what is your preferred travel speed when spraying clearcoat? I am used to spraying in a horizontal position (from school) but I found you have to be much more heavy handed with clearcoat, and start medium-wet and really lay it on thick for a nice coating.
Thanks!
Hey Shannon let me start off by saying thank you for commenting and watching my video. It means A LOT to me that I can show people what I do and encourage them to get into the field. I created this video a little over a year ago when I was a combo auto body paint guy. I was just starting out painting when I made this video! I no longer work at that specific place and have moved to a different place of employment where they have provided me a paint suit and more PPE! (Upcoming video in near future- please subscribe!) To answer your question when spraying clear coat, in the video I was using PPG, DC2021 now at mt current job we spray BASF RM 5335. Both those clears I have had to luck with and are east to work with. RM is a really great high quality clear. I do like to apply medium wet but obviously that doesn’t always happen. Hope all this helps! Let me know if this answers your questions. I do have a video I’ve been working on for over a month now, talking about body and paint work, my experience and day in the life of type video. Stay tuned and please subscribe! Thank you for taking time out of your day to watch and comment. I upload a new video every Wednesday on my 1986 Jeep Grand Wagoneer restoration project! WAGONEER WEDNESDAY’S @ 7PM. Cheers! -Garrett - SLA’S GARAGE
What was that gapping tool u used when putting on the fender?
I know this isn't the correct name for it but some people call in a slap spoon or a ding or dinging spoon. I like to use them when I put on a fender or door, see how the gap, fit and finish is looking. Just have to be careful not to scratch fresh paint with it. You can buy them on their own or in a dolly block set usually they come with one. I got that specific one in a dolly block set from eBay I believe. $50 for the whole set two years ago. Thank you for watching my video and commenting!
Hello there!
Im currently looking for an automotive apprenticeship ideally as a painter. Is there any advice or recommendations you could give if you dont mind. Also is it possible say for instance you got chosen for the apprenticeship and you lack on there expectation, can they just kick you out or will they support me until im successful? Thank you!
Hey Adam let me start off by saying thanks for watching my video and commenting. To cut right to chase and answer your question, yes, you can start and get into the field as a paint tech helper/ painter helper/ painter apprentice. I started off in this field in 2020 with ZERO knowledge, zero trade school, tech school, college degrees, certifications. Nothing. It is VERY possible to hop right into this field and make GOOD money. I hopped right into it starting out sanding cars at a Maaco, sweeping floors, etc. working my way to collision repair and learning how to paint as well (at a different job at a dealership). If I were to do it all over again, I’d go to a dealership and not an independent shop. No collision shop or dealership are ran the same, however, dealerships have typically offer better benefits for their employees, healthcare, PTO, Paid Training, provided uniforms along with washing and drying service for the uniforms. Nice big, clean, bright, well lit dealership. Go on indeed, monster, start looking for autobody apprentice (just to start off as, to get your foot in the door) or if you’re lucky enough, your area might have a dealership looking for a painter helper. (Typically there is a need for more auto body techs and apprentice than auto painters and helpers). If you have no success, it can be nerve racking, walk into dealer collision centers and tell them you’re looking to get started, you’re eager to learn and willing to do What it takes. Once hired in, it all depends on the management (no matter where you’re at), if they’ll help you succeed if you’re struggling. HOWEVER, MOST places will help you succeed and provide paid training, but you have to make it known you’re willing and eager to learn. I’ve seen apprenticeships and helpers come in, drag their feet, be sick all the time, not care what they do… and get fired. If you act like that, you will get fired. 90% of these shops will help you succeed when getting started. I hope this helps. GOOD LUCK, you can do it! Please let us know what happens, comment back. Please check out my auto body collision and paint career advice playlist. I answer LOTS of questions in all those videos! Thanks much! Good luck.
- Garrett
COLLISION REPAIR & AUTO PAINT CAREER ADVICE PLAYLIST:
th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=-JC5_LHlVF9e_mQs
@wagonworks803 Thank you very much for the response and helpful feedback indeed I strongly appreciate it!
Will do, I'll let you know immediately once I've been put in and share my personal experience with such a kind, generous person!
Thanks again and we shall chat again!
