february2023 - 16

COVER STORY
SELLING WELDING
and collision tools to
body shops
While it's more of a challenge to sell certain products like
consumables to body shops, there's still room for the mobile tool
dealer who pays attention to the needs of their customer and
stocks the right mix of tools and equipment for this segment.
By Brendan Baker, Editor
T
oday's collision repair facility is not like the traditional body shop from
30 years ago. It has evolved significantly along with the complexities
of vehicles that manufacturers are producing today.
Welding equipment has also greatly
improved in recent years to where it's
easier for inexperienced techs to
operate and still adjustable enough for
the more seasoned ones to use. But there's
a caveat, not all body panel repairs use the
same type of welding processes. It depends
on the manufacturer's requirements.
" Most body shops traditionally use
MIG, " says Jason Mahugh, director of
engineering and technical services at
Forney Industries, which makes welding
machines and plasma cutters for automotive
shops, and specifically body shops.
" Occasionally, body shops will TIGweld,
but it takes more skill, and it's a bit
slower. I don't see a lot of TIG in body
shops. It's mostly multi-process (MP)
machines, which are about the same
price as a dedicated MIG welder. So a
lot of customers prefer a MP machine
instead of a dedicated MIG just for the
value and versatility. "
WELDING EQUIPMENT
Mahugh says they offer a wide variety
of welders and plasma cutters designed
for automotive uses from MIG to TIG
and MP machines that can be operated
in three modes (MIG, TIG, and Arc). But
most body shops don't stick-weld unless
they do general repair as well. Stick welding
is not as precise but can handle very
thick material.
" We develop welding machines and
plasma cutters for thicknesses of around
a half-inch and thinner. So that covers
your typical automotive application. In
terms of amperage for plasma cutting,
we have a 20A plasma cutter, which is
a quarter-inch machine, a 30A plasma
cutter, which is a three-eighths machine,
16 Professional Distributor I February 2023 I VehicleServicePros.com
and a 40A plasma cutter, which is a 1/2 "
machine, " says Mahugh, who notes that
these are popular in body shops because
they are easy to use and fast for cutting
off panels.
There are several options when it
comes to amperages in a MP welder,
according to Mahugh. But much depends
on the type of power your customer's
shop needs or has available. Lower
amperage machines will not weld as
thick of material as higher amperages
but will only require a 120V circuit,
whereas a more versatile machine, such
as Forney's newly launched 190 MP, can
run on both 120 and 240V.
" Our 140A works for 1/4 "
material, and the 190A multi-process
machine can weld up to 3/8 " . And then we
have other machines that cover 1/2 " . So we
cover the whole gamut, " notes Mahugh.
While most body shops use MIG
machines (whether a dedicated or
a MP), in the past, there were some
downsides to using a dedicated
http://www.VehicleServicePros.com
february2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of february2023
