How To Repair a Dent in a Car
A dent in your car makes it looks worse than a scratch or ding. They can occur when people push shopping buggies into it, other drivers are hitting the car or when objects fly up from the road. Body shops can charge a fortune to repair the dent. Drivers that have a limited budget can save on the cost by repairing the dents on their own.
How to Repair a Dent in a Car
Materials Needed
- Drill with 1/8 inch drill bit
- Dent pulling tool
- Dolly
- Metalworking hammer
- Sandpaper, 150 grit, 220 grit, 440 grit and 400 grit
- Sanding block
- Body filler
- Plastic spreader
- Spot putty
- Masking tape
- Primer
- Spray gun
- Touch up paint
- Look at the dent to determine the center. Apply a 1/8 inch drill bit to a drill and drill a hole in the center of the dent.
- Use a dent-pulling tool to thread the hole. Pull the tool to pull the dent out. The dent will appear flat or you will hear a pop.
- Remove the tool from the hole.
- Go under the car and hold a dolly to the back of the dent.
- Use a metalworking hammer to hammer around the dent on the other side.
- Make sure you carefully hammer the dent until the area is smooth.
- Use 150 grit sandpaper to sand the dents to remove the paint on it.
- Mix the body filler according to the directions.
- Apply the body filler to the dent with a plastic spreader. Make sure it is spread evenly.
- Wrap 150 grit sandpaper around a sanding block. Sand the dent with a circular motion.
- Change to 220 grit sandpaper and sand the area until it is smooth and level.
- Use a plastic spreader to apply spot putty over the area. This will fill in the impressions in the body filler.
- Sand the area with 400 grit sandpaper wrapped around a sanding block.
- Seal off the area around the dent with masking tape. Use a spray gun to spray the area with primer. Use light and even coats. Three coats are all that is needed. Allow the area to dry for two hours.
- Wrap 440 grit sandpaper around a sanding block and sand the area. Make sure the sandpaper stays wet during the sanding. Lightly sand the area.
- Apply touch paint to the car with a spray gun. Allow the paint to set.