bodywork questions

[scribes]

Hey guys, Im lookin to get my car painted some time before the end of this coming winter. I have some minor body scrapes, dents, and damage in vairous places around my car. I am just wondering if anyone has done work in the same areas of the car that mine is in need of, or what the best methods are, best supplies and materials to use are. The part that i am the most concerned about, is just under the headlights, on the plastic bumper/clip part.....bondo??? what am i to use to fill those lil scars and dents. Same on the metal part of the body??? bondo.???

Here are some pics of the scars.







Or maybe a link to a guide on how to do this process from the sanding, to the priming, and the painting, all the neccesary steps to a clean nice/new look. Thanks guys.

[whoneedsvtec]

to fix the scrapes you're talking about on the body, it depends on if the damage goes into the body itself. is it just paint deep? if so then you can spray some thick primer on it and sand it down, ready to paint. but if its got a dent then you'll need to either pop out the dent or fill it in with body filler. i dont like to use the name bondo becuase it sounds too ghetto. what you do for that is you take a scotchbrite pad (green) and you scrub the area where you'll be applying the filler to. then you clean the area and make sure its free of all dirt and grease, wax... ect. then you mix a small amount of filler and apply to the dented area using the plastic tool provided, it'll look sorta like a handheld plastic squeegie. after it has cured you will sand it using a corse grit sand paper, something like 180 grit. anfter you've sanded the area so its relitively smooth you'll then spray on your primer(sealer first if any bare metal is exposed)
after the primer is dried thouroughly you'll then spray a guide coat( a light spritzing of a darker colored paint, usually black) when that is dry you can commense with more sanding, this time you'll be wet sanding. using a garden hose with water trickling out(low pressure) you'll sand the primered area using 600 grit paper. never sand in one direction, always sand in a star like pattern, like you're trying to smooth out a round sheet that gets bubbles in it. becuase if you sand in one direction you'll create waves in the body.
after you've sanded the entire area of the car you'll then go even finer with the sandpaper. this time you'll wet sand with 1500 or 2000 grit paper in the same fassion as with the 600. you'll see a noticable difference. it'll feel like glass after you've done this. when you're done with the 1500 you'll be ready to paint. but i'm out of time so i can't really explain that too much. but i hope you've got money enough for tape and paper if you have anymore questions dont be scared to ask.

[whiteracer]

you don't use bondo cause it sounds ghetto? Oh now that's a new one.

[whoneedsvtec]

can't figure out how to install seats? and you're baggin on my vocabulary? wow dude, real cool

[whiteracer]

I'm not baggin on your vocabulary retard. I just don't see how you can boycott a certain product because of it's name. Some of the best products have funky names. Some of the best cars are Italian, and i think the names look weird. But would i not drive one cause of it? absolutely not. I just think you're a freakin' idiot. Bondo happens to be one of the more popular and reliable products. Yet you refuse to use it,

[scribes]

Originally Posted by whiteracer

I'm not baggin on your vocabulary retard. I just don't see how you can boycott a certain product because of it's name. Some of the best products have funky names. Some of the best cars are Italian, and i think the names look weird. But would i not drive one cause of it? absolutely not. I just think you're a freakin' idiot. Bondo happens to be one of the more popular and reliable products. Yet you refuse to use it,

I believe he was trying to convey the point that bondo, when normally used is used by people that have ridiculouse sized dents or rust holes in there vehicles body, and they just pack as much bondo in there as they can, which obvously doesnt work well.

I have been directed by a ton of people to stay away from the BONDO name, and find some higher grade putty/spot filler, for its flex and paint grabbing abilities.

All in all, when it comes to painting my car, im not gonna skim on any parts, if its gonna cost me an extra $500-$1000 or whatever, to make sure its straight and clean, then i have no problem doing that.

BTW, thanks for the info, was very helpful.

[whiteracer]

I believe he was trying to convey the point, "i dont like to use the name bondo becuase it sounds too ghetto." Idiot. STFU newb.

[scribes]

Originally Posted by whiteracer

I believe he was trying to convey the point, "i dont like to use the name bondo becuase it sounds too ghetto." Idiot. STFU newb.

grow up...........