🙏❤️
I’m gonna go to school for automotive collision. Is there a big difference between a collision tech and a body shop/painting cars ? Obviously one is more concentrated on crashed cars but I want to paint classic cars and learn to restore them. And I feel like collision tech would open the door or teach me everything I need to know
Hey Newmoneymarc, thanks for watching my video and commenting! You ask a good question, I’m going to answer it to the best of my ability. To start, the industry as a whole can be looked at as, 1 being the collision side. And 2, the restoration side. The collision side is what I got into and what I currently do now. To break it down one step further, the collision side consists of 2 departments, body and paint. Collision/ body tech repairs a vehicle back to factory standards. Our job is to repair, replace damaged areas, remove and install parts, welding, as well as suspension work, steering, brakes if necessary. If you’re working a dealership or body shop that deals with very heavy hits, going as far as removing a transmission and or engine can be necessary to make correct repairs. Especially if you’re replacing frame rails. Next, paint department is responsible for, you guessed it, painting. I started out at a Maaco sanding cars and prepping them for paint. No experience prior of any kind. Then moving up for a auto body apprentice, then paint apprentice. I now know how to do both sides. On the other side of it all, there is restoration work, which is not my specialty, but I would like to shift towards one day! From my knowledge, a restoration shop only deals with old, classic vehicles. These shops are set up with MANY different departments. Such as metal working, body & paint, engine and service, interior dept, electrical department and so on. Depending on where you’re located and jobs available, if I were you, I’d go in indeed, see what’s available for an apprentice entry level position at a dealership or restoration shop. Start walking into shops, tell them you’re eager to learn (no one wants to work today so hearing this will be music to the owner’s ears). tell them you’ll do whatever it takes to get started, tell them you’re interested in going to school. Whether or not you go to school for this can be decided later after getting into a shop. I had zero collision experience before starting, zero schooling. It is possible to start with zero. I hope this helps! Comment back and keep us all updated. Thanks for watching, best of luck.
- Garrett
Check out my CAREER ADVICE playlist on the channel! th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=TljlRCYoGTugDROg
@@wagonworks803
Wow thanks for this nice comment.
I have a question. When you get your license it is worth to open a small own shop?
I know most of the vehicles are in insurance claim so what do you think work with just private vehicles is worth?
Is it better to work as in a dealership or bodyshop as a rookie 😅
Just weighing my options rn as im a student as a auto body tech currently
Thanks for reaching out! If I could do it all over again, I’d skip the schooling and go straight to a dealership. Dealerships take better care of you, better pay and benefits, more training free of cost usually, unifmorms, better shop environment, a clean well kept shop. I could go on and on! Please check out my collision and paint career advice playlist! Here: CAREER ADVICE ~ COLLISION & PAINT
th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html I’ve created a video and dedicated playlist answering common questions and so on! Please take a look at the videos I’ve made covering the career field. Hopefully all of this helps. Good luck! Let us know what happens in your career path.
- Garrett / Sla Automotive Art
How long does it take to learn body shop?
Honestly, the learning never stops. With new cars coming out all the time, car manufacturers are always changing their designs. As collision tech, we must adaptive to the times and keep learning how to work on these newer vehicles. Check out my auto body and paint career playlist her: th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html Thank you for taking time out of your day for watching and commenting on my video!
- Garrett / Sla Automotive Art
My local dealership has an opening for auto body. My concern is my health in the long run. How do you feel about being exposed to paint fumes and dust?
I know I sound like a sissy. Thanks anyways.
All the guys I work with are in their 50-60 still working everyday strong as hell
Definitely something to be cautious about. Wear your PPE, mask, respirator, gloves, ear muffs. Safety glasses if necessary. Try it out, see how you like it. Ps, generally, dealerships do take better care of you, versus small independent shops. They’ll have ppe ready for you, some small shops don’t always like to spend the coin. In my experience that’s what I have found. Good luck!
@@wagonworks803 Thanks!
@@puresilver5071 Yup. Most of the painters that I see sick are the ones that used a t shirt as a mask when painting.
You’re welcome, thanks for commenting and watching! I have tons of other body work videos on the channel. There’s a body work and paint playlist if you’re interesting in seeing what it’d be like to get into the field. Good luck!
Keep the vids coming!!
Thanks a lot! More to come
It looks interesting maybe 🤔 im going to try to study the career
Check out my collision repair playlist video for more videos just like this one
What u got on the iwata lph400 1.3 or 1.4 tip ? ....u ever tried the prolite te10 for basecoat??
1.4 I believe. No I haven't. You recommend?
what psi do u spray base or clear with the pro lite te20 air cap
It’s been awhile since I used that gun I think 10 psi base 15clear
What’s the salary of a starting auto body man per year specifically a painter ?
