Dent Repair

Next, remove any surface rust and flaking paint. A hobby tool or small drill fitted with a wire brush works well. Soft, dark and/or bubbled metal means rust—remove it down to shiny metal with a sander or a metal grinder or all your labor will eventually rot away.


Mix the body-filler compound per its instructions and use thin coats of filler to bring the body back to its original contour. Allow each coat of filler to cure completely before adding the next. Check for high spots with your hand or by lightly misting the area with black primer. Use a cheese-grater body file to knock down large high spots.


Sand the cured putty smooth with medium-grade wet/dry sandpaper, then go over it with fine and extra-fine grades, feathering it into the undamaged areas. Clean the repaired area with soap and water and allow it to dry.

Priming
Use a wax-remover product on the afflicted area for better paint adhesion. Mask around the damage with masking paper and tape—newspaper can release fine fibers into wet paint. Cut a mask out of cardboard about the size of the repair area, and hold it about an inch above the repair.


Spray a thin coat of primer on the area, following the instructions on the spray can. Continue to apply thin coats, allowing the previous one to dry first. Once the primer is completely dry, sand it with 400-grit wet/dry paper, then wash the area. The repair is now ready to be painted.