Understanding the Skill of a Professional Panel Beater

If you've been unfortunate enough to have been involved in an automobile accident, the most important thing is that everybody involved is safe. Of course, there may be a lot of damage done to your vehicle, but it's only an inanimate object, and it can be repaired. In fact, this is your next task as you get in touch with a panel beater and take the vehicle in for them to work their magic. If you've ever wondered how they achieve their goals, it pays to have an understanding of the tools and techniques they use.

Pure Proficiency

While the term 'panel beater' suggests somebody who simply uses brute force, nothing could be further from the truth. These individuals are typically very experienced and have learned the hard way how to work efficiently to come up with the perfect solution. As with any self-respecting engineer, they will have their own set of tools which they will guard with their life, and you would be amazed at the array of individual pieces available to be used on the average job.

The Basic Approach

Certainly, much of the work will centre around a set of hammers and dollies. Most people are familiar with hammers, but not necessarily the type of hammer used in this situation. Each one has a different-shaped head and will be used in a very specific operation. The dolly is the counter to the hammer and will typically be set behind the panel to offset the force used by the hammer when it is applied.

Sometimes, the technician will not be able to access the rear of the panel because it has been damaged so much, and in this case, they may need a slide hammer to help pull the dent out. They will first of all drill a hole into the panel and insert a self-tapper fitting, to which they will attach the slide hammer and gradually pull the dent out.

Skills on Display

Proficiency is everything when combining a hammer and dolly at the work site. Usually they will sandwich the metal in between the two pieces to get rid of a crease. The dolly itself will be curved to replicate the original look of the panel. Sometimes, the worker will put the dolly to one side of an imperfection and the hammer to another, and this is known as 'off-dolly' work. The objective is the same and the panel will be pushed back to its original state, but in this case, the dolly will be stabilising the panel and not forming it, as such.

Scheduling the Visit

As you can see, there is a tremendous amount of skill involved, and the engineer needs a box full of tools for even the smallest job. So, now that you have a better appreciation for their work, find the most skilled panel beater in your area to help return your car to its original state.

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