Looking for helpful suggestions

[1930]

Just to cut to the chase.

I own a small bodyshop, just me and the cats are on the payroll. I am good at what I do, I turn alot of high quality work. I work 12 hours a day 8 days a week. Been open maybe a year now.

Tenants across from me ( small industrial park ) run a restoration shop, been there a long time and have made there living by convincing unsuspecting customers into letting them work on their cars, getting the cars torn down into a million pieces and then milking the job for everything they can.

They are the equivalent of 8 months behind on their rent but the landlord likes them because they have been there almost 15 years and they have the gift of gabb.

They are jealous of what I can do and the turnaround, Ive had 3 big jobs that have all come from other tenants within the complex and Im sure that is eating at them.

A few weeks ago I made the mistake of spotting in the corner of a large RV that wouldnt fit in my booth, corner of the roof maybe a 6 inch by 12 inch area.

They called the EPA, I was honest and admitted to the guy what had happened, he informed me to not do the painting outside my booth and closed the case.

Last night I was priming 3 different vehicles within my shop, large exhaust fans running at the rear of the shop, zero chance of overspray getting anywhere near them and yet I looked up and they were videotaping me, I know what next, what are my options?

Obviously next time I will close the large roll up doors so they cant video tape me but I am concerned of what I can do when the EPA comes knocking again in a couple of days.

One more thing to consider, I am a quite guy, obsessively clean in my work area, hard working white boy just trying to take care of his family, I work amongst mostly illegal businesses run my the spanish community that dont pay a dime in taxes and some are multi employee bodyshops with no spray booth at all just rolling the cars in the shops and doing overall paint jobs one after another.

EPA should be looking at these other businesses not mine but Im not a **** that minds other peoples business until someone starts Fn with me.

 

[Bondo]

Obviously next time I will close the large roll up doors so they cant video tape me but I am concerned of what I can do when the EPA comes knocking again in a couple of days.

Ayuh,.... Show 'em yer operation, 'n how clean, 'n proper ya run it,.....

When questioned, mention that they oughta be lookin' behind the camera, rather than the video,....

 

[Chaznsc]

You're painting outside
You're painting with the doors open
You've had one visit with the EPA

What isn't it that YOU don't understand?

 

[1930]

Im not asking for a pass and so with that Id suggest that some of you guys maybe know a little bit about what you are responding too before responding.

I was looking for helpful suggestions and so far doing my own search I have found that a bodyshop is allowed by law to spray just a little bit over 3 ounces outside of our spray booths which in this case will hopefully get me out of what might be a bit of a mess.

Thanks for the unhelpful replies

 

[kc10a]

Vote and campaign for some candidate that wants to get rid of the EPA. I think there is at least one. Based on my past experience (too much to explain here), I hate the EPA.

 

[Evilunclegrimace]

How do you want us to be helpful?
You had a VERY recent visit, you ignored the instruction.
When the inspector comes out AGAIN ask very specific questions without mentioning latins or late rent or jealousy.

And yes, we should know more. You're the only one that can tell us that more.
I would love to be helpful but am unsure of what you want said.
All I can tell you is there is a whistleblower form you can fill out to get a reward from the IRS if they collect from someone who is not paying taxes.

I can be fairly sure the inspector is not going to believe three cars primed was a little over three ounces, no matter what advice you get here.
Does the rule REALLY say "a little over three ounces"?

He admitted to spraying a 6X12 corner of a RV outside. He stated that the 3 Vehicles that were primed were INSIDE the shop.

 

[rburke65]

I'm thinking you are not painting an awful lot with 3 ounces of paint.

 

[1930]

How do you want us to be helpful?
You had a VERY recent visit, you ignored the instruction.
When the inspector comes out AGAIN ask very specific questions without mentioning latins or late rent or jealousy.

And yes, we should know more. You're the only one that can tell us that more.
I would love to be helpful but am unsure of what you want said.
All I can tell you is there is a whistleblower form you can fill out to get a reward from the IRS if they collect from someone who is not paying taxes.

I can be fairly sure the inspector is not going to believe three cars primed was a little over three ounces, no matter what advice you get here.
Does the rule REALLY say "a little over three ounces"?

You have access here on GJ to attorneys, judges, city council type people, a mayor or two, epa employees, long time battlers of epa, , statute interpreters and primer manufacturer engineers.

Fill in some detail, leave out the latins and late rent and taxes and jealousy.

