SOLVENT SOLUTIONS

MARCH SOLVENT SOLUTIONS PREVIEW Going Green 'n Las Vegas, NV

2011-03-11T21:06:00.000-08:00

EPA ATTACK Higher ethanol levels in fuel is a bad idea

2011-01-24T10:21:00.001-08:00

Pure gas is healthier for your engine, gives your vehicle better gas mileage and a longer life. As consumers we deserve the right to buy the best quality gasoline for our engines. In Nevada, however, finding ethanol-free gasoline is next to impossible.

Most gas pumps carry a sticker saying the fuel may contain up to 10% ethanol. Asking an attendant about ethanol content proves fruitless. And the EPA is now pushing for up to 15% ethanol in our gas. They even confess that a third of the cars on the road won't fair well to the new levels.

Local car repair shops are already reporting an increase in repairs due to ethanol poisoning. Damaged fuel injection systems and other related issues are often traced to a bad dose of ethanol tainted fuel. The crisis extends to gas-powered lawnmowers and chainsaws as well.

It's time for Nevada to call shenanigans on the ethanol boondoggle being pushed by the federal government. If ethanol is a viable alternative fuel then let the free-market embrace it, for now its nothing more than a tax subsidized poison being pushed down our gas tank filler necks.

LATEST CASUALTY IN NORTH LAS VEGAS An entire auto strip mall closed, shut down, and fenced in.

2011-01-21T07:40:00.000-08:00

Word on the street says this strip mall, which was home to auto part, repair, and body shops, was shut down by the Clark County government. Is this the North Las Vegas vision for the future?

In other news, North Las Vegas pays $500,000 for 'vision'

NACE Leaving Las Vegas and Heading to the Sunshine State

2011-01-06T09:19:00.000-08:00

After a long run in Las Vegas, the popular NACE-CARS event is relocating to Orlando, Florida. According to Fender Bender Magazine the announcement was made by Automotive Service Association (ASA) President Ron Pyle.

Body Shop Business reports that Ron Pyle, ASA president, briefly mentioned investigating potential changes at the closing press conference of the 2010 event. Subsequently, ASRW plans to rotate locations between the East, Midwest and West. Rotating the event is intended to attract new attendees, as well as those who have not been attending in previous years, show organizers say.

ERIC PETERS ASKS Is it Ever OK to Speed?

2010-12-17T09:18:00.000-08:00

On any given road, at any given time, the posted speed limit might be too fast for current conditions – or unrealistically low.

An interstate highway built in the 1950s for safe travel at speeds of 70-75 mph but with a posted maximum of 65 mph today is arguably underposted.

And the same road could be treacherous at 55 mph in January, after a heavy snow.

Most of us adjust our speed to match conditions – no matter what the posted limit is. We notch it down when it’s necessary – as in poor weather – and (usually) ignore the posted maximum when it’s obviously ridiculous (as in the case of “Drive 55″).

But whether we get a ticket depends on how our speed stacks up to that number posted on a sign – whether it’s reasonable or not.

This is arguably the single biggest flaw with speed enforcement in this country. It is both random and arbitrary – with posted limits often bearing little, if any, relationship to safe rates of travel. The proof of this is the way highway limits were knocked down from 70-75 to 55 from 1974 through 1995, when Congress repealed the “Drive 55″ law. For 20 years, it was “speeding” to drive 70 on a highway that had previously been posted 70 mph. Then, at the stroke of a politician’s pen, it was legal to drive 70 again. Clearly, it did not suddenly become safer to drive 70 on the same highway that, literally, the day before the passage of the law, was posted 55.

It just became legal where previously it had been illegal.

Read the rest of the article

COMMUNICATIONS ROUTE Having a detailed marketing plan in place is a key to success

2010-12-02T08:23:00.000-08:00

Planning ahead is important to make a shop's marketing strategy worthwhile says Andrew Johnson with Fender Bender Magazine. He got marketing tips from Norm Angrove, a senior manager at PPG Industries. Angrove concurs with the importance of planning ahead.

“Shop owners have to understand that the benefits of the marketing efforts they are performing today will produce the results they desire six months down the road," Angrove said. "It’s important to plan ahead so your business is top-of-mind when people need your services.”

The article went on to highlight seven basic communication strategies that help get a business message into the community:

• Maximize insurer relationships.
• Market to dealer organizations that don’t have a collision center.
• Improve your shop’s image in the community with local events and sponsorships.
• Utilize social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare.
• Support local charitable organizations.
• Get involved with industry organizations.
• Get involved with business networking groups or chambers of commerce.

