How to Do Auto Body Work
Auto bodywork can be very challenging. It is as if you are creating a work of art in the form of a sculpture when you reshape and mold car panels. You will need to acquire a special touch to get the body in shape and ready for painting.
Supplies needed:
- Sandpaper (from 60 to 600 grit)
- Hammer
- Dollies or dent-pulling tools
- High-build primer
- Bondo body filler
- Finishing putty
- Glazing compound
- Metal cutting tools
- Welding equipment
- Respirators
- Wax and grease remover solvent
- Use the hammer and the dolly to get under the dented area. Place the dolly on the outside of the dent and pound the metal back into the original shape. If you are unable to reach the rear of the panel, you will want to use metal pullers to pull the dent forward. Special machinery can also be required if it is a more serious dent.
- Apply Bondo body filler over the panel that you have straightened out. Finishing putty can be applied in thin layers. Try using a little filler as possible; too much filler can eventually cause cracks. Once you apply the filler, allow it to dry and then sand down with grit paper.
- Remove any rusted areas by cutting them out. Weld new metal patches in the areas that you have removed the rust. Fabricate a piece of 22-gage sheet metal to fit into the opening. Grind the high-welded spots and smooth over the new metal with more filler.
- Use 120 to 220 grit papers to sand down any scratches and old paint, clear coat and any small flaws. Apply glazing and spot compound to fill any scratches or small dents. Wait for each layer to dry and then sand it flat with the grit paper. Repeat this step until the area is level and smooth.
- Apply color primer to make sure that the surface is smooth; this method is referred to as block sanding. Block sanding takes time and patience and is necessary. Use long strokes in different directions, while applying firm pressure. A guide coat of a different color primer should be applied on the original primer. While block sanding you will discover low spots that is untouched; these spots should be filled with glaze or filler.
- During the bodywork you should spray on primer and primer sealer on a regular basis. Do not spray primer until you’ve sanding the old paint surface. Use oil or grease remove, lacquer thinner or another oil-free solvent before you apply any primer. The final sanding of primer should be done with 400-600 grit paper. Perform one final wipe with grease or oil removed. Primer sealer should be used as a final spray before pain is applied to the vehicle.