# Panel beater

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Occupation that repairs damaged vehicles

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Panel beater/Auto body mechanic Occupation Occupation type Vocational Activity sectors Automobile Description Education required Apprenticeship Related jobs Auto mechanic

**Panel beater** or **panelbeater** is a term used in some [Commonwealth](/source/Commonwealth_of_Nations) countries to describe a person who restores vehicle bodies back to their factory state after having been damaged (e.g., after being involved in a collision).[1] In the United States and Canada, the same job is done by an **[auto body technician](/source/Auto_body_technician)** or **[sheet metal worker](/source/Sheet_metal_worker)** at a body shop.

## Description

Panel beaters repair body work using skills such as [planishing](/source/Planishing) and [metalworking](/source/Metalworking) techniques, [welding](/source/Welding), use of [putty](/source/Putty) fillers, and other skills. Accident repair may require the panel beater to repair or replace parts of a vehicle. These parts may be made from various metals including [steels](/source/Steel) and [alloys](/source/Alloy), many different [plastics](/source/Plastic), [fibreglass](/source/Fibreglass) and others.

The common panel beater will work on everyday vehicles, cars, vans or 4WDs. Specialised areas include repairs to motorcycles, trucks and even aircraft. Some panel beaters also work exclusively on [vehicle restorations](/source/Conservation_and_restoration_of_road_vehicles), and do not repair smash work at all. Others may specialise in body customisation such as is seen on hot rods.

Special equipment examples:

- Various hammers and dollies used for planishing

- Body files and flippers

- Assembly tools such as [socket](/source/Socket_wrench) sets, [screwdrivers](/source/Screwdriver) and [spanners](/source/Wrench)

- Other hand tools like [pliers](/source/Pliers), [tin snips](/source/Tin_snips), [vise grips](/source/Vise_grip), [punches](/source/Punch_(tool)), [chisels](/source/Chisel), etc.

- Hydraulic pushing/pulling devices

- Vehicle measuring and aligning devices, or jigs e.g.

- Vehicle lift [hoists](/source/Hoist_(device))

- Personal safety equipment such as [boots](/source/Boot), [overalls](/source/Overalls), [safety glasses](/source/Safety_glasses), welding helmets, gloves, [respirators](/source/Respirator) and hearing protection

- Welding equipment – [MIG](/source/Gas_metal_arc_welding) or [TIG](/source/Gas_tungsten_arc_welding)

- [Stud welder](/source/Stud_welding) for pulling out dents

Special equipment for restoration, advanced panel repair or panel fabrication from scratch include:

- [English wheel](/source/English_wheel)

- Power hammer

- Pear shaped mallets and sandbags

- Benders/folders

- Rollers/rolls

- Beaders/swaging machines

- Station bucks[2]

- Templates

- [Oxy-acetylene](/source/Oxy-acetylene) welding equipment

- [Lead loading](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lead_loading&action=edit&redlink=1) equipment

## Training and certification

Training to become a panel beater is most often done by completing a [trade](/source/Trade) apprenticeship.[3] For the most part these apprenticeships are around three years long, but can be completed earlier. These usually consist of three years on the job training mixed with schooling at a trade school or [TAFE](/source/TAFE). The fourth year is usually on the job training alone.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Panel Beater | Job Guide"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090409062412/http://www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au/occupation/view/421311A). Jobguide.thegoodguidescom.au. Archived from [the original](http://www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au/occupation/view/421311A) on 2009-04-09. Retrieved 2009-05-27.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Panel Beater | Panel Beating History"](http://panelbeater.whangarei.biz/?p=26). panelbeater.whangarei.biz. Retrieved 2010-07-23.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Panel Beater | How to get into this job"](http://www.careers.govt.nz/default.aspx?id0=30103&id1=J48345). careers.govt.nz. Retrieved 2010-07-23.

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