How to Repair Rust With Bondo
Metal is naturally prone to rust when it comes into contact with moisture and chemicals in the environment. Rust gains a foothold on cars in the little nicks, scrapes, and dents that cars suffer through normal wear and tear. It is important to take care of a rust problem promptly and efficiently in order to prevent the rust from spreading and doing more damage. Bondo is auto filler material that is used to fill and repair nicks and dents. It is essential to remove all the traces of rust before the Bondo is applied.
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Things You'll Need
- Putty knife
- Wire brush
- Oscillating sander
- Various grits of sandpaper
- Mild detergent
- Soft bristle brush
- Cloth
- Bondo
- Mixing pan
Instructions
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1
Knock off loose rust chips and flakes with a putty knife. Inspect the metal to make sure that the rust has not penetrated all the way through to the opposite side.
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2
Sand the rusted area with a wire brush and an oscillating sander. Scrape the rusted area with the wire brush before using the sander. Use 60 to 80 grit sandpaper with the oscillating sander. Continue sanding until the bare metal is visible.
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3
Gently sand the edges of the rusted area with 150 to 220 grit sandpaper. The goal is to feather out painted edges around the spot being repaired. This helps to keep the surface smooth when it is being repainted.
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4
Thoroughly clean the area with a soft bristle brush using a mild detergent and water. Rinse the area well with clean water to remove soap residue. Allow it to dry.
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5
Mix up a small amount of Bondo in a pan. Read the instructions on the can. Determine how much Bondo is needed for the repair job. Mix the Bondo and hardener together. The hardener comes in a tube along with the Bondo.
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6
Apply the Bondo with a putty knife. Completely fill in all the voids. Allow the Bondo to harden for 45 minutes. Sand the Bondo with 100 to 200 grit sandpaper. Inspect the repaired area. Apply more Bondo if needed.
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7
Sand and smooth the surface with 300 grit sandpaper. Wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove traces of Bondo and sand dust. The repaired area is now ready to be primed and painted.
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