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BODY SHOP HAZARDS: MIXING PAINT

Body shop hazards Body shop hazards exist in every body shop. When body shops paint vehicles, the workers have to use a paint mixing station to get specific colors. There are many different types of chemicals present in materials such as primers, sealants, catalysts, hardeners, additives, pigments, solvents, and isocyanates (highly reactive, low molecular weight chemicals). Most of these substances are toxic, and exposure to them can be hazardous to health. Isocyanates are the leading cause of occupational asthma in the United States.

According to OSHA, workers in auto body shops are exposed to a variety of chemical and physical hazards. Chemical hazards may include paints, fillers and solvents from spray painting operations; silica from sandblasting operations; dusts from sanding; and metal fumes from welding and cutting. Continue reading BODY SHOP HAZARDS: MIXING PAINT

Air Compressors

7517 air compressorCompressed air may not sound very important to most people but it is life’s blood of a collision repair facility due to the fact that most of the tools that are used to repair, paint and finish a vehicle are powered by compressed air. Many shops have more technicians than their compressor can supply which causes delays and lost productivity.  Higher end shops are leaning toward the Rotary Screw Compressors due to the higher duty cycles.

When deciding on a new compressor for your shop you can use a simple formula to calculate the required CFM (cubic feet per minute).  Collision Repair Facilities will need 8 CFM per Technician and Automotive Repair Facilities will require 5 CFM per Tech.  Some shops may require more or less air so this should be considered as a guideline.

It is also a good idea to run more than one compressor so that your shop could operate on a limited capacity  rather come to a full stop if you happen encounter compressor problems.

Need an Air Compressor? Check out ToolsUSA’s full line of compressors here.

Have you ‘Visited’ your auto body shop lately?

Interior of Messy Car Repair ShopImproving Your Auto Body Shop & Increasing Your Profits
by: Tracy Beach

One of the things I like most about my job is that I get to see our products in action.  When I am visiting a shop to see specific products, I also get a perspective of processes and the overall professionalism of the shop. Over the past several months I have made several observations that seem obvious to a visitor but went unnoticed by the shop team that was there every day.  The following notes are not intended as ‘Duh’ comments, but as simple things that can make a shop more professional and profitable.

Warning: some of these are going to make you say, “Isn’t that obvious?” Yes, but in our everyday lives, not seeing what is obvious to a visitor can slow productivity, decrease quality and decrease safety.

Continue reading Have you ‘Visited’ your auto body shop lately?

Which air compressor is right for you?

Project2 (8155)For most shops, having an air compressor is a necessity. If you’re in the market for a compressor, make sure the air compressor you choose is the right one for your business and that it will meet all the requirements you need. With dozens of manufacturers to choose from, Tools USA only sells the most reputable and well-known brands. We stand by their products and they all have a 1-year parts warranty.

Whether you are going to use it occasionally or on a daily basis, there are several factors to consider. Tank size, configuration, horsepower and required CFM’s are important to think about.

Should you choose a vertical or horizontal unit? The configuration of the air compressor is important. Air compressor tanks vary widely in size, so it’s important to think about how you will be using it to determine the size you’ll need. Tools that work in short bursts—an impact wrench, for example—work well with a small tank. Tools that continuously use air such as grinders, spray guns and sand blasters will require a larger tank. If you can’t decide, be safe and go with the one with the larger tank.

As tank size increases, so does the overall size of the compressor.  If you want a big tank but have space concerns, consider a vertical tank instead of a horizontal model. To conserve space, a vertical compressor can be a big bonus when compared to a horizontal unit.

How much power do you need? The CFM and PSI ratings indicate which tools a compressor can operate. Make sure the compressor can supply the amount of air and pressure for your tools. Select a compressor that exceeds the CFM requirement of your most powerful air tool. For example, air hammers, die grinders, drills and ratchets require 4.0 CFM and around 90 PSI. High-speed grinders require 8.0 CFM while sanders are around 6- 7.5 CFM.

Air compressor motors range from simple 110-volt, 1/2-horsepower jobs all the way up to three-phase, 220-240-volt with 25+ horsepower. The electrical service available to your shop dictates the largest compressor you can install. The electricity used in industrial settings is generally three-phase power.

Learn how to choose the right size compressor from Industrial Gold.

Once you have decided the right compressor for you, maintaining it is extremely important. Just like changing the oil in your car. Daily usage and vibration of compressors can cause the fittings and bolts to loosen and should be checked when your compressor is serviced. Here are some other preventative measures you should take:


Daily:
Drain moisture from the tank
Weekly:  Check the pump oil level and top off if necessary
Quarterly: Change oil and filter, check condition and alignment of belt, flywheel and motor pulley, check operation of the safety valve, check pressure switch unloader to ensure the compressor unloads when the motor shuts down and clean dirt and dust from the pump fins and motor.
Every 2,000 Hours: Lubricate electric motor, Inspect and replace (as necessary) the pump valves, check valves, safety valves, pressure gauge, and belt(s).

Why is Industrial Gold one of the manufacturers we choose to offer our clients? We like that they are family-owned and operated since 1996 and they build all of their products with same level of pride and commitment that they started their business with. They make the simplest to operate, easiest to maintain and most reliable compressors on the market today. Simply put, they make a quality compressor at a great price and Tools USA is happy to offer the full line to our customers.

What Does Your Parking Lot Look Like?

car lotWinter is over and the cars damaged due to icy and snowy driving may have your parking lot in overflow mode.  People are ready to have their vehicles repaired and get ready for the nice cruising weather ahead. When there is plenty of work coming your way, you may think you don’t have time for anything else…. but now is the precise time when you should be investing in your shop for even more work down the road.

