Switching To Water Borne Paint - The Transition To Green

College classes were canceled today at Butler Community College due to a snow storm. However, training continues for the collision repair program. Well, for the instructor, not the students.

Our advisory board members recommended that we teach our students how to spray water borne at our last meeting. Therefore, today I traveled to Kansas City, Missouri to learn more about water borne paint at the PPG training center. After learning more about the benefits that water borne paint offers, I agree with your advisory board; water borne will benefit the students and the environment to make the switch. Therefore, I spoke with Steven Johnson, the PPG territory manager, and discussed the necessary steps it will take to switch to water borne. It may take a little time, but Butler is on board of making the switch, which will help Butler be a more environmentally friendly college.

Butler is offering a class for other instructors in the state of Kansas to discuss the water borne transition in April. We'll give you more details about the class and about water borne paint so check back.

Since we're talking about going green, did you see the green police commercial during Super Bowl 2010? If not, here it is below.

Adding Not Included Operations To Your Auto Estimates

First Year Students
The first year students are currently learning how to write auto repair estimates. One of the things we are focusing on is not-included items. The reason this is important is because many estimators in the industry are missing a lot of the not-included items. After researching and asking the industry for feedback from different websites like collision hub, I decided to focus more on the not-included items this year.

Second Year Students
The second year students are performing a lot of live work this semester. They need to understand the basics thoroughly this semester; after this semester they will be out in the industry. We are currently working on a Dodge Charger, which needs two door skins and and some bodywork. This is a great job, as they will do a lot of door skin in the industry. However, as we mentioned in class, many shops do not like to skin doors. This is because skinning a door skin does not seem to pay well. This actually aligns with what were doing in our first year class, which is looking for ways to get paid for everything we do.

For example, the estimating guide gives 6.0 hours to skin the door on the Charger. The CCC Pathways database state the included operations are:

INCLUDED:
• Adhesive application if required (all types)
• Applique
• Belt molding
• Caulk / seam sealer
• Cutting & welding as necessary
• Door R&I
• Flutter material application if required
• Grind, fill and smooth welded seams (up to 150 grit sandpaper)
• Inside handles & bezels
• Lock and cylinder assembly (if necessary)
• Outside door handle
• Trim panel R&I
• Water shield
• Weatherstrips (if attached to door)

That is quite a bit to do for 6.0 hours of time. However, there are a lot of additional operations that you must do as well. If you just point and click to skin the door, you will be leaving much of the necessary operation off of the estimate. Let's take a look at the non-included operations listed in the CCC Pathways database.

NOT INCLUDED:
• Back glass wiper or washer
• Body side moldings
• Clean up broken glass
• Emblems & nameplates
• Glass
• Hinge
• Lock cylinder recoding
• Mirror
• Moldings
• Passive restraint system
• Power lock option
• Power window option
• Reinforcement bar
• Straightening of door frame
• Stripe tape, decals or overlays

You also need to remember when you're generating auto repair estimates that the time given in the estimating guides are for new undamaged parts. If you are dealing with rusted or corroded bolts, or straightening damages parts to get to the blots, you will need to add additional time. An estimator needs to check the not included operations list for every part they replace. This will help pay the technician for everything they must do to repair the vehicles back to its pre-accidental condition.

Good Advice From Nickleback

This post has nothing to do with collision repair, but it sounds like some good advice to follow.

This is the first year since I have been teaching at Butler that I am seeing some friction between students. When I taught in Texas, dealing with friction in the classroom, gang issues, fights, and disipline was a daily thing. I am thankful that we have a friendly enviornment at Butler. However, I believe that even the smallest traces of friction should be eliminated from the friendly Butler learning environment. This is how we will excel with our learning and become the Champions in the collsion industry.

Here are a few word to the lyrics to the song "If Everyone Cared".

"If everyone cared and nobody cried, If everyone loved and nobody lied, If everyone shared and swallowed their pride." I know we do not live in a perfect world, but I think everyone including myself could work on improving in these areas, we'd all be better off.