Angrove says the collision repair industry is notorious for hills and valleys in business, and warns that shop owners shouldn't wait to invest in marketing when business is slow. At that point you're playing catch up, and at a disadvantage.

ROCK-BOTTOM Las Vegas Auto Body Shops 2010

2010-12-01T20:00:00.000-08:00

Tire-Smokin' Showdown in the Desert - An Iranian muscle car rally.

2010-11-17T00:25:00.000-08:00

Vintage American muscle cars came out in force for The First Isfahan Classic Cars Rally, said Martyn Schorr in The Car Guy Chronicles. The Isfahan Chapter is one of a number of single and multi-marque clubs linked to the Classic Car Committee of the Motorcycle and Automobile Federation of Iran. These enthusiast auto clubs are located in every major population center in Iran.

Schorr notes, the ancient city of Isfahan, once the capital of ancient Persia, was the venue for the Isfahan Classic Car Chapter’s first road rally. Four hundred years ago, Isfahan was larger than London and more cosmopolitan than Paris!

Ramin Salehkhou, organizer and manager of the Tehran Café Racers, is the President of the national body that is patterned after the FIA model. He sent The Car Guy Chronicles the info and photos taken by Ali Samandarian. The winner of the inaugural event was a slick white-vinyl-top, blue Pontiac Grand Prix.

CARSTAR grows their Arizona alliance

2010-11-15T11:23:00.000-08:00

Michael's Collision in Phoenix, AZ joins CARSTAR

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts is North America's largest group of branded collision repair facilities with some 380 stores in the United States and Canada — and growing, reports Body Shop Business. In the two decades since it was founded, CARSTAR has performed more than 2.5 million repairs and delivered customer satisfaction ratings averaging 97 percent or better, the company says.

Six shops in the Phoenix area recently became CARSTAR franchisees, that area now boasts 17 CARSTAR locations. A dozen other auto body shops around the country have also recently joined the CARSTAR team. As a member of CARSTAR, these new franchisees will offer a new array of services and products for collision repair, including the latest in repair technology, rental vehicles, national warranties on repairs and turnkey service for their customers, the company says.

"We are extremely pleased to welcome these new members to the CARSTAR Nation," said Dick Cross, chairman and CEO of CARSTAR. "They all run great businesses and have strong histories of quality customer service. We're looking forward to building their business together, helping local car owners get back on the road with fast, reliable collision repairs and giving back to the community at the same time."

According to the CARSTAR website, they have three shops in Nevada, five in Utah, and none in California. Government regulation prevents the company from expanding to California and five other states.

ROCK-BOTTOM San Jose repair and body shop burns down

2010-11-10T01:53:00.000-08:00

Market Auto & Truck Collision before the fire

A bay area fire captain said,"An auto body and transmission repair shop was destroyed in a two-alarm fire in San Jose tonight," reported the Bay City News Service. The fire caused an estimated $1.5 million worth of damage to Market Auto & Truck Collision, located at 140 San Jose Ave., Capt. Steve Forman said.

The incident was reported at 8:56PM and extinguished about 29 minutes later, fire-fighters on the scene battled a blaze engulfing three vehicles and a 10,000 square foot building. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation

ROCK-BOTTOM Las Vegas Auto Body Shops 2010

2010-11-06T01:22:00.000-07:00

AUTO BODY SHOP: "The loss was multiplied many times."

2010-11-05T01:45:00.000-07:00

Most auto body shops I check in on keep someone on hand to greet customers, but there is a handful - possibly due to the economy - that must leave the realm empty at times while they work in the back. The reason why this is dangerous is because a customer could come and go in the time it takes to crazy glue a side-view mirror to a door. Either a sign should be posted or a door buzzer perhaps, But definitely don't post the wrong person at the helm.
Thomas Franklin in Autobody News asks, "Is the loss of just one potential customer any big deal? [A] shop I visited this past week had just completed painting ground effects on a brand new Camero. The new car owner was a local doctor who wrote a glowing letter of appreciation for the fine color match and the fast service. He also mentioned that he had first approached a competitor's shop a short distance away but had been treated rudely by the estimator he spoke to there. So he checked the inter net for an alternative. He was so pleased with the shop's work that he planned to share his experience at the Camero Club he belonged to. The loss of this one customer had a ripple effect. The loss was multiplied many times."

END THE FED Show us the gold!

