That moment my frame machine let loose and sent a quarter panel flying across the shop floor in Phoenix last July

I was working on a 2012 Civic rear quarter replacement, had it all clamped down on my Chief EZ Liner. I guess I got in a hurry and didn't double check the pinch weld clamp because about halfway through the pull that sucker slipped and the whole panel shot off like a rocket. Smacked into the toolbox across the bay and bent a drawer handle clean off. My foreman just stood there staring at me for like 10 seconds before he started laughing. I had to spend the next two hours re-clamping and re-measuring everything from scratch. The job ended up taking me 6 hours total instead of the usual 3. Has anyone else had a pull go wrong because a clamp slipped or the frame machine just decided to give up on you?

2 comments

2 Comments

terry_walker20h ago

I did that once and the panel almost took my knee out on the way by, felt like a total fool.

the_charlie18h ago

Did you at least try to brace for it or just stand there like a deer in headlights? I did the same thing with a fence panel, ended up hopping on one leg cussing for five minutes straight. My neighbor still brings it up every time we grill out back.