Finally received a call back from my local paint rep who stated its ( as reading online) 3.4 ounces and within gudelines, go back and mix 3.4 ounces 15 times if you like and that is OK, I evidently need to order a special cup for my gun which will only hold this small amount and then I wont have to worry so much about getting my balls busted AKA loser neighbors that want to see someone else fail as they have.

This forum like every other forum has its handful of people just twitching to jump down someones throat and that will never change. AKA post count is King!

 

[zendriver]

They are well aware, that one of the easiest ways to succeed, is to run the competition (you) out of business.

Know the EPA regulations for your business and follow like it's written in your bible. Get to know your EPA "guy". They appreciate those who want to be a "team player". They have a job to do and don't really want a lot of flak.

Rat them out to immigration, if they are illegal, or report EPA.

Just make sure your **** is covered.

Ignoring something illegal, someone else is doing, is not right, IMO. "minding your own business", is not working out for you, very well, anyway.

 

[Kevin54]

Finally received a call back from my local paint rep who stated its ( as reading online) 3.4 ounces and within gudelines, go back and mix 3.4 ounces 15 times if you like and that is OK, I evidently need to order a special cup for my gun which will only hold this small amount and then I wont have to worry so much about getting my balls busted AKA loser neighbors that want to see someone else fail as they have.

This forum like every other forum has its handful of people just twitching to jump down someones throat and that will never change. AKA post count is King!

That's the quickest way to get on the bad side of people on here is to start using the post count **** just because you have people that doesn't side with you. Just because you post something doesn't always mean that all people are going to agree with you.

First off......do you know they are illegals. Do you know for a FACT that they are fifteen months behind on rent? Do you know for a FACT that they are fleecing customers? Your post started out with you on a pedestal and everyone else beneath you. If that is the attitude you carry, then yes, maybe the other tenants have it out for you.

Your best bet is to work with the EPA. If you are permitted to spray 3.0 oz outside of your booth, show the EPA guy the FACTS and explain to him what you are doing. If you are spraying with the doors open, are you in an actual spray booth doing it, or just a work booth doing it? Big difference between the two, and all you say is "booth". If in fact you are spraying a quart cup in a working booth with the doors open, then yes....you'll probably get your balls busted. But if you are in a full fledged spray booth and spraying with the doors open, but the booth doors shut, you are in your full right to do so......as long s you have the proper permits to do so.

Possibly if you explain a little more to us, you may get some different answers that lean towards your side and more to your liking. Post count has nothing to do with it, and even though you have close to 500 count, I think you have been on here long enough to see what the people are actually like on here, and not what you are portraying them out to be, because a few don't agree with you.

 

[Richard Cranium]

so who was video taping you?

 

[1930]

That's the quickest way to get on the bad side of people on here is to start using the post count **** just because you have people that doesn't side with you. Just because you post something doesn't always mean that all people are going to agree with you.

First off......do you know they are illegals. Do you know for a FACT that they are fifteen months behind on rent? Do you know for a FACT that they are fleecing customers? Your post started out with you on a pedestal and everyone else beneath you. If that is the attitude you carry, then yes, maybe the other tenants have it out for you.

Your best bet is to work with the EPA. If you are permitted to spray 3.0 oz outside of your booth, show the EPA guy the FACTS and explain to him what you are doing. If you are spraying with the doors open, are you in an actual spray booth doing it, or just a work booth doing it? Big difference between the two, and all you say is "booth". If in fact you are spraying a quart cup in a working booth with the doors open, then yes....you'll probably get your balls busted. But if you are in a full fledged spray booth and spraying with the doors open, but the booth doors shut, you are in your full right to do so......as long s you have the proper permits to do so.

Possibly if you explain a little more to us, you may get some different answers that lean towards your side and more to your liking. Post count has nothing to do with it, and even though you have close to 500 count, I think you have been on here long enough to see what the people are actually like on here, and not what you are portraying them out to be, because a few don't agree with you.

I dodnt ask people to side with me, didnt ask anyone to take sides, I asked for constructive opinions on what I might need to do to handle a sticky situation, I got flack from people that have no duck in the pond since they know zero about compliance, unhelpful and simply not what I had asked for, if the people that had responded didnt respond and just sat and waited for someone that either took the time to research what might be done or already knew what could be done than they may have learned something new.

Not worth getting into this further but thanks

 

[1930]

so who was video taping you?

Little green men

 

[1930]

They are well aware, that one of the easiest ways to succeed, is to run the competition (you) out of business.