2010-11-05T00:10:00.001-07:00

The dollar is destined to fail, thanks to a flood of paper money coming out of the Federal Reserve Bank. History has taught us that gold and other precious metals are the best form of currency for a stable economy. In light of that fact, congressman Ron Paul is questioning whether the U.S. government is even holding any of the yellow metal.
Paul is creating a bill that will allow for an audit of U.S. gold reserves. The 2008 Presidential candidate reportedly said that it's a “possibility” the Fort Knox and New York Federal Reserve gold vaults are empty.
“If we ever get around to deciding we should use gold in relationship to our currency we ought to know how much is there,” the lawmaker said. “Our Federal Reserve admits to nothing and they should prove all the gold is there. There is a reason to be suspicious and even if you are not suspicious why wouldn’t you have an audit?”

HELP FOR THE HOLIDAYS Sharing the holiday spirit with your community and your business partners can build goodwill for your shop. by Andrew Johnson

2010-11-05T00:06:00.001-07:00

Year after year, Louie Sharp, owner of Sharp Auto Body in Island Lake, Ill., sees his sales decline during the holiday season. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, as long as a banged-up car can still get from point A to point B, he says, drivers tend to keep on motoring. What with travels, holiday plans and uncertain weather, it’s no surprise. But it’s not easy on the bottom line, either.
Sharp’s strategy to get customers in the door during these typically slow weeks? Get into the spirit of the season, and give. In response to requests from community service organizations working to raise money through holiday raffles or auctions, he donates gift cards for free vehicle detailing. The cards have a $250 retail value, but they only cost Sharp $60 ($40 for labor, $20 for materials).

Excerpt from Fender Bender - September 2010

CHEAP PAINTING TECHNIQUES from Hemming Motor News by Richard Lentinello

2010-11-05T00:05:00.001-07:00

The costly part of any restoration is the refinishing of the body. Between the labor costs and the price of auto body supplies, primers and paints, rarely will you be able to get away with spending less than $5,000 to have an entire car professionally painted. And that's not a concours-quality refinish either; for that you can easily add another $5,000 or $10,000, or more.
Of course there are a lot of variables involved that affect the final price, such as the size of the car, how much body preparation needs to be done and the type of paint chosen. Even the color of the paint greatly affects the cost, as reds, oranges and yellows not only cost more but require more coats due to their transparency.

ROCK-BOTTOM LOW Las Vegas Lowrider Super Show 2010

2010-11-03T01:10:00.000-07:00

VALLEY IMPALAS Send to LewWhitten@gmail.com

2010-10-30T02:52:00.000-07:00

Las Vegas MLK Parade 2010

2010-10-29T00:50:00.000-07:00

IN LOVING MEMORY Mike Zigler

2010-10-29T00:43:00.001-07:00

In memory of Mike Zigler, who died October 15, 2009 at age 29. He died in the midst of an ongoing battle with the IRS that cost him his home and a sweet BMW that he was almost done paying off. One of the last things Mike did for me was copy edit and print my first Solvent Solutions zine.

LIBERTY LOSS OSHA increasing influence in Nevada

2010-10-29T00:42:00.002-07:00

Business owners need to prepare front-line managers and supervisors for unscheduled visits from OSHA inspectors, said Hubble Smith in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He was reporting from a seminar on OSHA's new presence in the West.
They need to be prepared for a visit and ready to "make nice" or take a tough stance -- and always accompany the official around the property, Stephen Yohay of the Ogletree Deakins law firm said at the seminar.
"Never let him walk the site alone," Yohay told about 30 businesspeople at The Venetian. "If they take a picture, you take a picture of the same thing, from the same angle. You'll need to have your own evidence."
The seminar came on the heels of an announcement made by Ken Atha, administrator for OSHA's regional office in San Francisco which covers most of the Western states, that a 14 million dollar budget increase will bring an additional 130 OSHA agents to Nevada.
Comments at lvrj.com observed that OSHA is another bureaucratic bully just like the IRS. Some of the senseless violations they look for are just to bring them revenue. These new government workers will be looking to justify their new jobs by writing "fines" for businesses at an unprecedented rate.
Those beliefs are shared by many in the Valley. Sadly OSHA's feel-good message appeals to a wide audience, and those opposed to the federal invasion lack money and organization.
OSHA does not lack money or organization. They print money as needed and are aligned with thousands of agents and special interest groups across the globe.
Rush Limbaugh reports on the US department of labor, OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 2010 Susan Harwood Grant Awardees. It lists three pages of special interest groups and causes, and the large amounts of taxpayer money given to them.
These are administrative handouts, they're not even voted on. If an inventory were done of every federal grant and contract and the billions and billions of our tax dollars that are being doled out to these groups and causes, there would be an uprising, more than we're seeing going on today, if people knew about this, this is just OSHA, one little department of the Labor Department.

