Auto Body Restoration - Four Dent Repair Tips

One of the most important problems to look for when selecting an older car for restoration is rust, which if extensive enough can cause any experienced restorer to reject a car for this type of project. However, rust isn't the only form of damage that can be an issue with a collectable car. Older cars that have seen a lot of use can almost be expected to have small dents, and in some cases serious dents which were the result of a collision that may have occurred sometime during the cars past history.

If you've decided to restore a collectable car yourself, an important part of auto body restoration which you'll have to familiarize yourself with is dent repair. The good news is that this type of work isn't really complicated. On the other hand, it does require a great deal of patience, rather than the need for specialized skills. The best way to acquire the skills necessary for doing dent work is to learn by doing.

Here are four important tips which will be of value when doing dent repair and they are as follows:

Tip 1. The first step in the dent repair process involves straightening dents, and this requires finding a way to get to the back side of the existing dent. There are four areas on a car which require finding this type of access and they include the fenders, door panels, hood, and the roof. In order to straighten any type of dent, it is always necessary to work from the outer edges of the affected surface, and always pound against a dolly. While doing this type of work, it is highly recommended that you regularly run the palm of your hand over the surface you are working on to feel for smoothness.

Tip 2. The next stage of the dent repair process involves filling in minor surface abnormalities. If you're not a highly skilled body repairman, the use of some type of filler is recommended unless you posses the skills necessary to smooth dents without using a product of this type. The important thing to be aware of when using a filler is to avoid applying it in excessive amounts. The objective here is to use it sparingly, and only to fill minor surface irregularities which may be present along any existing welding seams.

It is especially important that all of the paint and the primer are completely removed from the surface area where dent repair is required. If this isn't done the filler will not adhere or stick to the surface.

Tip 3. Some hobbyist may consider using solder to fill irregularities, and where this may look easy to do, there are a few things that a novice restorer should know, and there are also precautions which must be exercised to insure successful results.

Firstly, lead is toxic and therefore it is important to wear a respirator when working with this material, and the hobbyist should make sure that the work area is properly ventilated. It is also important to use hand tools when working with lead rather than power tools. Power tools create an excessive amount of toxic dust. The procedure for preparing a surface for dent repair with lead is identical to the method used for plastic filler. However, in order for the lead to stick or adhere to the surface flux must first be applied.

Tip 4. The primary tool used to shape solder is a vixen file and when using this tool the restorer should work from the outer edges, and to the center of the area which they are repairing. Again, as with plastic filler, using only an amount of solder which is absolutely necessary is a must. When using solder the final result is produced by sanding. Before trying this process it may be a good idea to watch a video presentation first and this type of video can be found at You Tube.

The tips which were previously presented should allow any do-it-yourself auto restorer to tackle a dent repair project successfully.
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Posted in: Repairs