Know the EPA regulations for your business and follow like it's written in your bible. Get to know your EPA "guy". They appreciate those who want to be a "team player". They have a job to do and don't really want a lot of flak.

Rat them out to immigration, if they are illegal, or report EPA.

Just make sure your **** is covered.

Ignoring something illegal, someone else is doing, is not right, IMO. "minding your own business", is not working out for you, very well, anyway.

I think some people are taking the term illegal out of my context and thanks for assuming I am pulling out the racial card and hoping some of you guys would buddy up to me, I need a few more internet friends

What I meant was illegal businesses, not illegal immigrants but since we are all the subject I dont like illegal immigrants and I feel we should put them on the first boat heading South and getem out of here, I spent literally thousands of dollars and years of frustration and effort to have my wife brought here from a third world country, she is a mix of spanish and asian if that matters so hell yeah, send all the illegals back cause they didnt do it the right way so get out of my way.

I didnt need strawberries that bad anyway

 

[1930]

They are well aware, that one of the easiest ways to succeed, is to run the competition (you) out of business.

Know the EPA regulations for your business and follow like it's written in your bible. Get to know your EPA "guy". They appreciate those who want to be a "team player". They have a job to do and don't really want a lot of flak.

Rat them out to immigration, if they are illegal, or report EPA.

Just make sure your **** is covered.

Ignoring something illegal, someone else is doing, is not right, IMO. "minding your own business", is not working out for you, very well, anyway.

More info to add, my paint rep called me back and gave me some additional information, it seems it would be perfectly legal for me to spray 80 gallons of paint if I choose right dead center in the middle of the parking lot but I would need to do it 3.4 ounces at a time.

That is how these lot lizard paint vans get away with their businesses. There was other interesting info I was given that I wont bore anyone with but at this point he is going to help me to make sure I am EPA compliant ( 3.4 ounces at a time ) by helping me to get my shop set up the way it should be so I do not need to watch over my shoulder.

Thanks for all the helpful comments or comment.

 

[Richard Cranium]

You asked for help, I asked an honest question and you answered "little green men". Don't ask for help again.

 

[sberry]

They have found someone to mess with. I might have a letter ready to hand to anyone that shows up that says this is nonsense by someone not minding their own business, don't keep admitting you did anything but counter charge to some extent.
Every time I am nice or honest it gets me in to a jamb up. Be ready. You know what the questions are now. I would rather not paint if I could help it, this is a part time place not a Maco, keep materials in a cab, some of it out of site. Just a guy sliding by but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, firm. Not out to make a wave but if I was shoved wouldnt hesitate to call my bro in law for some advice, laugh a little ,,, no cost, he is a lawyer and drinking bud, pick some guys name out of the paper.
Make up some story nicely says go fug yourself.

 

[WWShop]

Last night I was priming 3 different vehicles within my shop, large exhaust fans running at the rear of the shop.

You admitted in the first example you were painting illegally. In this second example were you painting legally or illegally? Legitimate question because I am not a body guy and honestly don't know.

 

[ZRX61]

You're allowed to paint outside if you don't exceed a certain amount per year (it ain't much)... Even here in LA County.

 

[1930]

You asked for help, I asked an honest question and you answered "little green men". Don't ask for help again.

Joke, did you expect me to name the business? Not going to do that.
I did mention in the initial post the culprits holding the camera and chose not to be any more specific because that dosent solve anything

 

[1930]

You admitted in the first example you were painting illegally. In this second example were you painting legally or illegally? Legitimate question because I am not a body guy and honestly don't know.

As it turns out I thought I was painting illegally by painting outside a small area of a vehicle, come to find out if I had held the paint within a smaller container or cup on my spray gun than I would have been well within my rights.

Second example I was unsure so that is what started the first post, hope that makes sense.

 

[1930]

You're allowed to paint outside if you don't exceed a certain amount per year (it ain't much)... Even here in LA County.

This is a helpful and informative post, thanks

 

[Tim Kennedy]

Get out of Florida -- maybe move this way -- western PA. Not saying it would be easy but we can always use new business run by people with a good work ethic + pride in their product.

 

[WWShop]

So the concern of overspray makes it illegal or is it another issue?

 

[1930]

So the concern of overspray makes it illegal or is it another issue?

Unfiltered paint of this variety is bad for the environment, evidently in small quantities someone has deemed it less hazardous to the environment.

At this point I would just like to be compliant with whatever higher power tell me is OK so that I do not have to look over my shoulder.