SMOG CHECK SCAM! Fraudulent smog checks save time and money

2010-10-29T00:42:00.000-07:00

Smog checks are a common example of feel-good government policy that does nothing more than expand government bureaucracy while costing the people time and money. Thanks to catalytic converters, there is no longer a need for government mandated smog checks.
Sadly, smog checks are a reality rarely challenged by the people. For most it's considered just a minor inconvenience - They get tested for twenty bucks, and move on. For others the smog test brings a dark cloud over their lives.
Vehicles that run fine often fail a smog test, for reasons that have nothing to do with air quality. That's why fraudulent smog checks makes sense.
The unneeded repair costs can run into the thousands. The frustration with actually finding a "problem" with a car that runs fine is worse. Fortunately, there is a good number of testing stations willing to pass these vehicles.
Emission inspectors and station owners that submit fraudulent emission testing records to the DMV are a God-send for automobile owners. They should be praised, not prosecuted.

FROM THE EDITOR With intellectual entrepreneurship and forward thinking, the future can be brighter than the present.

2010-10-29T00:40:00.000-07:00

You hold in your hands a DIY zine targeting automotive pros and enthusiasts with an alternative outlook at the auto industry. In addition to serving Las Vegas auto body shops for over a decade, I've also worked with a handful of local publications.
This is an answer to my frustration with industry publications that I believe cater too much to corporate politics and government rule. Now more than ever entrepreneurial spirit is needed to reclaim an industry overwhelmed by intrusive government regulation. With your support this zine can grow it's voice and reclaim our right to freedom and prosperity.

WE HAVE ISSUES Debate over the aftermarket parts issue by Michael Quinn

2010-10-29T00:38:00.001-07:00

The aftermarket parts discussion will continue because we need to find a resolution. There have been some challenges, tough discussions and heated debate around the parts issue. And that’s good because we want to cover all aspects of the issue and get everybody’s side of the story.
Aftermarket parts vendors are looking at certification, and implementing true certification programs. We need to have competition in the marketplace, but my concern is with standardization.
Diamond Standard has a standard, Keystone has their own crash facility and they have a standard, and there’s CAPA. It’s insane; there’s three entities out there testing parts, not to mention the OEs. How are repairers to identify the quality part? Is it the CAPA certified part, is it the Keystone Platinum Plus part, or is it the Diamond Standard part?
Which one should repairers use?
I believe everything should fall under the same organization and meet the same standard rather than having competing standards organizations. I plan to push for more clarity on that issue.

Excerpt from Fender Bender - October 2010 page 64

CORPORATE AVENGER 911 Collision Centers co-founder recognized

2010-10-29T00:37:00.000-07:00

Michael Quinn, 911 CC co-founder , has been a prominent leader in the collision repair industry for years, said Andrew Johnson in Fender Bender Magazine. That experience earned Quinn the top spot at Collision Industry Conference.
CIC is a forum where collision industry stakeholders come together to discuss issues. Quinn was elected the new CIC chairman, his two-year term begins January 2011.
"Frankly, it's an honor just to be considered for the position, let alone actually get elected to serve," said Quinn. "I believe my organizational experience with the NABC (National Auto Body Council) - and involvment with Recycled Rides and the First Responder Emergency Extrication program - give me a unique perspective to lead the CIC into the future."
The NABC is a not-for-profit organization committed to the goal of improving the image of all dedicated professionals in the collision repair industry. Quinn serves as NABC Director at Large & Recycled Rides Committee Advisor.

DOCUMENT EVERYTHING Don't forget your camera!

2010-10-29T00:36:00.000-07:00

"All too often I come across a well-restored car at a show only to discover upon talking to the owner that no photographs were ever taken of the car while it was under restoration. And that's too bad," said Richard Lentinello in Hemmings Motor News. "Having photographic proof that details just how your car was restored to a future prospective buyer is the best way to prove all the work that had been done, and how that work was performed."
Lentinello recommends that receipts should be saved as well. Another suggestion was to keep a maintenance log of repairs, oil changes and tire rotations. All that documentation adds value to your car and gives prospective buyers more confidence when making a purchase.
Auto body shops can give extra customer service by snapping pictures of a restoration job's progress.

