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Sand body areas to be painted and cover bumpers, windows, and trim with masking tape or paper to protect them from the paint.
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Read specifications or confer with customers to determine the desired custom modifications for altering the appearance of vehicles.
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Remove small pits and dimples in body metal, using pick hammers and punches.
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Review damage reports, prepare or review repair cost estimates, and plan work to be performed.
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Position dolly blocks against surfaces of dented areas and beat opposite surfaces to remove dents, using hammers.
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Cut and tape plastic separating film to outside repair areas to avoid damaging surrounding surfaces during repair procedure and remove tape and wash surfaces after repairs are complete.
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Replace damaged glass on vehicles.
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Cut openings in vehicle bodies for the installation of customized windows, using templates and power shears or chisels.
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Measure and mark vinyl material and cut material to size for roof installation, using rules, straightedges, and hand shears.
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Soak fiberglass matting in resin mixtures and apply layers of matting over repair areas to specified thicknesses.
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Remove upholstery, accessories, electrical window-and-seat-operating equipment, and trim to gain access to vehicle bodies and fenders.
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Prime and paint repaired surfaces, using paint sprayguns and motorized sanders.
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Fit and weld replacement parts into place, using wrenches and welding equipment, and grind down welds to smooth them, using power grinders and other tools.
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Remove damaged panels, and identify the family and properties of the plastic used on a vehicle.
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Mix polyester resins and hardeners to be used in restoring damaged areas.
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Inspect repaired vehicles for proper functioning, completion of work, dimensional accuracy, and overall appearance of paint job, and test-drive vehicles to ensure proper alignment and handling.
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Adjust or align headlights, wheels, and brake systems.
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Follow supervisors' instructions as to which parts to restore or replace and how much time the job should take.
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Clean work areas, using air hoses, to remove damaged material and discarded fiberglass strips used in repair procedures.
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Fit and secure windows, vinyl roofs, and metal trim to vehicle bodies, using caulking guns, adhesive brushes, and mallets.
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Chain or clamp frames and sections to alignment machines that use hydraulic pressure to align damaged components.
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Apply heat to plastic panels, using hot-air welding guns or immersion in hot water, and press the softened panels back into shape by hand.
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Remove damaged sections of vehicles using metal-cutting guns, air grinders and wrenches, and install replacement parts using wrenches or welding equipment.
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Fill small dents that cannot be worked out with plastic or solder.
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File, grind, sand, and smooth filled or repaired surfaces, using power tools and hand tools.