Auto body mechanics are modern-day magicians. They have the ability to totally restore a wrecked car so that it looks and operates like new. Bent frames must sometimes be straightened using strong machinery. After that, hoods, fenders, and other body panels are removed and restored with hammers, anvils, and other specialised tools. When a dent cannot be pounded out, body shop workers may use patching compound that may be filed or smoothed to match the rest of the panel, or they may replace the damaged area. 

The repairer may also paint the mended items in smaller shops. The relevant skills can be learned on the job. However, as the materials used in autos become increasingly diverse, so do repair processes. All of this makes the formal education provided by trade schools and other such organisations increasingly appealing. The work can be nasty and boisterous, but it is never dull. After all, each new wreck brings with it a new set of obstacles.