Comments on How to Fix a Dent on a Car

The best approach to dent repair is to carefully mark the areas that are actually bent or impacted. These areas will need to be addressed first with a small rubber mallet graduating to a planishing hammer. Start by going around the perimeter of the dent and striking down the highest parts first. While doing this, hold a small dolly adjacent to (but not under) the blows, keeping pressure on the dolly from underneath to assist in leveling the surface. One technique, that works well also, is to use a sanding block and spray a light coat of contrasting primer. With blocking further high spots will show up that will only require the lightest tap down. Repeating this step on both sides, you can get the panel very straight. You might find that some areas need hot shrinking, but that's another story.

Place a plunger on the dented area. Push in slowly and then pull the plunger off quickly so it (hopefully) sucks the dent right out.

When you mix the body filler (commonly called bondo) you always want to make sure you have the right amount, but it may seem like you will need to mix more than you actually will use. That's not true. Before you pour from the container to the mixing object you want to pour it on, you might want to mix the bondo itself without any hardener in the container, because it may settle down at the bottom. I usually use a Popsicle stick or something like that. After you've poured the bondo down you add hardener, this is the important part. Put down too much and the mix will dry quicker, put too little and the mix will take longer to dry. So if you're using red hardener, you want to mix it till it has a light pink color to it (if your using blue, just to it has a soft blueish tone) and then just apply liberally to fill up the hole or dent that you are working on. After it dries you can sand it down with a side to side circular motion.

Wet-sand with 1500 grit sandpaper until it's smooth. Then wet-sand with 2000 grit. Use a rubbing compound to polish. Then use hand glaze to rub out the swirls left by the compund. Then wax it.

Some dents can be pulled out by using a suction cup with a handle. Try this before drilling holes.