Understanding Automotive Paint Products
How To Determine If You Need To Use Autobody Filler
Stanley Garcia
Does your car have a few dings and holes that you can't just fix with touch up paint? If so, you might want to learn how to patch small holes with auto body filler. Auto body filler is not that difficult to work with, but you will need to get used to it. Figuring out the consistency, dry time and best techniques can require a little bit of practice. This article explains when and how you should patch a small hole with body filler. Once you figure this out, you will be able to fix your problem more efficiently.
Does My Hole Need Body Filler?
Before you invest in auto body filler and attempt to fix your hole by yourself, you should first determine whether or not filler is even necessary. That is, small paint chips (where there is not actual damage to the car body) usually don't need to body filler. Most likely, just a little bit of touch up paint will work well enough for such small chips. If there is a dent or hole in your car surface, filler is definitely suggested if you want to hide the hole.
What is Auto Body Filler?
Auto body filler is a thick putty. It is similar to wood putty, but it is thicker and dries much harder. Also, it comes in two separate components. The main tub will be filled with the putty. But, you need to mix in the liquid hardener (which comes in a small tube) to activate the putty. Once the two components are mixed together, the putty dries very quickly.
Prepping Before Patching
Before you apply the patch to your car, you should practice. Try using a piece of wood. Mix the recommended amount of hardener in with the putty and spread it onto the wood using a plastic putty knife. You will notice that the putty becomes more difficult to work with as it dries.
Applying the Patch
Applying auto body filler is simple, but it is time consuming. After the first coat dries, you need to sand it down by hand. This smooths out the filled area and makes it uniform with the car's contours. You will usually need to apply a little more patch to filled any holes that may pop through once the first coat is sanded. After the last round of sanding, you can move on to applying the touch up paint (if necessary).
Learning to apply auto body filler is a useful skill. For more tips and tricks, come to Lakeside Collision Kirkland.
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Hello, my name is Bernie Ainsworth. I am intrigued with all of the different types of paint available for vehicles today. When I was growing up, vehicles only featured normal gloss, metallic or candy tones. Today, you can find color change paints and opalescent finishes that make the car look amazing. Furthermore, you can find paints made from plastic materials that peel back off without damaging the original finish. If you want a new paint job on your vehicle, it doesn't take a whole lot to change its color. However, you may still want to go to the shop if you want a professional finish. I will discuss the best way to decide between a do it yourself project or professional touch. I hope you will find my information useful. Thanks for visiting.