protecting your car's finish from tree damage

Repairing small dings on the surface of your car might seem like a task that only specialists can handle. In fact, with the right tools and materials, you can actually make these small auto body repairs on your own. This article will explain how to fix small dings on your own.

Preparing the Ding

The first thing that you have to do is prepare the area that is dinged, scratched or dented. First, use a smooth sandpaper, at least 500 grit, to smooth out the area. This should remove any hard edges or areas where the paint has peeled away. Just sand the area very lightly. Do not push down too hard, or you can scratch off too much paint and create a bigger problem than you started with. Then, you will need to use wet sandpaper to prepare the area to be paint ready. Wet sandpaper is just like normal sandpaper, only it is even smoother (usually over 1,000 grit) and it must be kept wet when using it.

Filling the Hole

If you need to fill a hole in your car surface, you will need to use auto body filler putty. This putty is similar to wood putty, but it is denser and it dries very quickly. When applying the putty, you need a basic plastic putty knife. Try to spread the putty so there is not too much excess to deal with later. The putty will need to dry 24 hours before you can take the next step.

Sanding the Patched Area

The next step is to sand down the patched area so it is even with the rest of the car surface. Use the same sandpapers that you use in preparing the area. Start with the 500 grit, then go over it with the wet sandpaper.

Painting the Patched Area

After the area has been sanded with wet sandpaper, you can immediately paint it. It is best to used factory paint that you can get from the dealership. If not, you will need to have a professional auto paint shop match your existing paint. Either way, you can buy small canisters of paint come equipped with a built-in brush in the lid. These are easy to use and convenient if you need to make further repairs later on. To finish off the paint job you can buff out the area with a buffer. You can get a small cotton buffer that can be attached to a power drill.

This simple auto body repair process might take you a couple of days, but it is a great way to save some money. For more information, visit http://autobodyomaha.com.