Students doing your body work

[70Chevy4x4Nut]

Has anyone ever let school students do body work? I have been offered by a guy that teaches body and paint in a technical school to let his students to do the bodywork on my bedsides. The price is definitely right but will the work be acceptable? He assured me he would oversee all work and be topnotch. He offered that because he is swamped at his business which he works only on weekends. What do you guys think, any good or bad experiences? I like helping someone to learn but hate to sacrifice my bedsides.

Thanks

[jay_shy]

A lady I work with wanted me to have her son that is attendind a vocational school rebuild my engine. All I would have to pay for is parts. I don't think I would let them do it because I am really picky, Enjoy doing it myself, and the fact that I already finished it.

[pebbleboy]

It depends.

How much of a deal are you getting? What time frame? What guarantee or quality are you getting?

You will be probably sacraficing time for less money. I would want to stop by a few times a week at least to see the progress. I think if I could find a deal like that I might take it up but my bed sides look horrible to me.

[Orange70chevy]

When I went to school for auto body we worked on people cars. It will be done right (probably better than taking it to someone and paying for the work). The teachers will make sure it is done right and looks good. As for how long it will take who knows. It could take up to a semester.

[Liz]

someone here did last year.. I'm tryin to recall the member name.. was sweet when it was done IMHO

[Ron 586]

Originally Posted by Liz

someone here did last year.. I'm trying to recall the member name.. was sweet when it was done IMHO

I think it was Yellow 69 that had his done at a tech school. His is nice. In fact truth is I liked his so much that I bought a short 67 frame and going to do one for me.

[Liz]

Originally Posted by Ron 586

I think it was Yellow 69 that had his done at a tech school. His is nice. In fact truth is I liked his so much that I bought a short 67 frame and going to do one for me.

bingo! ty ron

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=168307

[byrd]

I attended auto body in high school(14 years ago) and the work was up to if not beyond industry standards, as they wanted to teach you the right way and not the shortcuts. We did and early sixtes panel that was a fellow students dad's truck and it had bondo all over it when we started and it had a very thin coat on it when we were done, but no more than 1/8 of an inch for the most part. They showed us how massage the metal and shrink it to minimize filler, and the teachers did a little lead filling to it where the filler would have been to thick. There was not one single replacement panel bought for the, that I can remeber, if was needed we made a patch panel right there. The guy who taught the class were journeymen with over 30 years in the trade and were really sharp on the older stuff. We turned out several wrecks and even a few totals GM donated that were damged during delivery that we fixed up and displayed them in the front lobby of the shop. I don't know if the same people are teaching the class now ,but I though about going by there or calling and seeing about them final sanding and painting the truck for since they have a super cool $100,000 down draft booth, and all the cool stuff needed to be virtually dust free and slick as glass. Sorry for the rattle....Randy

[northcountry67]

I am currently a student in an auto body course and am about to finish my first year. We have done at least 20 cars for people. Everything from full body and paint to fenders and bumper covers. I agree with Orange70chevy that if the school has a good reputation, the work will be done right. As for the time issue, it may take longer than at a commercial shop, but I have seen our cars go out in alot less time than most shops.

[tphsmith]

the way the first body shop performed thier abortion on my truck I know for a fact that a high school would have done 8 times better then the guy I went to. it cost me three times in money and all replacement sheet metal because the guy hacked it up so bad. then wanted to threaten me to take me to court if took him to court to give me my money back ... (my nightmare in Denver NC.)

[70Chevy4x4Nut]

Nice work Northcountry. He said about 1-2 weeks with them working about 2-3 hrs a day. He mentioned about $5.00/hr, about 20 hrs ($100.00). I may have to buy another $50.00 material. I think pretty good, since I got two bids, both were for $800. His bid was about $350.00, and letting his student do it would be alot less. I figure less than $200. This is for one bedside, it needs alot of work, only rust is on top of rail where camper top was. They would cut it out and weld in new pieces.

[vk_chevy]

There is no guaranties that a body shop will do a better job, unless you know your body man personally and have seen his work and trust him.
There are places that should be shut down because of the product they turn out and on the other hand, there is a lot of students that do real good work

Stop by the school and take a look at some of their work, if you like what you see then let them do the bedsides for you.

[CochinoFilipino]

I'd do it. I'd refrain from working a deal with the dentistry school though.

[dwaite72lnghrn]

Take a look at the other work done by the school.
My son bought a '65 impala that had been done by a tech school. It looked good but he side swiped a road marker and the paint came off in sheets and there was rust under the paint around the wheel well that showed up when the paint broke off. No bondo just sheets of paint, Some places it was 1/8" thick. I do think they could spend more time on the bed then a shop would as it would cost more to have it done right. Just check other work nuff said.

[70chevyfreak]

Several years ago I had a 66 Ford Galaxie done at a vo-tec school and they did outstanding work.It did take a while but when you only pay for materials you cant beat it.Sad part was that the day I picked it up I took it on a date and was sideswiped by a hit and run driver,took out the whole left side.The next day I went back to the school and I thought the kids were going to cry.They did it again and it looked great.have it done,you cant aford to pay a body shop for the quality of work those kids will do with a skilled instructor watching over them.

[rage'nrat638]

heres my son heavy into it at school...
taught by the teachers there you be the judge

[rage'nrat638]

when it was done...took 5 months

[67ChevyRedneck]

My dad had his '67 firebird painted at a local BOCES school (NY version of vo-tec?) anyway, it came out really nice. My dad did the body work. The students primed, blocked, and sprayed it. Came out really nice, of course that was in the early 90's and the poor car looks like crap now

[JRB]

Hello 70 Chevy,
I have a friend that Restores GTO's and I have watched him do multiple paint jobs. He does show quality painting. He has painted in upward of 100 cars and he told me he is still learning. He told me that its not so much the painting as it is knowing what to do if something goes wrong when your painting. He also told me that the long strait panels are the hardest to make look strait because if you dont get the body work right you will see it. Have you got any access to some of there projects so you can see there quality? Good luck with your project.
JRB