How to Remove Dents on Auto Body Panels
- 1). Grind away the paint in and around the dents on the panel. Grind the surface until nothing but the bare metal shows inside the dent and at least 2 inches surrounding it.
- 2). Use the squeegee to apply a thick layer of body filler over the dent. Make sure the filler is thick enough to completely fill the dent and rise above the surrounding surface of the body panel. Let the filler dry for 1 hour so it can harden.
- 3). Sand the dried body filler with 180 grit sandpaper until the filler is smooth with the surface of the body panel. Sand the filler again using 220 grit sandpaper to smooth the scratches put into the filler by the 180 grit paper. The filler should now be as smooth as the surrounding surface of the body panels. There should be no more dent or high areas. If a dent is still visible, apply more filler and repeat the sanding process. If the filler is too high, sand it until it is smooth.
- 4). Place masking tape and paper around the repaired area to keep primer and paint spray from getting on the rest of the body panel. Wipe the area down with wax and grease remover and a rag to remove any dust, wax or grease particles that can cause imperfections in the dried paint surface.
- 5). Spray a moderate coat of primer over the repaired area. Keep the sprayer 6 to 8 inches from the surface move it left and right. Make sure the body filler is covered in primer and that none of the filler shows through the primer. Let the primer dry for 30 minutes.
- 6). Add three to four coats of spray paint to the area covered in primer. Use the same spraying techniques used when spraying the primer. Use several thin coats rather than a few thick coats so the paint doesn't run. Wait five minutes between coats. Remove the masking paper and tape before the paint dries.
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