Following a car collision, certain tools will be used by mechanics in most scenarios. This blog will outline eight tools that will most likely be put to use in auto collision repair, what they’re for, and how they work.
What happens to vehicles in most accidents
Car accidents can be anything from a major pileup on the highway to a small rear-ending in a drive-through. What most accidents have in common is, regardless of the intensity of the accident, most cars will leave the scene with at least a dent or a scrape in the paint.
Repairs get more and more complex with more serious accidents. Even a small collision with a curb or sliding into a snowbank can damage the vehicle internally. These are the tools that will most likely be used on a car following a collision.
Eight tools used in most collision center repairs
1. Air compressors
Air compressors are often used if the paint on the vehicle has been damaged in any way. An air compressor will help collision reporting center mechanics spread the paint evenly over the vehicle to avoid streaks and varying opacity.
2. Spray guns
The way mechanics spread the paint with the help of an air compressor is by using spray guns. Spray guns will atomize the paint into fine particles that help it stick and work better on the vehicle.
3. Dual-action sanders
Following an accident, many mechanics will put their dual-action sanders to good use to address porous surfaces, scrapes, and other materials on the car. Dual-action sanders help speed up the repair process.
4. Hammer and dolly sets
Most vehicles will leave an accident scene with at least one dent. Whether the dent is barely noticeable, or a decent size, mechanics are likely to use a hammer and dolly set to coerce the vehicle body back into its original position.
5. Body fillers, spreaders, and putty knives
When it comes to holes, cracks, or scrapes, body fillers come in handy. Using either plastic or metal fillers, mechanics will fill in the divots on the vehicle and then even it out with spreaders and putty knives for a seamless finish.
6. Slide hammers
When the dents or damage exceeds the size a regular hammer can address, slide hammers are used. Slide hammers can be used to pull out panels and repair dents; usually, more noticeable and wider dents.
7. Grinders
Grinders are used to attack rust or other protuberances on the vehicle body. If a car goes in for repair at a collision center, it’s also a good time to address other factors eating away at the lifetime of the vehicle, like rust. Grinders are the way to do this.
8. Dent pullers
For even larger, more substantive dents, dent pullers are used. There are suction cup dent pullers that can remove surface dents using their suction mechanism so the car returns to its original position. There are also stud welder dent pullers that weld a stud into the center of the dent and use that fixture to pull the dent outwards. Afterward, the stud snaps off and any residue is sanded down.
Here are some other resources to consider before and after car collisions:
- Conducting vehicle diagnostic tests
- Running through pre-checks
- Fixing vehicle windows
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