Ask yourself these checklist questions to make sure your shop is in optimal working mode:

  1. Is your frame straightening equipment working well, or will it hamper the work to be done?
  2. How about the hydraulic equipment and frame machine pulling clamps devices?
  3. Is your spray booth clean and efficient?
  4. Are you painting without a booth?
  5. Do you need another spray booth?
  6. How about smaller items like air compressors, paint mixing rooms, clamps and chains, frame measuring tools and sanding disks?

The best time to invest in your shop is when it you have plenty of work and cash flow coming through the door.  Make plans to improve the productivity and quality of your work NOW, when you don’t need to get a loan or settle for cheaper equipment.

Improving your shop when your competitor down the street doesn’t has a long-lasting impact on the profitability and survivability of your shop. We want to see you busy and in business for a long time to come. Let us help you today.

Sure, you can go with the cheapest deal you find online.

Frame Machine, Chassis Machine, Frame Straightener or whatever you want to call them!  In recent years, frame machine choices, prices and quality have changed immensely due to the ever-growing Internet.

The Internet has changed the frame machine market, with one- and two-man operations giving the impression that they are bigger than they are. They want the customer to think that they are viable, multi-location, well-staffed companies.  How can you tell when you’re shopping online, anyway?

With lower-priced import machines flooding the market, who you purchase from is as important, if not more, than what you buy.  You need to research the company that you are planning to purchase from to find out how long the company has been in business, how many employees they have, what type of facility they are operating from, and what level of customer service you can expect.

Sure, you can go with the cheapest deal you find online. But what you will get is very poor quality from an unreliable company. These companies don’t last long, and when they shut down how will you find replacement parts, contact customer service or get product support?

Remember the golden rule, you get what you pay for! Pay the little bit more to get a good machine from a quality company that will stand the test of time in your shop.

Tools USA has been a leader in the industry since 1979, you can trust that we will sell you a quality machine and be here for the many years that it will last you! Read More about Us!

Measuring; Before & After

Allvis in UseCollision repair shops both large and small need accurate measuring capabilities in order to return a customer’s vehicle to pre-crash condition.

The Allvis Computerized Measuring System offers simple, technician-friendly measuring with the capability to print before and after repair reports.The system saves the work orders as JPEG files, making it easy to pull them up in the future. At a price that is affordable to the smaller shop and attractive to the large multi-tech shop, this system offers you a simple, speedy operation.

With the Allvis System shops can meet the print out requirements of many insurance companies to qualify for DRP status, without the $35000 investment.  The Allvis Systems are the most practical , technician friendly systems available.  Any technician regardless of experience can measure, register and print using the Allvis systems.

Buy Before January 1st to Save Thousands.

It’s December already, can you believe it? Where does a year go? With the year coming to a close, you may hear a lot about “Section 179” and how you’re business can benefit if you are looking to purchase some equipment before 2013.

We get just as confused as the next guy when you start talking “tax rate”, “deductions” and “depreciation”. We thought we would do a little research and try to explain how this could be a HUGE benefit to small businesses.

When we say ‘equipment’, we mean any large purchase you buy to benefit your business. Some examples: a paint booth to help your productivity, a car lift to increase your repair business or a frame machine for the busy winter months. If your business needs it to increase business and it’s an ‘investment’, it is most likely included in this category.

You can even finance it in 2013, but write it off in 2012 and save thousands.

So, section179 is what exactly? It’s an incentive created by the U.S. government to encourage businesses to buy equipment and invest in themselves. Essentially, Section 179 of the IRS tax code allows businesses to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment purchased (or financed) during the tax year. Wow! The FULL PURCHASE PRICE will be deducted from your gross income. (As long as the total purchase price is less than 139,000.) Continue reading Buy Before January 1st to Save Thousands.

COMPUTERIZED MEASURING SYSTEMS

Vehicles are fighting to become the best in their feature offerings. Technology is bringing more and more “hands-free” this and “touch-screen” that…. It seems that we will soon have cars that can even think on their own! With all of these techy gadgets and time-saving devices comes a higher chance of damaging something in just a minor collision. Gone are the days where it was just a “fender bender” … a little bump affects the car’s core and all of these modern devices.

Many times, the extent of the damages is not discovered until the repairs have begun…. dragging out the repair time, raising the repair costs and causing frustration in customers.

In a world full of technology, customers and insurance companies expect more than repairs based on strings, tape measures or basic old fashioned measuring systems.  So, what is the solution? Computerized electronic measuring systems offer tremendous accuracy and will detect damage that visual inspections miss. With this technology, shops are able to compare each measurement to the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications and display any difference, enabling the technician to make needed adjustments. As an added bonus, they provide the proper repair documentation required by most insurance companies.

Until recently, these systems were out of reach for the small and mid-size shops due to the high price tag ($25,000 to $40,000).  Not only where they pricey, but so complicated that it required extensive training, limiting the number of technicians that could actually use the system. With this added training and the regular software updates, thousands of dollars were added to the lifetime cost of these system.
Continue reading COMPUTERIZED MEASURING SYSTEMS

FABTECH 2010

Tools USA and Paint-Booths will be attending FABTECH 2010.  FABTECH is North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, finishing and welding event with over 1,000 exhibiting companies.

FABTECH
FABTECH Location

FABTECH 2010
Georgia World Congress Center
Atlanta, Georgia
November 2-4, 2010
https://www.fabtechexpo.com/

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