 

[sberry]

Don't start asking everyone you see, it invites trouble. When you are compliant and get along become an easy target.

 

[sberry]

Michigan had a part time garage license I believe. My Bud had one, he was plain, no sign, no postings. There was a garage across the street and on occasion the state license broad would drive up from the city and terrorize the place next door about petty compliance issues and the owner would jump.
One day she figures there is another card holder next door and decides to pay my Bud a visit. Well he looks like Osama Bin Laden and had a big old Indian work for him, so he and the fat Indian are well into the second case of beer when she gets there and starts down the list.
He was moderately nice or civil and says, I am part time, posted hours, signs don't mean squat and she gonna assert herself. It turned a little ugly, Bill the helper says Rick the owner started down her, using the N word a couple times and implying she must be an illiterate fuk since she cant understand part time and he moved 200 miles to get away from her type. Called her a dumb black ***** among other things, chased her out in tears.
The woman that runs the shop next door says about 6 months later she stops back at her place, she asks if she has more stops. Says no, not in this town and aint never going back next door.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

None of us dig the EPA, but we alll have to live by their (illegal) laws. I've seen the best body man and Farrier I've ever met pushed out of his home and business by them because the junkyard up the street polluted.

I'd just try to do EVERYTHING by the regs and politely mention to whatever AHJ you need to speak to about the legality of the other businesses. I'd also COMPLETELY leave any ethnicity issues out of it, perceived or actual...

Tommy

 

[theoldwizard1]

Last night I was priming 3 different vehicles within my shop, large exhaust fans running at the rear of the shop, zero chance of overspray getting anywhere near them and yet I looked up and they were videotaping me, I know what next, what are my options?

Obviously next time I will close the large roll up doors so they cant video tape me but I am concerned of what I can do when the EPA comes knocking again in a couple of days.

Keep doing what you are doing ! Play by the rules. Maybe even invite the EPA/local code enforcement out for to have them review things.

It is so hard for a small operation to get "word of mouth" advertising, but in the end, I would trust "word of mouth" more than just about anything !

Make sure to give your customers a half dozen business cards to pass out to their friends.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Finally received a call back from my local paint rep who stated its ( as reading online) 3.4 ounces and within gudelines, go back and mix 3.4 ounces 15 times if you like and that is OK, I evidently need to order a special cup for my gun which will only hold this small amount ...

Get the small cup is a very smart thing to do, especially if it keep you from accidentally crossing some silly government line.

Keep playing by the rules !

 

[theoldwizard1]

Michigan had a part time garage license I believe. My Bud had one, he was plain, no sign, no postings. There was a garage across the street and on occasion the state license broad would drive up from the city and terrorize the place next door about petty compliance issues and the owner would jump.
One day she figures there is another card holder next door and decides to pay my Bud a visit.

Reminds me of back when I was working. I was responsible for a large computer server room, about the size of 3 tennis courts. The lady inspector must not like my "casual" attitude because she kept looking for something to write me up on.

Finally wrote me up for not have self extinguishing trash cans. Typically they
are metal with a swinging door on the top. But this style works also,

I called he boss the next day and told hi the trash cans were in compliance (gave him the name of the company) and to please change the report. Never heard from anyone again.

 

[Bondo]

As it turns out I thought I was painting illegally by painting outside a small area of a vehicle, come to find out if I had held the paint within a smaller container or cup on my spray gun than I would have been well within my rights.

Second example I was unsure so that is what started the first post, hope that makes sense.

Ayuh,.... As bad as it is up here in the Kingdom of Cuomo,... NYS,....

I paint 40' trailers outdoors 'bout every spring,......
Rustoleum in a Hvlp gun,...

'course, I ain't runnin' a body shop either,...

 

[cbusters]

The time and date stamp on a video are changeable and not actual evidence, it creates suspicion only. Stop giving them chances to burn you and deny the date that they recorded you. But that will only float once.

 

[LumpyMusic]

Thanks for the unhelpful replies

Tell us what reply you'd like to hear in response to your violation of the EPA regulations and perhaps someone will give you that.

If you're in violation, you're in violation. Doesn't matter if you're a family man or the guys across the street are assholes.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Shoot one, word will get around.

 

[My Old Tools]

I don't know if you are asking this or not, but I would mount permanent surveillance cameras on the outside of your shop, at least one aimed directly at your neighbors. It doesn't really matter if you even hook it up. They will get the message that you aren't going to sit still for it.