Repair holes for rust or dents

1. Remove all paint from the damaged surface and from the surrounding metal within a radius of approximately 2.5 cm, using sandpaper or a wire brush worn on a drill.

2. If they are not available, this work can be done manually with several sheets of sandpaper.

3. By removing the paint, you can determine the extent of corrosion and decide whether to replace the entire panel or, if possible, repair the damaged surface. New body panels aren't as expensive as many people think, and it's often much faster to install a new panel than it is to repair a large surface damaged by rust.

4. Remove all decorative trim parts from the damaged area, except those that act as a guide to the original shape of the damaged car body, such as the headlight housing, and so on.

5. Using metal shears or a hacksaw blade, remove all damaged metal, as well as any other metal that shows signs of rust.

6. Bend the edges of the hole inward with a hammer to create a small notch for the filling material.

7. Wire brush the damaged surface to remove powdered rust from the metal surface. If there is access to the back of the rusty surface, coat it with anti-corrosion paint.

8. Plug the hole in some way before final termination. This can be done with sheet metal riveted or screwed into the hole, or fitted into the hole with wire mesh.

9. When the hole is plugged, the damaged area can be filled in and painted over (see subsection 12.7).