How to Do Car Body Filling
Body damage is an unfortunate inevitability of owning a car. Whether from minor door dings to more serious collisions, body damage can diminish the car's value and, if left unrepaired, can lead to rust damage if the dent chips the paint. Replacing a damaged body panel can be expensive, particularly if the replacement is performed by a professional. However, the vast majority of dings and minor dents can be repaired quickly and easily with body filler. The liquid filler fills the dented area, then hardens. Once hardened, the filler can then be sanded and painted.
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Instructions
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1
Remove the paint from the portion of the body to be filled with sandpaper, then wipe the bare metal surface down with a tack rag to remove dust and other contaminants, which can prevent the filler from properly adhering to the metal.
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2
Identify the two different mixing agents of the body filler kit. The agent in the can is called the filler, while the agent in the small tube is called the hardener.
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3
Pour a small amount of the filler agent into a clean container, such as a plastic bowl, or onto a clean flat surface, such a piece of linoleum.
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4
Squeeze both ends of the hardener agent tube, one end at a time, to evenly distribute its contents and to ensure the chemicals within the tube are mixed.
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5
Squeeze one line of the hardener agent across the surface of the filler agent, then mix the two agents together until the compound reaches a uniform color.
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6
Apply the mixed compound to the portion of the body to be filled with a plastic putty knife using long, firm strokes. The compound should be applied so that it is higher on the portion to be repaired than on the surrounding portions, as the compound will be sanded down once dry.
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Allow at least 15 minutes for the compound to dry. Attach a piece of 120-grit sandpaper to a sanding block, then sand the compound until it is level with the surrounding, undamaged area to complete the process. The purpose of the sanding block is to ensure the compounded is leveled evenly.
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