Collision Repair: Learn How To Straighten Auto Body Panels

Collision Repair: How to Straighten Auto Body Panels Using Our 6-Step Process

One likely reason you will have to do paint work on your car will be the result of a minor panel dent, such as on a wing.

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An alternative is to have an auto shop handle your collision repair. However, you may have to wait longer than anticipated to get your car back depending upon the shop’s schedule.

You may have to pay more for the repairs or make a claim with your insurance company. The work may not turn up as well or as smoothly as you expected.

It is unlikely that your vehicle was damaged beyond repair. At the very least, you should be interested in giving it a try.

Don’t worry if your straightening skills aren’t the best, you can still do a satisfactory job. You will need to fill in deeper dents with more filler.

It’s important to mention at this point that you can’t apply a single thick layer of body filler in any one application.

You can straighten slightly damaged panels of your auto body.

Auto Body panels can be repaired beyond what your skills in collision repair allow.

There is an option.

The tools you will need are… The basic tools for doing bodywork include:

An Air File
A DA (Dual-Action) Sander
Small Grinder
Dead Blow Hammer
Body Hammer
Sandpaper
A Pry Bar

The best way to learn how to use these tools is to simply pick them up and start using them, so don’t be shy. Trial and error will make you a better user. You can use the panel to practice since it is already damaged.

Straightening a Panel

Firstly, before you begin straightening a panel that was damaged during a collision, you must determine the original point of impact. There are two areas of damage to any panel involved in a collision:

The damage suffered from the actual impact.
Reaction forces can cause damage.

Let me explain what I mean by reaction forces in simple terms using a straight forward example: Since a door is basically secured by its mounting points, an impact to the middle of the door would cause the panel to separate itself from its mounting points.

Side impact victims of vehicle collisions often have difficulty opening their doors.

The Process of Straightening a Panel

The process of straightening a panel involves reversing the dent until the panel is as close to its original shape as possible. This is a more complicated process than just hammering out the dent from the opposite end.

Instead, work from the outer edges of the dent to the point of impact. Although this can make it a bit more difficult if you have multiple areas of impact on the panel, the process is the same.

It is common for one panel to have a dent, causing another panel to bulge. Before you begin to hammer the actual dented area into place, first reposition the bulged area.

It will make the bulged metal stretch if the dent is not straightened first.

Working with Body Filler means you don’t need to be perfect

Aim to straighten the panel to within 1/16 of an inch of its original form. To cover any imperfections, you can apply a thin layer body filler.

You should make sure that the area being repaired is not higher than the unaffected area.

This is to prevent body filler building up in the surrounding areas.

Do not apply body filler more than 1/8″ at the deepest point. The filler will either crack or sag if it is applied at this level.

Make sure to smoothen out the edges of your applicator

How to Straighten a Panel

The following is a 6-Step method to help you repair those dents in no time at all.

To straighten the sheet metal, you will need to first remove the dent. You can make this easier by temporarily welding small metal rods to damaged sheet metal with a Rospot, or a stud guns. The rods should measure approximately 1/8 inch in diameter by 2.5 inches in length.
Slide the slide hammer over each rod one at a while. The slide can be used to hammer the dent out of the sheet metal. In case you accidentally hammer it too far, you might need to tap the sheetmetal back in.

Slide Hammer

The slide hammer is then moved over to the next rod where it is again hammered out to undo the effects of the impact. It is not easy to see the dents and determine the pressure to apply.

Check your work as you go. Every part of your panel should be as original as possible. You also don’t want any portions of the panel to be too high.

You will need to hammer any high points back into place, and fill in any low spots.

Once all the pulling is completed, the rods may be cut as close to the body possible. This can be done with a pair diagonal cutters. The rest of the stubs can be ground down with a grinder and coarse sanding disc.
The next step is to smoothen the surface with body filler. Next, apply a thin coat of glazing putty to finish the surface.

Mixer boards have a set of disposable sheets that can be used to mix glaze or filler. After the filler is applied to the sheet, it would be mixed on the sheet. The sheet would then be torn and thrown away.

Don’t worry about any slight high spots; they can easily be guided back into place with the use of a small hammer.

Older vehicles will have thicker sheet metal than modern vehicles. Modern vehicles have thinner panels and are more flexible. Depending on the vehicle’s age, you can adjust the amount of effort required to straighten the panel.

To apply filler to low areas, use a flexible spreader. Air bubbles should not form. After the filler sets, you can sand and shape it using 80-grit sandpaper.

I hope this blog was helpful. Talk soon! Cheers!

-Tony.

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FAQ:

1. What tools do I need to fix bent metal?

You’ll need a hammer, dolly, body filler or bondo, sandpaper, primer, and paint to repair dented metal panels.

2. How do I straighten a bent fender?

Place a dolly on the underside of the dent and gently tap the hammer to push the metal back out. Go slowly and work from the center out.

3. Can I fix small dents myself?

Yes, minor dents and creases can often be repaired at home with basic tools and elbow grease. Just be careful of larger or more complex dents that risk damaging surrounding panels.

4. What’s the best way to fix a door dent?

For door dents, clamp a large, flat piece of wood to the inside of the dent and gently pull it out using a hammer and dolly on the exterior.

5. How long does it take for body filler to dry?

Body filler or bondo needs at least 24 hours to fully cure before sanding and priming. Allow additional drying time if the repair area is large or the weather is humid.

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