Starting Out Second Semester in Auto Tech

Starting Out Second Semester
by Michaelene Lucas
1/21/10

Forget review....dive right in! In engine performance and suspension & steering we went over chapters 53 (EP) & 83 (ST).

There are several projects going down in the lab. Auto tech instructor Mike had me replacing an alternator and we had to repair an air filter box that was broke as well. The clasps holding it on had broken off so we drilled holes in it to attach the spring clasp to hold it together.

Next, week we'll delve deeper into tires and computers and their aspects. Good, bad and filthy fun!

Advisory Meeting - A Few Notes To Share With Students

Auto & Collision Repair Advisory Committee


NATEF Review
The Automotive and Collision Repair held their advisory meeting last night 1/22/10. At this meeting the program had to conduct a NATEF review for the program. This is a review that may be requested by NATEF at a 2 1/2 year's during the accreditation period. Every five years the automotive and collision repair programs are required to have a full on-site evaluation to keep the NATEF accreditation.

Water Borne
We also discussed water borne paint. A few of the members expressed their opinion about water borne and gave it a very good rating. They said that they would hate to go back to solvent now that they have been using water borne. They mentioned how the paint lays down better, the metallic lays even, blends are easier to perform, and the color matches seems to be better. From this discussion, I believe the the transition from solvent based paint to water borne paint is going to be a smooth.

Industry Trends
We discussed how shops were performing certain tasks to determine if they way they are doing it aligns with the way we are teaching the students in the collision repair program. Most of it aligned, but there were a few suggestions that we may try at the school. The way we prepare a panel for blend was a little different, as we used a finer grit sand paper. They also described a new way of masking jambs that is working better for them. I excited to try this method on our next job. This is what helps programs like ours excel. It will also better prepare the students with the current trends in the industry. We really appreciate the help of our advisory board, as they are a vital part of a successful program.

Student Motivation
The subject of student motivation, or the lack of it was addressed. Shops are having more problems with unmotivated employees that show up late to work. This is a big problem. Employees must get to work on time and stay off their cell phones texting. Leave the phones in the car before you enter the work place. This was a few of the comments addressing work ethics. We put a lot of effort in the automotive and collision repair programs to instill the importance of good work ethics to the students. However, some students get it and some do not. Therefore, I challenge every student to be at school on time every single day at Butler. Do not settle for meritocracy. Be the champion of the industry that you are going into. And remember to keep your cell phones put away. Good work ethics is what will put you at the top at your work place. As we might say at Butler...If You're Going To Be A Bear, Be A Grizzly Bear! In other words, if you're going to do something, do your absolute best.

Meguiar's Demonstrate How To Remove Swirl Marks at SEMA 2009

I took a short video clip at SEMA 2009 of how to remove swirl marks. Swirls appear in paint surfaces from improper washing and/or drying. On dark colors it is almost impossible to eliminate swirls after time, but thanks to products from companies like Meguiar's and 3M, you can produce a swirl free auto paint finish.

I-CAR Offers Scholarships For Students in Collision Repair

I-CAR has several scholarships for students to apply for. If you are a student in our collision repair program or you are going to be enrolling, take a few minutes to explore the scholarships offered. The scholarship requires that the collision repair school be NATEF certified or a member of the I-CAR Industry Training Alliance. Butler Community College fully qualifies, as we are both NATEF certified and a member of the I-CAR Industry Training Alliance. We also use CCC estimating system, which is the qualification for one of the scholarships.

To determine is you qualify for one of the scholarships please visit http://www.ed-foundation.org/ foundation.org and click on the 2010 scholarship PDF file.

"The applicant criteria for each scholarship are included within the application. All entries must be received by the I-CAR Education Foundation by February 24, 2010 to be eligible. Winners will be chosen in April 2010 and notified by mail and phone. For more information, please contact the I-CAR Education Foundation at 888.722.3787, Ext. 282 or melissa.marscin@ed-foundation.org"