Friday, May 30, 2014

Do It Yourself Auto Body Repair - It's Easier Than You Think

By Levi Quinn

Everyone has done it. You back into a pole, rear end a stray shopping cart or drop a heavy object on the trunk lid. The result is an ugly dent or a scraped finish. Turning in small damage claims to your insurance can be costly and if you have gotten an auto body repair estimate, you know that parts and labor can be expensive to pay out of pocket. There is another option though, you can fix it yourself. That's right. Armed with a plunger, a bottle of touch up paint and a few supplies, the average do-it-yourselfer can repair small dents and scratches. Here's how.

Unsightly Dents

If your accident has not broken the finish and has damaged a larger body panel, you may be able to pull the dent out. Dump a bucket of soapy water over the dent and stick your household plunger over the area. The water should help create a good seal and you may be able to pull the panel back into shape. The soap will allow you to slide the plunger down the panel to break the suction.

If your dent is in a small area near a crease in the vehicle, you can place a small block of wood at the tip of the dent and gently tap the wood with a mallet to force the misplaced metal back into its original shape. Tapping gently around the edges of the dent may help pop the metal back into shape. Use care not to break the finish, chipped paint exposes bare metal which will rust.

Scratches, Scrapes and Stone Chips

Most body shops will sell you a bottle of touch up paint. They will also ask you what you are repairing and offer to fix it for a large fee. Kindly decline, and request just a bottle of touch up paint. They will need access to you vehicle to get the manufacturer's paint code. This is most often found in the glove box or the door jam. If your vehicle has been painted a different hue than its original paint color, the auto body technician can use an educated guess to mix your paint to match the rest of the finish closely.

You will need a fine grit sand paper, a bucket of soapy water, some wax and buffing cloths in addition to your bottle of paint. Wash the scraped area well with soapy water, paying special attention to any bugs or tar in the area. Wet your fine grit sand paper and carefully sand the edges of the scrape or stone chip, making sure to keep your sand paper wet. Dry the area well and leave it sit for at least ten minutes to make sure it dries completely. Then, shake the bottle of touch up paint for at least two minutes. Brush on a light coat of paint over the damaged area. You can always apply a second coat after the first coat dries. Allow the paint to cure overnight then use a rubbing compound followed by a coat of wax to protect your finish

Paint repairs fare the best when done on a sunny day with low humidity. If this is not possible in your area, perform the repairs inside a heated building with a dehumidifier running. You can also use heat lamps or a hair dryer on its lowest setting to help cure the paint.

With a few tools and a little know how, you can save yourself some money by repairing small damages yourself.

Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?Do-It-Yourself-Auto-Body-Repair---Its-Easier-Than-You-Think&id=580296

33 comments:

  1. I just recently backed into a pole and put a dent in my rear bumper. Your article is really interesting, I hadn't even considered trying to fix it myself. I think I may try your suggestions. If I can't fix it myself then I will take it into a professional. I am not sure I would be able to get the perfect repair by fixing it myself. http://www.centralpaautobody.com

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  2. The paint on the bumper of my car is beginning to give way and causing the frame to rust. I am glad I came across this blog before i took on the project, I now know to wait for a sunny dry day to do it. I really want my car to stay in good condition, so if I don't feel comfortable painting it after a couple tries I may just take it to a professional.http://www.freewayautobody.ca/

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  3. These are some great tips! I never really thought about repairing my truck panels on my own. Do you know how much it generally costs to have a professional do it? I know it's sometimes a bit expensive but I'd rather have it done right than make a major mistake trying to do it on my own. Thanks for sharing these methods with us though! http://www.btryan.com.au/panel_beating.html

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  5. All time and effort that a repair might take, sometimes the most important thing to remember is that claims can have wild consequences with insurance companies; you said it perfectly. As far as using a plunger and torch light, I'm not sure, but I am certainly willing to give it a try! We have a few dents in our car, and want to repair them ourselves. I will let you know how it goes! http://www.perfectionautomotive.ca

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  7. I went to register my car, and during the inspection, they told me that I needed a transmission repair before my car would pass. I've looked at a lot of these DIY tutorials, but I don't think that I have enough auto repair experience. So, I think I will just take my car to a certified mechanic. Thanks for sharing your tutorial. http://www.satrans.com

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  8. Thanks for sharing. I love doing DIY work. I didn't realize how easy it would be to fix some of the chips and little dents that occur. I will have to use these the next time I look at my car. transmission repair

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  9. I will be sure to ask my body shop for a bottle of touch up paint. So many little scratches could be fixed for cheap! I don't expect to be using a body shop for scratches anytime soon. http://www.windyscollision.com/Services.html

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