Its That Time Of Year Again- College Resto Courses

Post by **chickenjohn** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 4:07 pm

I've enrolled for the 3rd year at Mid- kent College, Maidstone Oakwood park- night school in motor vehicle body restoration. If all the other courses around the country are as good as this one then its highly recommended.

You can use all the kit there- the 1st year is basically going through set excercises to learn all the kit- English wheel, folders, swager, blast cabinet, spraybooths, air tools, all the tools, unlimited use of materials (sheet metal, filler, zinc primer).
I'm about to start my 3rd year (2nd as an advanced student).

I'm aiming to :-

finish repairing Dibble's doors (inc making up many sections for the bottom of the door).

Repair Dibble front left wing.

repair Dibble bootlid.

Make up sections for the LHS of Dibble main body from templates.

Repair (rust at bottom) and re-spray front RHS wing on my 944 and re-spray front panel and bumper (2-pack).

Paint Dibble repaired/de-rusted panels in the booths( cellulose).

The knowledge and skill of the instructors on the course is incredible, its well worth the 1 hr drive to go there each week. I learnt a lot last year but especially learnt that there is much more to learn. To begin with they teach welding, panelbeating and forming skills and painting, then as an "advanced" student you apply this on your project. They teach you how to restore properly.

Many of these courses in the UK are struggling to get students- so enquire at your local college, if you can afford it- enrol and learn the skills of a potentially dying art!

Post by **Onne** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 4:13 pm

It had to come from a Dutch person, but how much do they normally charge?

Post by **chickenjohn** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 4:20 pm

The one I'm on is £400 for 30 nights. £13.33 1/3 per night or £4.44 per hour. But if you are quick, you can get a lot done in that time. Plus- free materials!

The course will have paid for itself just in the repair and re-spray work I'll be able to do on my 944 panels (using 2-pack in the booth).

Post by **jonathon** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 4:38 pm

Excellent idea John, as you say this is a dying trade, and the potential for individuals to learn as wide a cross section as can only be encouraged.
We are struggling to find the right person to fill one of our vacancies at the moment, and the most suitably qualified seem to be the old apprenticed guys, trouble is they seem to have had enough of working in body shops.
£400 is a good price, to both learn correctly and repair your own vehicles as you go.

Post by **chickenjohn** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 5:08 pm

Jonothan, some of the instructors are "old apprencticed guys" as you say. One has taught at the college for years and the chap I had on the 1st year had his own restoration business. Amazingly skilled guys.

Yes, i agree, £400 is great value for what you get and the knowledge aand insight and experience these guys have. I'm hoping to learn from these guys, a little at a time.