MODERN TIMES, MODERN TOOLS

HANDTOOLS ARE MORE THAN EASILY LOST BITS AND BOBS

Getting your start in the collision repair industry can be tough, no matter what path you take. The initial investment in tools alone is enough to send an incoming apprentice’s head for a spin.

In the age of automatic welders and artificial intelligence-driven claims, it’s easy to forget how integral the average hand tools are in modern collision repair. What would the painter do without a tool to tweak the fine positions of a masking job? What would this world be like without a sheet of sandpaper readily available? How would a hail dent be addressed if it weren’t for the magic wands of PDR?

These tools, though many of them long familiar to our hands, are still ever advancing. Even the most basic of tools—or ones without motherboards of technology—see developments alongside the always-changing automotive industry.

One of the most addressed improvements often lies in a tool’s efficiency. The quicker a quality job can be completed, the better the tool, in the eyes of many. Business owners are consistently focussed on bottom lines and KPIs; if a tool is affordable, effective and can stand the test of time, it’s sure to be a winner in the boss’ eyes.

For technicians, efficiency, too, is important— but today’s workforce knows to prioritize ergonomics. After all, you don’t want back pain to pull you from the job market before you’re ready. Tools that place importance on body position, support bodily ergonomics and promote the use of the correct muscles, are top sellers for modern-minded staff.

Don’t get tricked into buying your tools from the back of a truck at your next trade show (and don’t let your proteges fall into such a trap, either). Just peruse the following pages and build the toolbox that fits your fancy.