Depends where you located for example if you want to work at San Diego CA it’s going to be per hour $26.00 it’s a example or per year $50,00 or idk
You'd start out as a "painter helper" or painter apprentice. In the US you could make any where from $10-$20 per hour helping and learning the paint trade with no auto paint certificate or education required. When you step up to becoming an automotive painter you can make any where from $50k-$100k per year depending on location and shop you work for. Best of luck! Check out my auto body and paint playlist on my channel for more videos just like this. I'll be releasing more videos, like how to get into the trade whether to attend school or not, what kind of tools you need and more, within the next few weeks. Stay tuned and subscribe! Thank you for watching and commenting! -Garrett / SLA'S GARAGE
@@wagonworks803 I live in Miami Florida 33033 I’m in trade school now for auto body I’ll be done in about a year from now I just want a realistic time line I can set for my future and I got u bro I’ll subscribe lol
Awesome man! How do you like the trade school? I didn’t go to school or anything for auto body and paint. I started as helpers
@@wagonworks803 Been doing Bodywork 40 yrs in Michigan 52.000 a year Hourly
Do they teach you how to wrap cars as well in collision repair school?
I would think some schools do offer this education. You’d have to do some research to find out for sure. Thanks for you watching and commenting!
I go to collision school at Wyotech 👍
Slow down a tad when applying your clear really watch your material lay out.Pull that bag tighter and you will notice less dirt keep up the good work !
Thanks for the tip! I’ll take this into account. Thanks for watching and commenting! Subscribe for more auto body paint and follow my 86 Wagoneer project on the channel!
- Garrett / Sla Automotive Art
What program or courses I gotta take to be in this position you in ?
Hey Richard, thanks for watching and commenting on the vid! I skipped all the school and the debt that comes with it, and went right into a shop sweeping the floors and sanding cars and I never looked back. I’m glad I skipped the schooling and went straight into the shop. Real world experience, paid training, getting paid to learn, all perks of skipping the schooling. Check out my career advice auto body and paint playlist. The videos I created may help and answers some questions you have! Check it out here: th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=7GzYs6lGot1w_lRb
Subscribe for more auto body and paint, follow my 86 Wagoneer project on the channel!
- Garrett / Sla Automotive Art
@@wagonworks803 nice man my friend did the same kinda they asked him for a job and he good now but I’ll see what I can do to get in but I appreciate your time
Did you go to body repair school?
No I did not. I started out at a Maaco as a “paint line tech”. I’d sand cars before they’d get to the maskers, the people who taped off the car before it went to the paint booth to be painted. Maaco is a fast pace production shop. After about a year I worked my way up to do collision repair, I got payed to learn. That was my main reason for not going to school. Real world experience is what you need. Since then I’ve moved up to a dealership. Thank you for watching and commenting. It means a lot!
-Garrett / SLA’S GARAGE
I worked at a maaco for 20 years doing body work and painting i must say i like the collision dealer ship world much better! To be honest i hated the cobbling up rust work it just worked on my ego on a daily basis.Make sure you try to stay in dealership work you will stay happy.
Dealerships are waaaay better. I worked at a Maaco just for two short years. In my opinion, dealerships have a better environment.
Is the salary good for a body shop tech?
Hey @johnconnor210 if you’re interested in getting into the field, it’s a great career. However, a lot of HARD, dedicated work is required. Time and patience play a big part in it too, with some big reward to come later $$$. Please check out my auto body paint career advice playlist on the channel. Some of the videos I made, might be able to answer some questions you may have. CAREER ADVICE ~ COLLISION & PAINT
th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html Please let me know if this helps and if you have any questions, right me back here. Best of luck!
- Garrett / Sla Automotive Art
Hi bro
wish the body shop i worked at looked this clean and relaxing, i got the dirty shop with a couple angry techs day to day. 😂 grumpy techs --> oh i should quit i hate my life blah blah blah.. for fuck sakes where's that god damn tool
I can relate, the first shop I started at was just like that. Very dirty and nasty. Every shop is different, it can make or break you. To anyone reading if you’re in a shop that isn’t all that great, there’s better out there. Good luck!
You need an air-makeup system. Remember most of the dirt comes off your body.
Do you recommend any specific air-makeup system? Thanks for watching
- Garrett
I have the opportunity to buy a Auto Body & Paint business. I would love to ask you if you would be able to help me with some questions or tips before buying it? I would appreciate it! 🙏🏻
This is something I lack expertise in as I am just a tech. Did you end up buying it?
How to learn this profession from zero?
You can hop right into a shop like I did, with no experience, as an apprentice. Check out my auto body and paint career advice playlist here: th-cam.com/play/PLL-HJjKvWes5uoihbiWo6EGh_DobmNDgu.html&si=7bPfhfhNOMJb8R8a
Thanks for watching and commenting! Subscribe for auto body and paint!
- Garrett / Sla Automotive Art