Basic Auto-Body Repair

Whether your daily driver is a used vehicle that came with its own set of dings and scratches, or you've just suffered the first assault of an errant shopping cart on a new auto, don't worry. Repairing minor body damage is neither a difficult nor intimidating task. With the help of conventional workshop tools (such as a sander and an electric drill) along with a little elbow grease and some common supplies from your local auto parts shop, these scratches and dings can all disappear.


The first step for any body repair process is to start with a clean car, using automotive cleaning products followed by a good bug and tar remover to remove the layers of wax, grease, and deposits. The techniques for a body repair are more a matter of finesse and touch than muscle. Also, take the time to read the instructions on your body repair kit (screen, putty, primer and touch-up paint) for curing and drying times. We'll start with repairing simple scratches:

Simple Scratches
Using very fine sandpaper (one designed for wet sanding) and a water-soaked sponge, feather the edges of the scratch, going to bare metal if necessary. What you're looking for is a smooth taper from the scratch to the unmarred paint. You know you're there when you can run your finger lightly over the area without feeling even a trace of an edge.


If the scratch is deep, you can fill it with body putty or filler. The best way to determine if body putty is required is, again, to run your hand over the area. Unless you've got a practiced eye, just looking at the area is deceptive. Your fingertips and palm are your best tools. Wet-sand the putty to blend the edges.


Make sure the area surrounding the damage is masked off—at least three inches is good—to ensure a good blending of the repair coat. Apply the primer and wet-sand the area with extra fine sandpaper and your wet sponge for the best bonding of the final paint.