AUTO BODY SHOP Business Card Marketing

2010-10-29T00:35:00.000-07:00

Most auto body shops business cards I come across are covered on both side. Thats fine for in the shop or casual encounters, but it a good idea to have a card for on the go rough estimates.
Leaving an estimate/business card on a damaged car in a parking lot can generate business, said Thomas Franklin in Autobody News. He told about a shop owner who would pick up a few jobs to get through a slow time by writing a rough estimate on the back of one of his business cards and sticking it by the driver-side door handle.
With the economy the way it is, sending a rep out specifically to search parking lots for possibly repair jobs is not a bad idea. Just be sure your rep is a capable estimator and the estimate specifies that it is not a firm offer.
The best place to get business cards these days is on the Internet. A simple search on Ebay can turn up many great print deals with prices significantly lower than local storefront print shops, and by checking the seller feedbacks you can easily find a good reputable printer.

END THE FED As for government corruption and fraud, the Federal Reserve Bank is king

2010-10-29T00:34:00.000-07:00

Very simply, there can't be a more immoral system of money than one based on a banking monopoly that can counterfeit money in secret with no oversight and protection of the people. The moral argument against the Fed should be enough for decently well-informed people to dispense with it posthaste.
Even the Bible is clear that altering the quality of money is an immoral act. We are instructed to follow the rules of "just weights and measures." "You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measurement of length, weight, or volume. You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin" (Leviticus 19:35-36). "Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord, and a false balance is not good" (Proverbs 20:23). The general principle can be summed up as "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15).

From: Ron Paul, End The Fed (FREE) p. 156

WATERBORNE OR SOLVENT The DuPont way or spray and let spray

2010-10-29T00:31:00.000-07:00

California was infected by the waterborne virus, the same virus that infected Canada and Europe. Now government agents are leaning on shops that spray solvent-based paints. The culprits spreading the virus are those in position to benefit from a government overhaul of the auto refinishing industry.
Waterborne pushers claim that water-based paint is better for the environment, and therefore it should be illegal to spray solvent- based paint. This argument, however, is deceptive, the environmental effects are debatable. In truth, the waterborne virus was inspired by big business and government to make money, grab more market share and create more intrusive regulations.
Sadly, industry publications are spreading the deception, prepping painters and shop owners for a peaceful submissive waterborne conversion. And waterborne-again painters have become an annoying bunch, making claims that just don't carry water.
It's waterborne that's bad for the environment, worse than solvent. From birth, a can of waterborne paint is dependent on climate control. That means additional fuel must be burned to keep warehouses and shops a specific temperature, as well as the vehicles used to transport these delicate paints.
Waterborne waste seems to be a dirty little secret as well. While solvent waste is recyclable, waterborne is not - and it's not easy to get rid of. The high moisture content in waterborne waste causes resistance in the incineration process. Disposal plants burn more fuel when processing waterborne waste versus solvent waste.
Still, the push for waterborne is happening throughout the U.S., and Nevada's tendency to replicate California law means Las Vegas is at high risk. Which means it's high time for those in favor of having the freedom to spray solvent to defend themselves.

GOOD AS GOLD '96 Chevy Impala SS is a strong investment

2010-10-28T23:31:00.000-07:00

It's the last of the heavyweight muscle cars. To blame is the government mandated CAFE fuel-economy standards, which are keeping car makers from building anymore big V8 powered, rear-wheel-drive sedans. The 1996 Impala SS was the last of its kind.

The Impala SS gained its muscle car reputation in the sixties, and was discontinued after 1969. The SS was then resurrected at the 1992 Detroit Auto Show as a concept car. In 1994 it went into production and was almost identical cosmetically to the concept car. The car was, in essence, a high-performance version of the Caprice.
By 1996 Chevrolet had gotten most of the bugs out of their full-sized American cruiser, and the public showed their approval by buying up almost 42,000 of them. It was offered with Onyx Black, Dark Cherry Metallic, and Dark Grey Green paint.
Motor Trend Magazine points out that the SS has much going for it: "In spite of its humble taxi/cop-car underpinnings, it performs well for its size. It'll hold a ton of people and stuff, and it's probably depreciated about as much as it's going to."

Kelly Blue Book values these cars, in excellent condition with 150,000 miles, at just under $9,000. Low-mileage examples can fetch $20,000. Demand for these cars is rising as they are affordable and there is a still a good number of them out there.

Solvent Solutions for Diversified Painters

2010-10-09T11:19:00.000-07:00

Solvent Solutions is the name of an automotive industry zine I've created. My plan is to use this blog to post zine articles.