Auto body trim: technology, features and reviews

Straightening repair operations are included in the set of the most common services of car-care centers. This is due to the fact that the car body suffers as often as the internal filling wears. At the same time, the restoration of metal structures presents certain difficulties for the performer. Self-aligning the body of the car justifies itself as a way to save money, but requires the availability of appropriate skills from the owner. However, using a suitable modern tool, some types of such works can easily be mastered by a layman.

General principles and technology of alignment

The need for straightening measures arises in those cases when the car for one reason or another receives external damage to the body. In this case, we are not talking about light scratches of paint, although its restoration is expected in a complex of similar works. The main task is to correct the metal case or its parts, which were deformed. With the help of hydraulic installations, pneumatic equipment and hand tools, effective body alignment is performed by oneself. The technology assumes mechanical influence on a problem zone so that the geometry of a body has accepted the initial form. Depending on the nature of the damage, it is necessary to choose the appropriate angle of influence on the dent and the initial restoration site.

Necessary equipment

Unlike most repair works, which are performed by the owners of cars themselves, it is desirable to make the alignment on the site of a special stand - slipways. Thanks to this equipment of the garage can be managed even with the restoration of the hood folded accordion. This effect is achieved due to the power drive of the stand, which can be represented by hydraulics or pneumatic hydraulics. For private needs, the first option is quite sufficient, in which one can expect to provide efforts of several tons. Pneumohydraulic effort itself is more difficult to organize in technical terms, although the working effect provides much higher. In any case, straightening the body at the stand will be a significant advantage for the garage master, regardless of the nature of the operations performed. However, the stakes are expensive and, of course, require a special place in the room.

Straightening tool

Still, most of the straightening operations will be carried out on the scale of a small repair. But even cosmetic correction of the body requires the use of a special tool. In this case it will be a set of hammers, differing functional nozzles. In particular, in the market you can buy branded cases from the manufacturers of auto tools, in which there are hammers with flat, sharp and convex pins. In addition, the kits include hammer-trowels and devices with notches. All this equipment will assist in the process of repair. Of course, the use of single hammers is rarely done. Also, the master must have on-board special files, a spotter for spot welding, anvils and locksmiths. Each of these instruments has its own task, the implementation of which facilitates the overall process of restoring the structure of the car body.

Vacuum straightening without applying paint

Often there are situations where a change in the geometry of the surface of the metal body of the body entails the need for damage to the paint and varnish coating. But with the help of a vacuum pneumatic tool, it became possible to straighten the body without painting by means of special suction cups. The device is superimposed on the surface with damage, fixed with suckers, and then smoothly restores the line of construction.

But this method has two significant drawbacks. First, it only works in cases of minor damage. Secondly, it does not provide a complete smoothing, but only minimizes the depth of the formed dent. Also worth noting is an alternative option - this is a mechanical straightening, the painting of the body at which it will be inevitable. In this case, the first stage uses physical alignment with a hand tool, after which the site is ground, primed and processed with a paint and varnish coating.

Dent drawing technique

This is another way to fix dents, which is based on the principle of minimum contact of the working tool with the surface. In this case, a hook is used which draws the crushed portion, fixing at one point. A hole is specially made for the grip, into which the hardware is integrated. In the future, the operation is performed using an inertial hammer. Such a straightening of the body can seem inconvenient and time consuming, but in practice it is more effective than other methods to cope with large areas of dents. And even the creation of a technical hole for the hook is justified. After performing leveling, the hole is ground and shpaklyuetsya special solutions.

Correction of defects by percussion

In terms of the quality of the result, this is one of the most effective ways to restore the body. Moreover, the same operation is final in relation to the aforementioned procedures that correct large defects. The percussion is made from the back of the metal sheet, which was previously removed from the body. Most often, such a straightening of the body of the car with their own hands is done with hammers with different nozzles. In this process, the delicacy of the impact on the material and the attention to detail are particularly important. The fact is that the slightest deviation from the original geometric line may turn into problems in the future in the process of installing the problem piece into place. Then the dismantled area is welded and covered with paint and varnish material.

Feedback on doing self-alignment

In most cases, straightening in the conditions of its garage justifies the expectations. Of course, not always home masters manage to achieve quality at the level of a professional workshop, but there are certain successes provided that a suitable tool is used. But it does not do without mistakes. So, often there are reviews about the improper use of metal heating means, so that it becomes more pliable. Experienced craftsmen emphasize that the straightening of the body with heating requires a special skill from the performer, since the soft metal is easier to control in terms of molding. Many motorists are hampered by the exploitation of heavy straightening equipment. This applies not only to the stands, but also to the winch mechanisms, as well as the cables and support devices. From such inventory experts recommend to refuse to beginners in the matter of automobile repair.

Conclusion

Specificity of body alignment is caused by the need to apply force and, at the same time, maintaining the high precision of the operation. That is, the metal should be leveled by powerful thrust or a one-time intense action, but the effort must be clearly directed and controlled by the master. Modern tools for body alignment in many ways facilitate this kind of work processes, but the importance of the artist's skills should not be canceled. For example, if the role of the operator is minimal in the basic correction of the body structure with the help of the stand, small operations for leveling the surface of a particular zone require a certain level of skill. However, and with similar defects, tool manufacturers have long offered to handle high-precision pneumatic equipment that does not require special training from the user.