CTVET Ghana Certificate II - Auto Body Repair & Spraying key terms

Clothing and gear worn to protect the body from workplace hazards, such as coveralls, gloves, goggles, respirators and safety boots used when repairing or spraying vehicles.

A mask worn over the nose and mouth that filters harmful particles or vapours from the air, essential when spraying paints containing isocyanates in a spray booth.

A reactive chemical found in many two-pack polyurethane paints and clears that can cause serious lung and skin sensitisation, so full respiratory and skin protection is required.

A document supplied with a chemical product that lists its hazards, safe handling, storage, first-aid and spill procedures, which must be read before using the material.

The controlled movement of fresh air through a workshop or booth to remove dust, solvent vapour and overspray, protecting workers from inhalation and reducing fire risk.

A portable device containing an agent such as dry powder, foam or carbon dioxide used to put out small fires; workshops storing paints and solvents must keep suitable units serviced and accessible.

Material such as waste paint, thinner, used filters or contaminated rags that poses a risk to health or the environment and must be stored and disposed of through approved channels, never poured down drains.

An enclosed, ventilated and filtered chamber in which vehicles are painted, keeping dust out of the finish and drawing overspray and solvent vapour safely away from the operator.

The set of practices for storing, handling and using workshop substances so they cause no harm, including correct labelling, closed containers and separation of incompatible chemicals.

A liquid such as thinner, acetone or white spirit that dissolves or dilutes paint and cleans equipment; most are flammable and give off vapours harmful to breathe.

The lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapour to ignite when exposed to a flame, used to judge how flammable a paint or thinner is.

A machine that captures sanding dust at the source through a hose and filter, keeping the workshop air cleaner and reducing the risk of dust settling in fresh paint.

A machine that stores compressed air in a tank to drive spray guns and air tools; it must be drained of water and its filters checked regularly to keep air clean and dry.

A device fitted in the compressed-air line that collects condensation so moisture does not reach the spray gun and cause water spots or blisters in the paint film.

A unit in the compressed-air system that removes oil, dirt and fine particles from the air supply, protecting the finish from contamination and the spray gun from damage.

A tool that mixes paint with compressed air and atomises it onto the panel; its fluid tip, needle and air cap sizes are chosen to suit the material being sprayed.

The small nozzle in a spray gun that controls how much paint leaves the gun; a tip too large or too small spoils atomisation and the finish quality.

A wrench that clicks or signals when a set tightening force is reached, used so bolts such as those holding body panels and suspension parts are tightened to specification without damage.

Metal inert gas welding equipment that joins steel panels with a wire electrode and shielding gas; it is the usual method for repairing or replacing welded body sections.

A fire-resistant sheet placed over glass, trim, fuel lines and painted areas to protect them from sparks and heat while welding or grinding on the vehicle.

A paint system supplied in two parts, a base and a hardener, that react chemically when mixed; once mixed it has a limited usable time and requires proper respiratory protection.

The second component added to a two-pack paint or filler to start the chemical reaction that cures the film; the correct ratio must be measured accurately.

The length of time a mixed two-pack product stays usable before it begins to gel in the container; mixing only what can be used within this time avoids waste.

A solvent added to paint to adjust its viscosity for spraying, or used to clean equipment; the amount and type must match the paint manufacturer's instructions.

A measure of how thick or thin a liquid is and how easily it flows; paint viscosity is adjusted with thinner so it atomises correctly through the spray gun.

A small cup with a calibrated hole used to time how quickly paint drains out, giving a simple check that viscosity is correct before spraying.

The breaking up of liquid paint into a fine mist by the spray gun so it lands evenly on the panel; poor atomisation causes orange peel or dry, gritty finish.

Fine paint mist that misses the target panel and settles on surrounding surfaces, vehicles or the booth; it is controlled by correct gun distance, masking and booth airflow.

A paint defect in which the cured surface has a bumpy texture like orange skin, usually caused by thick material, wrong air pressure or spraying too far from the panel.

Defects where paint flows downward and collects in heavy curtains or drips, typically from applying coats too wet or too thick, or holding the gun too close.

A painting technique where the next coat is applied before the previous one has fully dried, following the product's stated flash-off time, saving time without trapping solvent.

The short waiting period after spraying a coat during which most solvent evaporates before the next coat or clear is applied; ignoring it can cause solvent popping or runs.

The transparent top layer applied over a base colour to give gloss and protect it from sunlight and weather; it is usually a two-pack product requiring correct mixing and spray conditions.

The process of selecting or mixing paint so the repaired area matches the vehicle's existing colour, accounting for the original code and for fading of older panels.

An adjacent undamaged panel onto which paint is faded so the repair colour merges invisibly with the original finish, avoiding a hard colour edge.

A small test card sprayed with the mixed colour and compared with the vehicle to confirm the match before the actual panel is painted.

A paste applied to a cleaned, roughened dent to restore the panel shape before sanding smooth; it must be mixed with hardener and never used to fill rust or structural damage.

A thin contrasting colour sprayed lightly over primer or filler so that sanding marks and low spots become visible while the surface is being levelled.

A preparatory coating applied to bare metal or repaired areas to give adhesion, corrosion protection and a sound base for the topcoat.

A thin, mildly acidic primer applied to bare metal to key the surface and improve adhesion and corrosion resistance before further priming and painting.

Steel or aluminium panel surface with all paint, primer and rust removed, which must be protected quickly with primer to prevent new corrosion.

Iron oxide formed when steel is exposed to moisture and oxygen; it weakens panels and must be cut out or treated before repair, since paint will not adhere to it.

Sanding a surface using abrasive paper with water to keep dust down and prevent the paper clogging, commonly used to level primer before topcoat.

A firm pad used behind abrasive paper to keep sanding flat and even, preventing finger-shaped hollows in filler or primer.

Adhesive paper tape used to protect trim, glass, badges and adjacent panels from paint and overspray, and to create clean edges for the repair area.

The skilled shaping and reshaping of metal panels using hammers, dollies and spoons to remove dents and restore the original contour.

A heavy hand-held metal block held behind a panel while a hammer strikes the outer face, supporting the metal so dents can be worked out without stretching it.

A panel-repair technique using heat or a shrinking hammer to reduce stretched metal and restore shape after a dent has been beaten out.

A small welded joint used by manufacturers to join overlapping panels; when removing a panel it is drilled or cut out and the new panel is welded in the same positions.

The uniform space between adjacent body panels such as doors, bonnet and wings; it is checked and adjusted during fitting so the body looks correct and closes properly.

The correct positioning of body panels, doors and structural parts relative to each other and to the vehicle's centre line, checked with measurements and gap and flush checks.

The condition where adjacent panels sit level with one another rather than one standing proud or sunk; flushness is checked by hand or with a straight edge during assembly.

A measuring and holding frame that the vehicle is mounted on so damaged structural points can be pulled back to the manufacturer's dimensions during body alignment.

A written record of a vehicle's repair, listing the customer's complaint, authorised work, parts, labour and completion details, used to track progress and support billing.

A priced quotation given to the customer before work begins, setting out parts, labour and materials; any later extra work should be agreed and added in writing.

The instruction document authorising the workshop to carry out specified repairs on a vehicle, often including the customer's approval and the agreed completion date.

The point at which the completed vehicle is returned to the customer, with the work explained, payment settled and any care instructions or warranty conditions given.

The way staff treat clients, including listening to complaints, explaining repairs honestly, keeping promises about time and cost, and protecting the vehicle while it is in the workshop.

The practice of identifying a business opportunity, such as opening a body shop or mobile repair service, and organising money, tools and people to run it profitably.