Our local Tech Institute has a 7 week Autobody Metalworking course on Saturdays that I started yesterday. I got my money's worth after one day of finding out the proper way to weld sheet metal. There's nothing like a trained professional showing you the right way to do things.

I'll still be practising on my truck before I touch a welder to my car. Speaking of which, the bottom of the doors are rusting. What can I use inside the doors to stop the rust after I sandblast them? Thanks

You can spray or brush or pour epoxy primer in the doors, just pour it in and drain it out.

Heres something you might want to check up on at your school, because the last time I questioned somebody about it I felt like the schools were not addressing the question.

So I'll just make it separate here so you can make a copy of it, if your intersted in checking on it.

Also, this is the most important thing that you could learn about in regards to body work, hands down.

Respirators.

Examples of the different types of respirators.

Half and full face, positive and negative pressure, battery powered and supplied air.
How to put them on.
How to take them off.
how to check for face seal leakage.
How to wear them to avoid face seal leakage.
The current type now used for welding and grinding.
The recommended respirator for sand blasting. (silica sand) you can't get complete protection from a negative pressure respirator, but what will work better then others.
The different types of filters for welding, grinding, blasting and painting and how to take care of these filters and how long they will be effective.

I know he has so much time to teach body work, but he can get these answers and give you students copies of what is current.

Also, suggest to him, he should try and get some body from a Nuclear Power plant that works in the health physics Department.

Have them come in and take a couple of hours and show you some things about respirators, this would be a real eye opener, and he or she will most definitely be up to date on whats out there.

Rob

The instructor did talk about respirators but didn't get into it too much. He recommended fresh air as opposed to the cartridge type.

I've spent the last 15 years as a mechanical designer for the two major uranium mining companies worldwide, Areva and Cameco and for Atomic Energy Canada Ltd. That's a great idea you had about getting somebody in to explain things. I know a couple of guys that would be happy to do it.

Sounds good Ron.