A panel beater works with sheet metal.
A bodyworker is a person who specializes in auto body repair. Restoring body panels to their original shape after a collision is a task for a bodybuilder. Many jobs, like repairing damaged chrome finishes and aluminum grilles, are difficult for even an experienced panel beater. Collision work is the primary task of a panel beater, although many workers in this occupation choose to forego the collision repair aspect of the job and focus solely on restoration.
A panel beater may need to be adept at cutting and welding with an oxy-acetylene torch.
Usually required to work as an apprentice for several years, a panelist is trained in many trades to do their job better. Welding, metalworking, and painting techniques are just a few of the many repair methods a panel beater must master. A good auto body repair technician should also possess some basic auto mechanic traits. Oftentimes, car body panels must be removed from the vehicle to work.
Bodyworkers specialize in body repairs performed on a vehicle as a result of a collision.
A panel beater’s skills aren’t just limited to cars. Many people specialize in motorcycles, exotic vehicles, and even airplanes. It is very important for an auto body repair technician to have an understanding of alloys, as most aircraft are exclusively clad in aluminum. Working with an English wheel, a machining tool that forms smooth curves in sheet metal, is a skill that anyone who wants to become an auto body repairer must master.
Cutting, brazing, and oxy-acetylene torch welding are also very useful skills for a repairman. A body technician uses both his hands and his eyes. Being able to detect when a body panel is correct is a skill that must be learned through repeated trial and error. Working with a hammer and trolley, a good panel beater can stretch and shrink metal body panels and make dents virtually impossible to spot.
Steel and aluminum are not the only materials that a bodybuilder must master. Fiberglass and composites like carbon fiber and plastic are also used to create body panels. Work with body mass, different adhesives and fiberglass must be mastered to obtain certification. Disposal methods and treatment of toxic waste are also certification test areas.
One of the biggest expenses of a panel mixer is the tools. Special hammers, cutters, and grinders are required, along with many other specialized tools in the field. Safety gear such as goggles and coveralls are also required, along with gloves and boots. One of the benefits of a long apprenticeship is that it gives a new panelist time to purchase all the equipment needed for the job.