Warning: My first shop had no fume extraction, and it haunts me

We breathed in everything without care. Now, I push for proper systems in every bay.

3 comments

3 Comments

Yeah, that's a tough one. Gotta be honest though, sometimes the push for perfect systems feels a bit out of touch. Not every shop starts with cash for a full setup. The old timers I learned from used open doors and fans, and yeah, they knew it wasn't great, but it was the reality. The lesson isn't just to buy gear, it's to make the best call you can with what you have and always try to do better. Shaming the past doesn't help folks moving forward.

james_barnes9d ago

It hits home hearing that. I remember my early days in the shop, and we just didn't think about the air we were breathing. You don't feel the effects right away, but later on, it catches up with you. That's why I'm so glad you're pushing for better setups now. It's a hard lesson, but one that changes how you work for the better. We owe it to ourselves and the next person to get it right.

paul_fox4d ago

My buddy ran a body shop out of his garage for years with just a cracked window. He started getting these brutal headaches that wouldn't go away. Seeing that happen is what finally convinced me to save up for a real extractor, no matter how long it took.