Auto Body Repair Information: Do It Yourself at Home

Auto body repair may seem intimidating, but with the right tools and materials, it can be done at home. From repairing dents, dings and scratches to preparing the surface for paint, all of these can make or break a paint job. Properly done repairs cannot be seen under a new paint job, while poor work can easily stand out even after a car is painted. Learn how to do auto body repairs and repair your car at home.

Instructions

1

Drill several holes inside a dent. Insert the screw tip of the dent puller into a hole and slide the handle to pull the dent. Alternate using different holes to pull the dent out more evenly. Once the dent is somewhat level, use a body hammer to tap down any high spots that are higher than the surrounding surface of the car. The goal is to get the repaired area as level as possible, but not higher than the surrounding surface.

2

Grind away the paint from inside and around the dent down to the bare metal. Apply a thick layer of body filler using the plastic squeegee. Fill the dent completely and ensure that the surface of the filler sits higher than the surface of the surrounding area of the car. Let the filler dry for an hour.

3

Sand the filler with 180-grit sandpaper until it is flush with the surface of the car. If the filler is still too high, sand it more; don't hit it with the body hammer or it will crack. Sand over the filler again with 220 sandpaper to smooth the scratches made by the 180-grit paper.

4

Cover any area of the car that won't be painted, with masking paper and tape, to protect it from primer and paint overspray. Cover the window glass, tires, trim, grill, lights, door handles, mirrors and key holes.

5

Hold the can of primer 6 to 8 inches from the surface of the car and spray a moderate coat on the car. Move the can left and right, not up and down, and keep the spray nozzle level with the surface, not tilted. Wait 30 minutes for the primer to dry completely.

6

Spray three to four coats of paint, keeping them thin to avoid runs, but thick enough to not be able to see through. Wait five minutes between each coat. Use the same spraying techniques as used for spraying the primer. Carefully remove the masking tape and paper before the paint dries so it doesn't get stuck to the surface. Wait a full day before handling the painted surface.