Thinking About Taking Auto Body

[Koots]

I've been considering moving away from all this $hit here in my hometown and going back to school and i've been thinking about taking autobody.

I've always been painting, drawing, sketching and doing designs since i was a child and it was my first love (second being cars/trucks). I'm pretty good at it so i think that gives me a good base for the painting aspect of this, i know it's not the same but i'm not coming in empty handed.

My question is if this is a good time to get into this market? and if all you pro's out there enjoy your work?

I'll be doing this in one of the rustiest places in Canada (Newfoundland), so there won't be a shortage in need for body work and painting.

[MichaelJE91]

The good thing about auto body is that everyone is going to wreck there car. Deer always seem to come out of the air where im from. I would not advise you to go to ohio technical college. Worst school ever. I learned more and got better training in high school. Try going to a local vocational school to get the basics down. You will learn more in a shop than a school. There is always going to be a demand for automotive repairs.

[bodyman71]

its a good business i have been doing it for 20 years and i love it make great money and have a ****load of tools.get into a shop as an apprentice learn as you work.

[Koots]

Sorry, this thread got lost in the shuffle and i only just noticed it.

Thanks for the words guys, art was always my first love since i was born and cars came later, so it only makes sense to combine the 2. If i'm gonna take a course, it will have to wait til next fall, but i can see if i can get myself some apprentice work in a shop for the mean time. I'm usually a more persuasive person face to face so i think when i move out to the city i'm just gonna go around and ask the body shops for work/sweeping the floors/advice/whatever i can get really. I just want my foot in the door :D

[Silverado11]

It's hard work. Normally you'll be in body and not paint. It depends on what you want to do. I like doing it, but I am just a hobby painter. I am working on a 1970 Nova right now with an LS2 and its a sweet car.. color change and I've had it since February. I'm on the last buffing stages but it's a force.

I only want to do this as a hobby. I do computer support for a bank. So maybe I am just getting lazy and old! :)

[Stealth HD]

After 8 years being a production painter, it's no longer fulfilling...I often times wish I went a different way in my career (have no idea what), but I don't even have the drive anymore to work on my own projects, because I'm so sick of work life. No matter how much you put in, they'll always want more, and eventually there's a breaking point. Doing custom work is one thing, but unless you work/own a big name shop, there is little to no money in it.

If you like art and cars, have you thought about automotive design?