hey guys just wondering if anyone has taken any short tafe cource in panelbeating of automotive body repair , thinking bout taking a short cource in my spare time , learn a few things about body repair so i can repair my own panels ??

Bit put off by a quote given to me by a panelbeater for 5 - 6 k to fix some rust and respray , so if anyone has attended these classes and could recommend one would be great .

thanks

Course perhaps??

You needed to do that? Really?

I was worried that perhaps a google search on "Panelbeating Cources" was coming up without result........

Of coarse.

Cource? Course? Coarse? Ah, some fine comedy there...

I currently do this course at St George TAFE (Rockdale) and it is great. The teacher knows a lot of old school tricks and helps you with anything you don't know how to do. They have all the gear - welding equip, English wheel (for curving panels), folders, hydraulic guillotines for cutting sheet metal, etc. I repaired one door and fabricated a doorskin from scratch for the other one (with a lot of supervision ). I'm currently fabricating a new battery box and next up I'm planning to do an Aussie pattern rear floor section. If you're new to this kind of stuff (I was), you spend the first few weeks practicing some panelbeating skills and then you're off and running. I leave small panels there from week to week but you can bring in bigger stuff if you take it home - I heard one guy used to trailer his Mini in each week to repair it one section at a time!

Everyone just works on their own projects - motorbikes & sidecars, 1930's Chevy pick-up trucks, 1970's Ford Fairmonts, Kombi vans and custom hot rods. And one Mini

If you're interested in doing it at St George TAFE campus, call their main number (9598 6111) and ask to be put though to the panelbeating workshop. I heard that they might have a new course starting next week on Monday nights, 6-9pm, it would be called something like "intro panelbeating short course". They can give you all the details.

Other campuses out west/hills district might offer something similar, but I don't know anything about them.

EDIT: And once you're happy with your panels, they run a similar course for spray painting, so a lot of guys transfer into that after they're done with the panelbeating. It's in the workshop next door

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Last time i did the search for such courses the St George one was the only one in all of Greater Sydney, but that may have changed.

One day i'd love to do that course.

I've heard that the mechanics course at TAFE is pretty good too. I wouldnt mind doing the basic mechanics and electricals course..... unfortunately most are in the middle of the afternoon. They dont do much on weekeds or after hours for that type of course

I can just picture it - EWOM - Mini panelbeating class!

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TAFE courses are great, if you can get in.
Some times they have pre requisites for trade courses or you may need to be working in the trade, but this varies from year to year depending on the government policy.

I managed to do a 2 year course Panel beating for Journeymen and then 12 months Vehicle restoration and then 2 years in Spray painting, which at the time was mainly Acrylics and some 2K later in the 2nd year.
But highly recommended if you are looking to play with mini's.

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1969 Cooper "S"
1967 Mini Deluxe
1973 Clubman Van (the fleet spare)
1978 ex 1275 LS ("Wizard" Eaton Supercharged)
2015 HSV GenF GTS(occasional drive & tow car)
2019 MINI F55 Cooper S

Michael - Given your expertise and seeing the results of your cars, maybe you should run some weekend classes at your place........

*offers Moke as example car*

Well worth it.

You also get to meet some very talented people.

I did an engineering workshop on lathes and mills etc and made all of the special mini tools and also a panel beating classes and learned to metal finish a panel and even made up some Mini A panels.

You do get a blt spoilt with all of the nice gear they have.

spend a couple hours on youtube = success!

i was hoping that there course going on monday night or day or tues night , due to work thats the only day off i have got .

i tryed looking for a course around my area but theres no luck , and roughly do u noe how much a course go for and how long ? are u able to bring your own panel to repair ?

There ya go minilee.
Have a read of Moriarty's post if you haven't already, he does the course and i've heard wonderful things about it from him

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